Artillery played a significant role in the Civil War, and particulary the trench warfare seen at Petersburg. Artillery would often be used as an auxiliary arm for the infantry soldiers involved in battle. Most of the fighting of the artillery crews would take place behind earthen walls during the siege of Petersburg. If you were a member of an artillery crew, what would your life have been like? What did you do in battle? Where did you live? Soldiers tell you in their own words.
Did You Know?
Captain John Smith was stung by a ray at Stingray Point during his journey on the summer of 1608. He was stabbing them with a short sword to catch them and it was likely a cownose ray that jabbed him back. Smith suffered extreme pain, but the ray suffered worse – it ended up as his evening meal.