- Defience is one thing, and practicality is another. -

I think that you are overlooking that fact that these men were both defiant and practical. They would have loaded their cannon, with the appropriate shot, and THEN loaded in the leg. No problem with an ineffective round, no problem with red goop fouling the bore.

As for the bore size of the guns of that particular battery, you might have me there.

At any rate, if the story's not true, it should be. If my great-grandfather were still here, I'd ask him about it. He was a private in Boone's Artillery. And I feel confident that, no matter what actually happened, he'd look me in the eye and say, "Son, I saw the whole thing happen just like they said, and it was wonderful. We just regret he didn't order us to cook the leg and eat it."

(You're not going to get that last part unless you know a little something about the last days at Port Hudson.)