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Stonewall Jackson and the Role of Artillery
- University Press of Mississippi
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154 Stonewall Jackson and the Role of Artillery During the Mexican War, artillery and infantry were employed in unison consistent with Napoleon’s claim that “the better the infantry, the more one must husband and support it with good batteries” (Chandler 179). Thus the United States had organized one company in each artillery regiment as light, or “flying ,” artillery, designed for use with infantry. These were placed at the point of greatest danger. Accordingly, John Eisenhower writes that “the outcome of a battle, therefore, might well be decided by the performance of a regular lieutenant commanding an artillery company rather than the infantry lieutenant colonel whose regiment he was supporting” (So Far 379–380). One lieutenant who filled such a position was Thomas (later Stonewall) Jackson. In the Mexican War, John Magruder was a captain commanding one of the independent batteries that would follow the flow of the battle. Magruder had a reputation as a fighter, and young Jackson worked hard to join his command . Jackson told a friend, “I wanted to see active service. I wished to be near the enemy and in the fight, and when I heard John Magruder had got his battery , I bent all my energies to be with him, for I knew if there was any fighting to be done, Magruder would be on hand” (Robertson, Jackson 60). In Mexico, Jackson would not be disappointed. But as the Civil War approached, the widespread introduction of the rifle led to artillery losing its Napoleonic advantage. In Mexico, Napoleonic tactics had called for concentrating artillery close up against the enemy’s lines to batter a breach through which the infantry could charge. In the Civil War, however , the extended range of rifles allowed the defending infantry, especially when protected by earthworks, to force the artillery to remain so far back STONEWALL JACKSON AND THE ROLE OF ARTILLERY 155 that it could not accomplish its Napoleonic effects (Weigley, American Way 90). L. van Loan Naisawald explains, “Field artillery could no longer unlimber within easy canister range of the enemy’s ranks and at the same time be outside the effective range of the enemy’s muskets” (McWhiney and Jamieson 60). Thus, while the Mexican War is replete with examples of artillery in the attack, the most famous uses of artillery in the Civil War are almost exclusively defensive (Beringer et al. 14–15). As a young artilleryman in Mexico, Jackson would experience the devastating offensive power of the artillery at Chapultepec. It was a formula he would struggle to re-create in the Civil War. CHAPULTEPEC Chapultepec was a formidable 200-foot-high stronghold that presented the last obstacle barring the way between Winfield Scott and Mexico City. Critical to Scott’s plan for this objective was the use of artillery. In fact, Scott had hoped to reduce Chapultepec by artillery fire alone. Thus Scott began his attack on September 12 with a furious fourteen-hour preparatory bombardment. The actual ground assault began the next day. At 5:30 A.M. on September 13, Scott’s batteries initiated a concentrated fire. At 8:00 A.M. the bombardment slackened to allow the infantry to advance. Soon they were caught in a cross fire of Mexican artillery and musket fire. The Americans could neither advance nor retreat. Jackson had been assigned the role of supporting the Fourteenth Infantry, which was connecting the attacks of Gideon Pillow’s and William Worth’s divisions . Now Jackson rushed forward with his section of two six-pounders.The enemy fire was intense as Jackson and his men struggled to position the guns. He was able to get one gun across a ditch and into action, but the situation was so tenuous that Worth ordered Jackson to withdraw. Instead, Jackson responded that it was more dangerous to retire than to remain in place. At this time, Magruder arrived on the scene, and he and Jackson, with the help of two or three gunners, manhandled the second gun into position. In the face of this fire, the Mexican artillery was gradually overpowered and the breastwork stormed. It was one of the day’s most decisive small unit actions (Robertson, Jackson 67; Henderson 40–42). [54.234.184.8] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 05:51 GMT) 156 THE CONFEDERATES Pillow stated that “Captain Magruder’s field battery, one section of which was served with great gallantry by himself, and the other by his brave Lieut. Jackson, in the face of a...