Abstract: |
Major improvements to industrial processes and manufacturing technologies in the early to mid-nineteenth century necessitated important changes in battlefield operations and equipment during the American Civil War (1861-65). However, despite the development of better weapons and tactics, the ground over which the battle was fought remained a critical factor in gaining victory or suffering defeat. Even improved weapons could not overcome difficult terrain! We examine the relationship between artillery and terrain, using an exemplar battle that was fought in the Bluegrass region of central Kentucky, the Battle of Perryville, which took place on October 8, 1862. First, we provide a brief description of the Confederate invasion of Kentucky. This sets the stage for the Battle of Perryville, which was fought between Confederate General Braxton Bragg’s Army of the Mississippi and Union Major General Don Carlos Buell’s Army of the Ohio. The Battle of Perryville was a battle between artillery batteries and for artillery positions; the battlefield comprised a diverse landscape, with dissected terrain, controlled by the local limestone geology. Fields of fire and effective range - with respect to the terrain as well as to the weapons involved - were significant issues in the eventual outcome. We are not presenting a battle narrative, but an analysis of the battle from the perspective of the artillery batteries of the opposing armies. The battlefield terrain and its effects on the use of artillery, including optical illusions, are illustrated using viewshed analysis and scientific visualization, from known artillery positions, to evaluate fields of fire and effective range, based on a 10 m digital elevation model of the battlefield. |
