Heavy Artillery on Parade

[ArtilleryNick]

Came across this image of the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery at Ft. Monroe, a good image in and of it's self. However, on a closer look if you get the picture into a large view, it appears that atleast for this occasion they are equiped as infantry, judging stricktly by objects in hand. All in all it's a nice image of heavy artillery not at their guns.
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/cwpb/03600/03674r.jpg

[dclarry]

Nick,

I am not surprised they are equipped as infantry, as it was my understanding that heavy artillery was typically cross-trained as infantry. There are numerous images of heavy units in the ring forts of DC wearing cartridge boxes. I am surprised by what looks like sky blue trousers on everyone. I thought heavy artillery units typically wore dark blue trousers, but I'm no expert.

[Marc]

The 3rd PA heavy did a lot of guard duty at Fortress Monroe. They also served on light ships as guards on the ship. They had the honor to guard Jefferson Davis when he was kept at Fortress Monroe.

I own the Colt contract musket and bayonet of Cpl Henry Brown from Snyder County PA who was in the 3rd PA Heavy Artillery and stationed at Fortress Monroe. Upon my demise, the musket and bayonet go to the Snyder County Historical Society so it stays in the area.

[roundshot]

Here's a close up of their band. Check out the artillery shakos and the bearskin worn by the Drum Major. Not bad duty.

[ThehosGendar]

Two cool details I like in this image, and a second where they've wheeled right into columns of companies in open order:

1) Notice the nice right angle of this soldier's left arm. That is the texbook way to present arms. No staring at the middle band here. The right angle of the left arm is the salute, and his is sharp and well-executed.

2) The drum corps in knapsacks. Cool. Plus, they're laden down with musician swords, too... those drummers must have had a helluva time marching with all that junk on.

These come from LC-DIG-cwpb-03674 - "Fort Monroe, Va. 3d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery on parade" and LC-DIG-cwpb-03828 - "Fort Monroe, Virginia. 3d Regiment Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. (152nd Volunteers)."

[VA-Patriot'61]

2) The drum corps in knapsacks. Cool. Plus, they're laden down with musician swords, too... those drummers must have had a helluva time marching with all that junk on.

Having actually stood parade more times than I can count with a drum on I would assume they are probably more comfortable than they look with the knapsacks on to counterbalance the weight of the drum... just my opinion.

[ThehosGendar]

Having actually stood parade more times than I can count with a drum on I would assume they are probably more comfortable than they look with the knapsacks on to counterbalance the weight of the drum... just my opinion.

Oh, probably. Knapsacks aren't really a problem, as my drum corps marches with them all time. It's a little annoying when going uphill and trying to get a good breath while fifing, but, it's something you get used. Combine that with the musician's sword flopping at your side, and it was all the more annoying. Kind of why I hate carrying the things. But, of course, with time, you find that nice comfy spot where everything just flows, so, who knows.

[markj]

Two cool details I like in this image, and a second where they've wheeled right into columns of companies in open order:

1) Notice the nice right angle of this soldier's left arm. That is the texbook way to present arms. No staring at the middle band here. The right angle of the left arm is the salute, and his is sharp and well-executed.

2) The drum corps in knapsacks. Cool. Plus, they're laden down with musician swords, too... those drummers must have had a helluva time marching with all that junk on.

These come from LC-DIG-cwpb-03674 - "Fort Monroe, Va. 3d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery on parade" and LC-DIG-cwpb-03828 - "Fort Monroe, Virginia. 3d Regiment Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. (152nd Volunteers)."

Yes, very nice series. I discovered these images several years ago and used an extract from one of them in my Watchdog article, "It is a hard thing to make a good salute." (See attachment).

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Amtmann]

Even though my Avatar is kind of hard to make out, it's me wearing a knapsack and playing a Bass Drum. Never had any problem with the combination.

[LindaTrent]

I am not surprised they are equipped as infantry, as it was my understanding that heavy artillery was typically cross-trained as infantry.

My great grandfather was in the 117th OVI that was changed by orders of the war department to the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery.

I am surprised by what looks like sky blue trousers on everyone. I thought heavy artillery units typically wore dark blue trousers, but I'm no expert.

I'm no expert either, but I have an image of my great grandfather in his uniform that I thought I had posted on the forum before, but I can't find it, so here it is again, in what appears to be sky blue trowsers. :-)
http://topefamily.homestead.com/W.G._Tope.jpg

[VA-Patriot'61]

There's also numerous accounts of Heavy Arty units in the fighting at Cold Harbor in '64. I'm sure there are those more knowledgable on the subject than I.

I became interested in the 1st Conn. Hvy Arty after finding out they occupied the family grounds and kept their stores there during the Peninsula campaign.

[DougCooper]

Gang, HA units were issued standard army uniforms. Standard army issue did not differentiate as to color trousers for a specific branch. Trousers are trousers, foot or mounted pattern. HA units were issued red piped frocks and standard fatigue blouses (sack coats). In the field around Petersburg you would be hard pressed to tell them apart from any other infantry unit. These very large regiments (2400 on paper) fought with distinction and truly awful casualties in the Overland Campaign...as infantry. What they lacked in experience they made up in desperate courage.

Don Troiani captured this courage well in his painting "Forlorn Hope" about the 1st Maine HA's slaughter in 15 minutes at Petersburg June 18, 1864

They made a big difference once Grant realized his reeinforcements were manning the forts around DC with little to do.

One wag in the AoP during the Overland Campaign relates an incident when a new HA regiment arrived and the veterans asked "what regiment is this?" A man in the marching column replied "1st Maine!" A bit later on, the same question was asked. The same answer came back "1st Maine!" That's when the vets realized this was a different animal - regiments the size of brigades.

[Marc]

Yes they really did fight hard at Cold Harbor. A few years back the Columbia Rifles did a living history at Cold Harbor and a few of us were guests. We did an early morning Sunday march of one of the newer regiments and their first experience (can't remember now if HA), but they were new and Kevin O'Beirne made a presentation that was so good you felt as if you were in the regiment marching to the front at Cold Harbor and I could imagine what they faced and felt. I see the CRs are going back to Cold Harbor this year and it should be an excellant event.

[1stMaine]

Comrades,

Speaking of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, there is a wonderful account by John West Haley in his memoirs "The Rebel Yell and The Yankee Hurrah" about seeing them at Spotsylvania.

Haley recounts that the 17th Maine (his regiment) was sent to support a Brigade in trouble. When they arrived, they discovered that the "brigade" was the 1st Maine HA. The unit was so large compared to normal regiments that it had been mistaken for an entire brigade.

The HA regiments were not at all happy when Grant ordered them out of their comfy forts and into the field. In fact, the 1st Maine had left DC with nearly everything they owned. Their knapsacks were filled with newly-issued clothing and luxury goods, their wagons carried all the regimental desks, tenatge, etc. They were like a small legion on the march, and it wasn't till Spotsylvania that they were divested of much of their items. John Haley tells of how that particular event occured as well.

Respects,

[Savannah Republican Blues]

ArtilleryNick,

Do you know what timeframe this particular photo is? Its very possible my ancestor is in that photo somewhere.

He was with the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery until around early spring of 1863 when he transferred over to the Co. "D" 45th Pennsylvania Militia...

His name was Private. William Search from Bucks Co., Pennsylvania just above Philadelphia!

Thanks,
Savannah Republican Blues

[mtvernon]

I thought heavy artillery units typically wore dark blue trousers, but I'm no expert.

My GGG served in the 10th NYHA, and here's his portrait. No dark blue here!

[Mutt]

Dark blue trousers on HA. Now THERE'S a debate I've been having with several people for a good many years. haha

While at Ft. DE I portrayed a fella in Young's Independent Battery G (Pittsburgh Heavy Artillery). We have several images of small groups of them (10-12) all in sky blue trousers. They were smattered with a mix of dress coats, mounted jackets and fatigue blouses, however. Great stuff!


In regards to the cross training of heavy artillery with infantry, I agree with what has been said already and late war battles atest enough to it. To add a bit to it, the boys of Battery G had the lovely task (along with others) of guarding thousands of Confederate prisioners. Therefore, they were adorned with all the necassary accoutrements of an infantryman (old muskets 42 and converted 1816s) and had inspections of their quarters and knapsacks. There are a few sketches of the men in arty jackets and infantry accoutrements as well.

Szabo toook a great image of me and some of my buds at the Fort several years back. We're mimicing one of those sketches. Check it out in his Gallery section of his site. It's called "Wearing the Barrel".

Best,