Smoothbores and Rifled Bores

It was mentioned in the post on artillery production about how some cannon were bored and reamed to size while others had the added step of rifling during production.  It sounds simple enough, but there may be readers who do not understand just what this means.  As it is pertinent to understanding the next few posts on artillery, we shall address this topic now.

First off, the main hole in an artillery piece or any firearm for that matter is known as the bore. The bore is contained within a long metal tube known as the barrel.

6 Pounder barrel

 The term "Smoothbore" comes from the simple fact that the bore is just that, smooth.  The projectile is not controlled in any meaningful way as it exits the muzzle. What is the projectile fired from these cannon?  That question will have to wait until the posts on artillery ammunition.

6 Pounder bore

The purpose of rifling was to impart a spin on the projectile to increase the accuracy and range of the round. It is a cliché example to be sure, but watch a slow motion replay of a Quarterback in American football throwing a pass. You can see the ball spinning as it flies through the air.  The combination of shape and how the ball is thrown increases the accuracy of the throw and allows a skilled Quarterback (or gunner) to put that pass exactly where it is intended.



Rifling inside Hughes gun, Confederate Breechloader

Rifling consists of spiral grooves cut down the length of the bore.  The projectile follows these grooves and thus gains the intended spin. These grooves can be seen in the example photograph above. The "light at the end of the tunnel" wasn't a round at the exact instant of firing! It was simply a piece of paper placed there to reflect light and permit easier viewing of the public down the bore. If you compare the two bore on photographs the lack of rifling can clearly be seen in the six pounder compared to the Hughes gun.


Next time in artillery we will begin to discuss the guns themselves, beginning with the smoothbore pictured above, the six pounder.

-Corporal



Are They Still With Us?

Do the dead walk amongst us? Is there life after death? This controversial question has no clear cut answer as individuals have all manner of beliefs on this subject.  While beliefs can vary the ultimate answer to these questions is very simple.  Either there is life after death or there isn't.

After consulting with Jade about whether to cover anything regarding the paranormal, we decided that it would be a good way to put a cap on the general overview of "Faith in the Civil War" series.  There are enough stories that exist out there to lend credence to the topic. The reason we are covering this topic has been described before, the bodily resurrection to get into Heaven.

Over the centuries there have been stories of ghosts and spirits from before and after this belief structure came into being.  There seems, however, to be a large concentration surrounding the four years of the Civil War. A large number of them seem to involve soldiers that are missing parts of themselves. 

As mentioned in our prior medical post, the limbs were just sawed off and thrown into a pile, to be buried in a mass grave of their own.  In most cases these limbs had no marker, no way to identify where they were buried and definitely not who they were from. Taken by wheelbarrow to a hole dug not far from the hospital, they would be dumped unceremoniously into the hole and covered up. I imagine that if one went looking those piles of bones could be found today.

The problem with this solution is what happens to the soul of the man thus amputated if he should expire? The man was normally buried with proper, if quick, honors but that one piece of him was likely not.  This would have been traumatic in the mind of the dying man, that he had been denied a place in Heaven because of one ounce of lead slamming into his arm.

If the "traditional" reason for the existence of the ghost is unfinished business, that soldier definitely has unfinished work.  He has to put himself back together again!  The stories that I am personally most familiar with come from Gettysburg but others exist as well.  Stories of lights slowly moving amongst headstones, as if looking for that one that would mark the spot where the limbs were buried. Sometimes apparitions are seen doing the same thing.  If this is indeed the case, the spirits of these men will never know peace as they will never be able to do what they wish.

Other stories exist of spirits what were literally obliterated by some means, usually artillery. Those men might not even know they are dead.  They might know but are also searching for their missing pieces of which there are MANY! It was due to these two situations caused by the mass casualties that the belief in bodily resurrection largely faded out after the Civil War era.  After all, most loved ones of those who had nothing left to bury did not want to believe they would not be reunited in Heaven as their loved one was consigned to Hell due to the actions of the enemy.

I do not wish to cover any specific story in detail because most of the ones I personally know about come from books or programs that are of copyrighted material.  Obviously Jade and myself have at least some belief in these stories and their validity or we wouldn't be including this here. I will not say too many details as these beliefs are private in nature and do vary between both each other and probably our readers.

We will cover this topic again soon, but in a twist.  I just said above that I did not want to talk too much about published stories.  There are three stories that I will relate in the next post. These will cover experiences that I personally have had on original battlefields.  Two as a reenactor and one from when I was just a teenage tourist in Gettysburg.  These experiences are what got me truly interested in the paranormal.

One last point to bring up.  This topic is indeed controversial even among reenactors. Having sat around multiple camps and discussed this amongst those who have had the privilege of being on original fields these stories are not isolated incidents.  I will not relate any stories here that I was only informed of however.

-Corporal


Brady, Mathew B., Approximately, photographer. Soldiers' graves near the General Hospital, City Point, Va. City Point Hopewell United States Virginia, None. [Hartford, conn.: john c. taylor, 17 allen place, between 1861 and 1865] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2011649967/. (Accessed March 04, 2018.)

Fun with Monuments

A little more light hearted post, returning to the monument in Coldwater, Michigan. While there in January of 2018 I saw that someone had decided to dress the soldier statue.  I've heard of this being done but never seen it in person.  The person who did this put a red wool scarf and red wool gaiters on the statue. For clarity the gaiter was typically made of canvas and was worn, in part, to protect the trouser leg from mud.  In this case apparently the soldier was believed to be cold and needed something in addition to his stone great coat to keep warm.

-Corporal

The Wounded

Surgeon at Work

A word of caution, some readers may find this subject visually offensive. 

As stated in a previous post there were over 650,000 men who died during the Civil War.  Many people do not know that there were a comparable number of men wounded during the four years of the conflict.  Briefly we will discuss here the medical treatment that could be expected.

In the first instance, the surgeon of the Civil War era is often depicted as a man who knew little more than how to amputate a limb and how to do so quickly. In fictional depictions he is shown as sawing off a limb, wiping his knife on a bloody apron and yelling "NEXT!"  The reality is that the surgeon was often capable of much more than that.

Individual surgeons had differing levels of skill, the modern system of training only just beginning to be standardized. What made the surgeon's life difficult after a battle was the high number of casualties he could often expect to see.  Taking the battle of Gettysburg as an example, between both sides there were over fifty thousand (50,000) casualties in just three days. Over eighty percent of them were wounded men. The relative handful of surgeons available had little time to actually work on patients.  Sadly amputations were the most effective way of treating a major injury to the extremity.

This is not to say that a Civil War surgeon lacked the skill to perform surgery on the vital organs. Even as far back as the American Revolution procedures such as re-expanding a collapsed lung were known.  Given the large number of casualties, these procedures were omitted due to lack of time.  Triage focused on the somewhat less wounded (such as limbs) primarily as they could be treated more quickly.  The badly wounded would be set aside, given something for pain and left to their fate.  If the surgeon was able to get the other patients tended to, he might return to these men and work on any still alive.

The reason for the large number of amputations was the nature of the wounds themselves.  The Minnie Ball was the standard style of soft lead bullet used by the rifle musket carried in the Civil War. This projectile would often shatter any bones hit beyond the point of repair.  Talking to modern medical personnel, even today there would be little to do with this kind of injury beyond amputation.

Wounded soldiers from Gunshots

Some soldiers were afraid to see the surgeon if they were wounded.  They might treat themselves in some manner or not go at all if they were hit in the torso or head as they knew they had little chance.  What added to the mental trauma of being wounded was seeing the piles of amputated limbs outside the hospital awaiting burial.  Such a hospital scene is depicted in Gettysburg.  This was disheartening for two reasons. The visual effect of seeing so many limbs and knowing it was possibly your fate was one.  The faith of the time being the other.

As mentioned previously, many men believed that to get to Heaven you had to be bodily intact. If two of the men photographed above believed that, they were never getting into Heaven due to their injuries.  This was one reason why many soldiers would beg to be allowed to keep their offending limb.  Sadly, a high percentage of these soldiers would die. A recent medical study has concluded that more men would have survived the war if even more amputations had been performed.

Stereographic Photograph of Civil War Hospital

This only VERY briefly scratches the surface on medical treatment. I have kept it brief for clarity and to limit the offensiveness to our readers.  I have two books on medical treatment in the Civil War era and could not finish either one. 

Soon we will return to our technical discussions on the weapons that inflicted these wounds, beginning with the artillery.

-Corporal


Homer, Winslow, Artist. The surgeon at work at the rear during an engagement / Homer. United States, 1862. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/97501512/. (Accessed March 01, 2018.)


Surgical photograph ... prepared under the supervision of ...War Department, Surgeon General's Office, Army Medical Museum. United States, None. [Photographed between 1861 and 1865, printed later] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2005696469/. (Accessed March 01, 2018.)



Brady'S National Photographic Portrait Galleries, Gardner, James, photographer. Hospital at Fredericksburg, Va., May. Fredericksburg United States Virginia, 1864. [Hartford, Conn.: The War Photograph & Exhibition Company, No. 21 Linden Place, May, printed later] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2009630187/. (Accessed March 01, 2018.)

1862 Niles Methodist Church

 

In the spirit of the Faith in the Civil War series, I recently took a few photographs of a church local to me in the town of Niles, Michigan. I have never been inside this Methodist church but I've seen it for years from the outside. I have been inside other churches from or predating the Civil War and I must admit it always has been a moving experience. If our readers ever have the opportunity to visit a church or indeed any structure with this kind of age, I recommend they do so.  There is the old saying "If the walls could talk..."  If you know what you are listening for, perhaps they do.

For the record, this is not an endorsement of any one particular branch of Christianity or specific religion. There are other churches this old around and I hope to add pictures of them at some point. I happened to be passing this one at the time and remembered how old it was so I stopped.

 As I know nothing of the church's history aside from what is on the sign, I'll just let the pictures tell the story.

 

-Corporal

Faith During the Civil War (Soldiers)

Catholic Mass, 69th New York

"There are no atheists in a foxhole."

While not strictly true, the decades old saying has considerable ring to it.  Most soldiers come into the service with whatever faith they had in civilian life.  The Civil War was no different. The strength of the convictions might wax or wane depending on the individual's experiences but it was an ever present reminder.

"Thou Shalt Not Kill." The commandment is familiar to many of all faiths, believers or not.  Given the massive slaughter during Civil War era battles this took on new meaning.  There were many soldiers on both sides that enlisted but found that they could not bring themselves to knowingly take the life of their fellow man. As officers wanted all the fire their unit could bring to bear on the enemy, this caused a dilemma for the religious soldier. Assuming the soldier wanted to remain in the ranks, the only solution was to miss on purpose. Sometimes suggested by officers just to keep men in the firing line, in small part this accounts for the tremendous expenditures of ammunition per casualty.

Church Service, McClellan's Headquarters, Peninsula, 1862

When the time permitted on Sunday, most units held religious services of some form per army regulations. If the army was marching hard or was in battle as was so often the case, these services might be postponed or omitted completely. The key difference between the civilian and military service was length. Civilian services were often two or three hours in duration.  Military services were normally a half hour or at most one hour in duration.  The routine of the army had to be maintained, Sabbath or no. Pickets had to be posted, horses tended, etc.  In some commands the services were mandatory and if not attended the Articles of War (military regulations) would be read to the men by an officer.

Soldiers often want the trappings of home and hearth when in the field. For this reason, soldiers of almost any era would prefer to have their services in an actual church structure.  During the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, soldiers on both sides had considerable time on their hands. The 50th New York Engineers built their own church. The figures standing by the entrance gives an idea of the scale these men built.

Poplar Grove Church, 50th New York Engineers

During the course of the war, several "revivals" swept through the armies of both sides. More common in the Confederate armies, the men would be baptized and sins forgiven. They might be given a sermon to give them heart and embolden them to fight the enemy that much harder.

Many officers were highly religious, the most famous of which being Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

"Stonewall" Jackson

Jackson was not the highest ranking religious figure during the war. Until his death in 1864 by artillery, this title would have belonged to Confederate General Leonidas Polk, Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana. Faith alone does not make one a good soldier though.  To closely paraphrase, it was said that God made a Bishop of Polk but He didn't make a General. 

General Polk in religious attire

As noted in our discussion of the civilian side, many of this era believed that to get into Heaven they would have to be bodily intact. How this affected the men will be discussed in our next post, on the wounded.

-Corporal



Sunday Morning Mass. Camp of 69th N.Y. SM. United States, None. [Between 1860 and 1870] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/cwp2003003505/PP/. (Accessed February 24, 2018.)


Waud, Alfred R. , Artist. Sunday at McClellans headquarters, Religious Services. Harrison's Landing United States Virginia, 1862. [July] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2004660455/. (Accessed February 24, 2018.)


O'Sullivan, Timothy H, photographer. Petersburg, Virginia. Church built by 50th New York Engineers at Poplar Grove. United States, 1864. Nov. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/cwp2003005235/PP/. (Accessed February 24, 2018.)


Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson CSA. United States, None. [Between 1860 and 1870] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/cwp2003004396/PP/. (Accessed February 24, 2018.)


Gen. Leonidas Polk, C.S.A. United States, None. [Between 1860 and 1864] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/cwp2003003634/PP/. (Accessed February 24, 2018.)

Father Corby of Notre Dame

Father Corby

The chaplain can be one of the unsung heroes in any military. They do not carry a weapon, they do not lead great charges, they generally do not operate in the limelight. Occasionally they get mentioned because of some selfless act performed during the height of battle to aid the wounded or because they themselves were cruelly killed by the enemy.  Rarely in the general Civil War literature are chaplains singled out.  One specific exception is Father Corby.

Father Corby was sent to the army in part to serve as a counter-balance to the Protestant chaplains serving in great numbers. There were many Catholic soldiers in the Union army, most famously serving with the Irish Brigade. The Fathers of Notre Dame felt that they needed priests.  Father Corby was one of several dispatched to the Army of the Potomac.

Father Corby became famous for one particular instance.  Just before the Irish Brigade went into battle on July 2nd, 1863 at Gettysburg, Father Corby gave a general absolution to the men.  What many don't know is that this act was intended to follow a medieval practice. He didn't intend to just absolve the men surrounding him, he intended it for the Catholic troops on both sides of the field.

Father Corby with Corby Hall in background

This act was immortalized in bronze on the field of Gettysburg in 1910. A duplicate statue and set of plaques were installed in front of Corby Hall on the campus of Notre Dame University in 1911.

Detail of feet. Note the spurs, riding gauntlets and hat

Plaque in front.

Plaque on Side

Informational Sign

Overview... how the men of the Irish Brigade might have seen him

This one moment is famous enough to have been also immortalized in the film Gettysburg. I will not share a still from there due to copyright, but if you have the Director's cut edition of the film or the Blu-Ray disc of it, the scene can be viewed at 1:58:58 in the movie, shortly before the segment with the 20th Maine and Little Roundtop. It is only about 40 seconds in length but it gives an idea of the scale of an infantry brigade as well. Father Corby himself is on screen for but a few seconds, but the entire short scene is worth it.

Priests from Notre Dame. Father Corby sits in the front row on the right

-Corporal


Gardner, Alexander, photographer. Harrison's Landing, Va. Group of the Irish Brigade. Harrison's Landing United States Virginia, 1862. July. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/cwp2003000093/PP/. (Accessed February 24, 2018.)