Cannon Accidents Reported or Recapped from 1996-2003
Moreover, very specific procedures need to be followed by a well-trained, qualified artillery crew in order to safely fire a piece:
STANDARD LIVING HISTORY ASSOCIATION CIVILWAR ARTILLERY DRILL MANUAL
My Civil War club has the original home movie from the 1970’s where the limber box blew up. The line didn’t have a dead zone and the limber box didn’t have a short enough chain so it couldn’t be left open like it was. Either a spectator threw in a cigarette or a nearby cannon threw a spark.
I saw the movie and the dead victim laying on the ground. It took a long time for the ambulance to come out for the others. It was nothing more than a station wagon.
Stupid and sad.
You guys are an awesome wealth of knowledge!