The Battle of Malvern Hill was part of the 1862 Peninsula campaign. The retreating Federals were able to use their superior artillery to hold off the ever charging Confederates. On July 1, 1862, the Union's well placed defensive artillery, secured on the Malvern hill ripped into the Rebels, now under the command of General Robert E. Lee. Union artillery batteries were reinforced with Union gunboat fire as well. The Confederates lost over 5,000 troops. The effectiveness of artillery used for defensive purposes made its most famous mark at this battle.
The Union's Peninsula Campaign was a major military operation headed by Major General George B. McClellan. At the Battle of Malvern Hill, it was the Union's superior artillery that won the day for the Federals. Despite this, General McClellan believed that a retreat was his only option. The battle took place on July 1, 1862.
The Battle of Malvern Hill was one of the last battles of the ill fated Peninsula Campaign. At Malvern Hill, McClellan's artillery caused great damage to Confederate forces. It was a Union victory, however, McClellan, seeing his forces exhausted decided to retreat despite his victory.
the Union
The second day of the US Civil War Battle of Gettysburg was the most costly one for the Confederates in this epic Civil War battle. On July 2, 1863, Union artillery batteries held the Plum Run line without any help from the infantry. Union artillery was also effective on July 3rd, as it helped disable the famous Pickett's Charge.
The artillery batteries on both sides of the US Civil War suffered less casualties then either the infantries or cavalries. At the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union lost about 10% of its cannons, while the South's losses were about 13%.
At the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek Union artillery helped reduce the Confederate attack on Union forces. The victory, however, belonged to the South.
As the Union's Peninsula campaign was losing traction, the Confederates attempted an artillery offensive at Malvern Hill. The entrenched Federals had an awesome artillery base. General James Longstreet was attempting to mass 60 guns to assist the Rebel infantry assault. Difficult terrain hampered Longstreet's guns to be properly positioned in a timely fashion. The Union had fifty to sixty guns and effectively ended any Rebel artillery attempts to cover their advancing infantry. The guns not only caused great Confederate casualties but also smashed whatever Rebel guns were brought into the battle.
· Mallory, Stephen R. (Confederate Secretary of the Navy)· Malvern Hill (Virginia), battle of· Manassas Station (Virginia), battle of· McClellan, General George (Union General)· Meade, General George (Union General)· Memphis (Tennessee), battle of· Mill Springs (Kentucky), battle of· Mine Run (Virginia), battle of· Monitor (Union ironclad warship)· Munfordville (Kentucky), battle of· Murfreesboro (Tennessee), battle of· Mallory, Stephen R. (Confederate Secretary of the Navy)· Malvern Hill (Virginia), battle of· Manassas Station (Virginia), battle of· McClellan, General George (Union General)· Meade, General George (Union General)· Memphis (Tennessee), battle of· Mill Springs (Kentucky), battle of· Mine Run (Virginia), battle of· Monitor (Union ironclad warship)· Munfordville (Kentucky), battle of· Murfreesboro (Tennessee), battle of
The Battle of Raymond in Mississippi on May 12, 1863 was a victory for the Union. Confederate forces were heavily outnumbered in troops and in artillery. The Confederate loss enabled the Union troops to take control of the last railway to Vicksburg.
The US Civil War battle of Stone's River was the result of Confederate Braxton Bragg's attempt to push back the Union army of General Rosencrans. The battle was lost by the South after a fierce artillery barrage. Bragg was forced to retreat.
Based on the post war writings of Confederate General PT Beauregard, artillery played a major role in the Battle of Shiloh. It was vital that the Confederates create a Union surrender on the first day of the battle. If this had been the case, the nigh time arrival of Union General Don Carlos Buell and his 20,000 troop reinforcements would have caused Buell to retreat. As it happened, Beauregard wrote that the ability of the Union's artillery late on April 6, 1862 was the reason that the Federals under US Grant were able to avoid defeat. The Union's artillery batteries numbering 20 cannon provided an effective defense that prevented Beauregard to force a Union surrender.
The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. The Union had 18,399 casualties.