Heavy Thunder

Heavy Thunder. .

The din of battle roared like one continuous peal of heavy thunder. -Capt. G. B. Gardner, C.S. Lt. Gen. Wm. J. Hardees' Escort Company

, The cannon in front of you is a reproduction 3-inch 1 Ordnance Rifle, one of the most commonly used cannon during the Battle of Bentonville. Known officially as the "U.S. 3-Inch Wrought Iron Field Rifle Model 1861," the government ordered more than 1,000 during the course of the Civil War., Invented during the late 1850s by John Griffen, the Ordnance Rifle was one of the first mass-produced field artillery pieces to use rifling technology, which gave it better range and accuracy than smoothbore pieces. With one pound of black powder, this artillery piece could withstand a ten-pound conical solid shot over 1,800 yards with deadly accuracy. At close range, the gun could fire canister and antipersonnel projectiles, but it was not as effective in this role as its smoothbore counterparts., The 3-inch Ordnance Rifle barrel was considerably lighter than other cannon of the day. However, the manufacturing process made for an extremely strong and reliable artillery piece. The accuracy, range, and safety of these cannon made them favorites of artillerymen on both sides during the Civil War., On March 19, 1865, twenty-one Federal artillery pieces , five batteries and one gun from a sixth , were placed about 200 yards behind you, in an open field on the Reddick Morris farm. Several were Ordnance Rifles, including those of Scovel's and Winegar's batteries. This mass of artillery played a crucial role in stopping the assaults of Bate's and Taliaferro's Divisions on the Morris farm, essentially ending the battle's first day., [Captions:] , Union artillerists pose with a 3-inch Ordinance Rifle. Each piece was crewed by eight men. Library of Congress, Weighing in at more than three quarters of a ton, a team of twelve horses was need to transport the gun and all its necessary equipment. Library of Congress, Three-inch Hotchkiss shell commonly used in Ordnance Rifles. The conical shape of the shell fit the rifled grooves in the barrel allowing greater accuracy at longer ranges than traditional round canon balls. Photo by Danny Taylor. Shell from CSS Neuse State Historic Site