How did Confederate General Braxton Bragg attempt to use artillery at the Battle of Murfreesboro in 1863?

Answer 1

For all practical purposes, the use of artillery in the US Civil War was proven to be most effective when it was used as a defensive tactic. This was unlike the experience of the US Army in the Mexican-American War where artillery was effective on both the offensive and defensive operations of that war. Its success then was carried over to the US Civil War, with grim results. At the Battle of Murfreesboro, Confederate Major General Braxton Bragg attempted to use artillery as an offensive weapon. The terrain there was, however, unfavorable for this and his artillery batteries accomplished little. Based on the way the battle was trending, perhaps Bragg had few choices. When his infantry tried to assault the "Round Forrest" on two separate attempts, Bragg, quite correctly abandoned that tactic. Instead, he massed his heaviest artillery and rifled guns of long range in front of his infantry and made a masses concentration against the defending Federals. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to reduce the Union position on the Round Forrest.