At varying times, Battery G was equipped,
re-equipped, or was using the following types of cannons.
The number in superscript following the type of cannon indicates the
source for the information
(see list following table).
|
|
|
|
| Dec. 1861 - unknown | 2 Napoleans and 4 Rodmans 2 |
|
| Jan. 18, 1862 - unknown | the above guns were probably received at this time | |
| June-Dec. 1863 | 6 pounder bronze gun model 1840-41, rifled
(James rifle) 1 |
|
| May 1864 | 6 pounder bronze gun model 1840-41, rifled
(James rifle) 1 |
|
| May 1864 | Model 1861 (3 inch) Ordnance rifle 1 |
|
| Ordnance reports show 8 guns, as above, in May 1864.
Probably temporary. |
||
| May 22, 1864 | recruited to a 6 gun battery 4 |
|
| July 29, 1864 - unknown | received 2 12-pdr. Napoleans |
|
| Dec. 15, 1864 | Type of guns not mentioned.5 |
|
| Dec. 15, 1864 | At least one of the guns was a 12-pdr. Napolean 6 | |
| April 1865 | 10 pounder Parrott rifles 3 |
|
1. "Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867." Record Group 156. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281. Roll 1, Artillery Organizations.
2. Illinois-Vicksburg Military Park Commission. Illinois at Vicksburg. (n.pl.: n.pub. 1907), p. 350-52.
3. Baumann, Ken. Arming the Suckers: 1861-1865. (Dayton, Ohio: Morningside Books, 1989).
4. Barnickel, Linda. We Enlisted as Patriots: The Civil War Records of Battery G, 2nd Illinois Light Artillery. (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1998).
5. War of the Rebellion: The Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Series I, Vol. XLV, part 1, p.497.
6. Churchill, Samuel J. Genealogy and Biography of the Connecticut
Branch of the Churchill Family in America (Lawrence, KS: Journal Publishing,
1901), pp. 75-76.
Ammunition issued, according to "Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867." Record Group 156. National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281. Roll 1, Artillery Organizations:
Report for second quarter, ending June 30, 1863 (submitted Dec. 4, 1863).
100 12-pdr. Wiard canister, 3.67 bore (Hotchkiss)
1265 6-pdr. James cartridges
1645 friction primer
955 assorted paper fuzes
Report for third quarter, ending Sept. 30, 1863 (submitted Feb. 4, 1864).
110 12-pdr. Wiard percussion shell, 3.67 bore
955 12-pdr. Wiard fuze shell, 3.67 bore
100 12-pdr. Wiard canister
Report for fourth quarter, ending Dec. 31, 1863 (submitted May 23, 1864).
566 Hotchkiss shell, time fuze, for 20-pdr. Parrott
& 12-pdr. Wiard guns, 3.67 bore.
80 canister, Hotchkiss, for 20-pdr. Parrott
& 12-pdr. Wiard guns, 3.67 bore
746 6-pdr. field gun shot & spherical case cartridge
bags
566 assorted paper fuzes
895 friction primers
An example of some of the equipment carried by a battery on the march
according to the report for the second quarter, June, 1863:
|
|
|
|
|
traveling forge |
|
|
battery wagon |
|
|
felling axes |
|
|
6 pdr. James gun breech sights |
|
|
iron tar buckets for field gun |
|
|
wood bucket for forge |
|
|
leather buckets for watering |
|
|
cannon spikes |
|
|
gunner's gimlets for field gun |
|
|
gunner's haversacks |
|
|
gunner's pincers |
|
|
handspikes, trail, for field gun |
|
|
sets of harness for 2 wheel horses |
|
|
sets of harness for 2 lead horses |
|
|
common tin lanterns |
|
|
lanyards for friction primers |
|
|
nose bags |
|
|
pick axes |
|
|
priming wires, field |
|
|
prolonges |
|
|
cast steel shovels or spades |
|
|
shovels, long handled |
|
|
sponge covers, 6-pdr. gun |
|
|
tarpulins, 12x15 |
|
|
thumbstalls |
|
|
tow hooks |
|
|
tube pouches |
|
|
vent covers |
|
|
vent punches |
|
|
whips |
|
|
worms & staves, field guns |
|
|
battery wagon stocks |
|
|
packing boxes |
|
|
1 gal. tin cans |
|
|
2 gal. tin cans |
|
|
5 pds. paint (tin) |
|
|
25 pds. paint (tin) |
For more information on Civil War Artillery and Ammunition, visit one of these pages:
The Civil War Artillery Page Loads of info! History, units, drill, weapons.
Encyclopedia of Civil War Artillery A portion of the preceding site, this provides much information on weaponry and projectiles.
civilwarartillery.com (Warning! Graphics and frames intensive!) An excellent site, with images of a wide variety of cannon projectiles, shot and range tables, a glossary of artillery and ordnance terminology, and much more!
A Storm of Shot and Shell: Weapons of the Civil War - an online exhibit from the Chicago Historical Society, featuring artillery artifacts and images.
How Do You Shoot A Cannon? - (564K .pdf file, a mere 4 pages, with color illustrations.) A step-by-step guide to cannon loading and firing, according to Andrews' Mounted Artillery Drill (Confederate).
"Horsepower
Moves the Guns" - full text article from America's Civil War.