[Cannoneer No. 4]

A Little More Grape, Capt Bragg

[Cannoneer No. 4]

THE MEXICAN WAR AND AFTER

Extracted from

AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY

ARMY HISTORICAL SERIES

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORY

UNITED STATES ARMY

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for highlighting some of the Artillery's actions during the Mexican War.

The use of the cannon was an important tool in the Mexican War. It could be used to fire several different types of ammunition depending on the situation. The accuracy of the cannon depended on the trajectory that was used against an opponent and also the fuse settings. If either of these were incorrect the round would be wasted. The varying types of cannon shot included round balls, grape shot, and canister rounds. The differences in cannon ball weights produced varying damage, the heavier the ball, the farther, faster, and more deadly it would be. Canister rounds were used against a charging assault from the front, because it was more effective than round shot in this situation; however, it was limited by distance.

David Landeros

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for all the additions Cannoneer. I started a thread on Ringgold after reading about him in one of Sam's threads last year but never could find enough for a biography.