3rd New York Light Artillery
"Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl"
Anonymous
the close-packed infantry formations in use at the time. At ranges of up to 350 yards,
canister containing steel balls much like a shotgun shell, would be fired upon oncoming
troops. Using double cannister of two loads per gun, a battery of two pieces could, with
one volley fired at close range, inflict 80% casualties on a company of 100 men . The
artillery truly were, the loud-mouthed dogs of war.
The largest artillery, was garrison or fortress artillery such as Columbiads, 24 and 32
pounders, and mortars. Field artillery were smaller, lighter, and being horse drawn, very
maneuverable. The artillery workhorse of the Civil War was the 12 pounder smoothbore
Napoleon, a weapon that would have been familiar to it's name-sake. With the
introduction of modern rifled cannon such as the Parrott and 3 inch ordnance rifle,
accuracy improved tremendously at ranges of up to 2000 yards, firing a bewildering
variety of ordnance.
Few Civil war Battles were fought at night.
Here the Donaldsonville Artillery use the darkness to
demonstrate the power of the artillery.
The
Donaldsonville Artillery and their alter ego, the 3rd New York Light Artillery, man a
6-pound mountain rifle and limber using the drill and discipline of the period. All
members are qualified annually at the Artillery School held at Fort Niagara N.Y. Their
ability to maneuver their field piece, while keeping up with the infantry on attack, has
earned them the respect and admiration of their American counterparts. Their ability to
"galvanize" (switch from Confederate to Union artillerists) as required, permits them more
flexibility in meeting the needs of the event or demonstration.
The original battery was formed in Donaldsonville, Louisiana in 1837 as the Cannoneers de
Donaldsonville. They mustered into Confederate service in August of 1861 and shipped
out to Virginia on the 18th of September 1861, under Captain Victor Maurin. The unit
served on the peninsula with General Rains and then with various brigades under the
command of General Longstreet. The 1863 re-organization of the Army of Northern
Virginia saw the unit attached to the 3rd Corps. The battery was mentioned in dispatches
at Sharpsburg, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and they were surrendered at Appomatox.
Captain Maurin was recognized for his ability by B.G. William Pendleton who was the
Chief of Artillery under Robert E. Lee.
The 3rd. New York Light Artillery served under General Couch of the 4th Corps in 1862
after which they were assigned to the 5th Corps Artillery in 1863 under Col. Tompkins.
Both the Donaldsonville and 3rd. New York batteries fought at Gettysburg and may have
actually fired upon each other on that field.
For more information on the Donaldsonville - 3rd New York Light Artillery, please contact
Al De Santis by email.
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