Artillery Battery

By the time of the American Civil War, artillery had become a deadly arm on the field of battle, used in huge numbers by both Union and Confederate armies. Some pieces were still old-fashioned muzzle-loading smoothbores similar to those fielded to such great effect during the Napoleonic wars. However, many more were superbly accurate rifled pieces capable of propelling shrapnel shells to 2,000 yards and more. If hard-pressed, guns could use canister at deadly close range to sweep away attacking troops.