Average ranges

[La Beep]

What was the average range of different weapons during the Civil War?
What was the distance between troops on main battle lines and skirmish lines?
How much farther would a rifle or musket go beyond the lines?
What distance would cannon exchanges be at?
Maximun distance different cannon rounds could archive?

Basically I am asking if a target and a direction was known about how far to their lines?
Thanks La Beep

 

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[d2]

.58 caliber and up, and at 600 yards, the bullets could penetrate 5 to 6 inches of white pine. So a thousand yards or better on the bullets. Most lines of battle were in the 150 or closer range. Sometimes a lot closer. You are getting the "readers digest condensed version" of this stuff 'cause I am getting it out Civil War projectiles by Mason and McKee and am just hitting the high spots.
Artillery had a range of 1000 yards to as far as 3873 and I am sure it depended on what was being shot and the elevation...d2

 

[La Beep]

Thanks D2 you did give me something to think about. and a rough distance, I know there is a lot of differences in weapons but procedures was often the same. This is what i am looking for.

Cannon balls:
"The battery of the enemy, consisting of four guns, then opened upon us, but without serious effect. My battery, in conjunction with that of the Marine Brigade, replied, and a lively artillery engagement was kept up between the forces for about one hour."

Other dropped or lost or used equipment or bullets:
"When within 30 yards of this cover, and in point-blank range of the enemy's guns, we received a heavy volley from his skirmishers and the regiment in reserve. The men at once fell flat upon the ground, the weeds and tall grass affording them partial protection. A sharp skirmish fight ensued of perhaps twenty minutes' duration, during which a charge of the enemy, made with a design of capturing the skirmishers, was repulsed"

 

[d2]

For some reason those rifles shot high. If we ever find a "line of battle" we find a lot of "drops" and very few shot rifle bullets. But back behind the lines of battle is where we find most of the shot ones. Had a small battle on a river here at home in Arkansas. It started out with them shooting at each other from oppossing sides of the river, untill it could be crossed. We find bullets 3 and 400 yards from where they were standing and the drops are on the banks of the river, on both sides.
I think, especially later in the war, they were good at figuring out distances so most of the artillary is gonna be close to what they were shooting at or short shots and there may not be many "over shots" on the artillary.
While reading a report on a battle here in Arkansas, the guy in charge of the artillary on our side, CSA, was trying to figure out the range when the Yankee's opened up their battery with one shot. The ball landed in the dirt close to where they were set up and it didint explode. They dug it out looked and the fuse and set theirs accordingly and beat 'em back. Now that's funny.
I am a firm believer in research and my "Mojo". If your Mojo tells you to hunt some where always go with it. It will not let you down very much...d2

 

[La Beep]

D2 Some of it funny some of it is skill/willpower like the example above 4 reb cannons dueled it out with 2 batteries of union guns, a bit whop sided however the rebs managed a hour long exchange and got their guns out of there. Then again the rebs were Texans. Just showed how bad the south wanted to win.

 

[Burdie]

Love to read the material that you are discussing Any pionters to this material. Thanks

Burdie