The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
In Response To: Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun ()

It is confusing to say the least. The federal reports state that 17 guns were captured from the Confederates during the Battle. The diagram of Fort Hindman shows 10 guns inside the Fort including the three heavy Guns from the Ponchartrain. Another report stated that by the second day only one battery of guns (Field Artillery) were still in action. In doesn't identify that battery but one is lead to believe that it was Harts Battery.

Now as a matter of practicality most of the field guns inside the Fort would have been useless against the Gunboats of Porters Fleet and were not positioned to counter those gunboats. One would wonder if at least some of these guns were not moved outside to support the Infantry, since the Fort was under such a terrible fire from the Gunboats. Thus explaining Hartsill's comments. But Porter does not indicate that happening. Porter in his book says that during the night the Confederates worked to rebuild the damage of the first days bomdardment and that the fort was effective until the main batterys were silenced and his Flagship was able to moved up against the Fort and rake the interior of Fort Hindman with his two 12 Pound Boat Howitizers on the top deck of his Flagship.

So we seem to have the proverbial conflict in testimony always found in the O.R.'s and other accounts of these Battles.

Messages In This Thread

Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Arkansas Parrot Gun - Owen's Batt. dur. Petrel cap
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun
Re: Arkansas Parrot Gun