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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > General Civil War Talk > Fencing on battlefields |
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Civil War Interactive Discussion Board > Civil War Talk > General Civil War Talk > Fencing on battlefields |
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| Fencing on battlefields | Rating: 
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 01:02 am |
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1st Post |
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Cleburne Member
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I was looking at the famous photograph of the confederate dead on the Hagerstown turnpike on the Antietam battlefield, when I noticed the fence was of the post and rail type. It struck me how unfortunate it would be to conduct a charge through one of those fences. It is not easily gotten over or torn down. Much easier to get through the snake fencing. So, now I am wondering how many battles hinged on the type of fencing that the different units had to get over. Were battles lost and won due to fencing? Any thoughts on this?
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 02:11 am |
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2nd Post |
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Mark Member
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I think Battlefield Detectives did a program on the Emittsburg Road fence and the failure of Pickett's Charge. They argued that the majority of Confederates making it to that point stayed their and didn't take part in the last 200m of the charge. In my opinion they went way overboard in their conclusion. It's pretty easy to get over, under or through a fence when you are being shot at. However, it would most certainly break up the momentum of a charge and I'll bet those fence rails look mighty inviting when you're under heavy fire. Mark
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 02:33 am |
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3rd Post |
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Albert Sailhorst Member 
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Mark, I agree!!....I saw that Battlefield Detectives and concluded that I wasted an hour of life watching such shody "detective" work.....IF the fence held them up, then history would have recorded it as a tactical hinderance and contributer to the "failure" of the charge....Just my opinion....
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 02:58 am |
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4th Post |
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Doc Ce Member
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Cleburne That picture of confederate dead on the side of Hagerstown Pike is of members of the Louisiana Brigade which my ancestor was a member, 9th La. Many of these individuals laying there were killed by cannister which was fired by cannon on the hill further up the pike. Doc C
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 04:57 am |
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5th Post |
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Hellcat Person 
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Unsolved History said the same thing, but they pointed out the time it took to get over fence and the number of folks who could get over at one time.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 02:12 pm |
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6th Post |
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Cleburne Member
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thanks for the info. I assume your ancestor survived Antietam. Cleburne
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 02:53 pm |
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7th Post |
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Old North State Member
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Colonel Timothy O'Meara of the 90th Illinois was mortally wounded at a corral fence that Loomis' Brigade had to cross when charging toward the tunnel and under fire from Cleburne's and Hardee's troops at the north end of Missionary Ridge. The rail fence was staked and ridered on top and a history of the regiment said it was too strong to knock down, thus they had to climb over it. This fence, built to hold in livestock, slowed the charge and several of the troops were wounded and or killed while trying to get over it. Canon fire hitting the fence splintered some of the wood, giving a painful hernia to at least one member of Colonel O'Meara's regiment.
____________________ "While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her." |
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 07:22 pm |
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8th Post |
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csamillerp Member 
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considering that at least 90% of the rounds shot from rifled muskets of the time overshot their intended target i would really hate to have to climb over a fence and expose myself to that 90% of over shot rounds.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 08:04 pm |
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9th Post |
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Doc Ce Member
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Cleburne Luckily he survived the war, fought in all the battles which the 9th La fought and surrendered at Appomatox. Question on a Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide test one year was what 2 types of fences were at Gettysburg. Doc
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| Posted: Fri Nov 4th, 2011 08:35 pm |
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10th Post |
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Old North State Member
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It's the other 10% that will get you.
____________________ "While we live we will cherish, protect and defend her." |
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