ACW - Artillery Placement Diagram (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

I am in the planning stages of creating a 16-inch x 46-inch diorama incorporating two of the WB Union artillery gun w/crew sets and the soon to be released 114th PA Zouave figures. Inspiration for this diorama is based on the historical events that centered around the Sherfy farmhouse and barn and the Peach Orchard just west of Emmitsburg Road on July 2, 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg . . . . the 114th PA was sent across to the west side of the Emmitsburg Road to form a defensive position near the Sherfy farmhouse in order to protect Bucklyn's Artillery Battery (Battery E, 1st Rhoad Island Light Artillery) of 6 Napoleon 12-pounders from being over run and seized by Barksdale's Confederate Mississippian Brigade. A 2-gun section was located in the Sherfy farm yard and the other 4 guns of the battery were in position near by on the east side of Emmitsburg Road. Bucklyn's battery was saved but at a terrible expense to the 114th PA.

For this diorama, I wanted to place the two guns realistically apart in scale as accurately as possible. In researching the proper positioning of ACW field guns I came across this placement diagram from the National Civil War Artillery Association. The NCWAA provides artillery and "school of the soldier" training classes and written material/regulations to ACW artillery re-enactors. The NCWAA recommends a gun placement of no less than a 14 yard interval from hub-to-hub of each gun. This would be approximately a 16 inch spacing in 1/32 scale. Using this information I will not only have enough spacing to accurately place my gun section, but I will also have enough depth to place limbers (hoping we will see these released sometime in the future) correctly behind them with at least a 10 inch separation (approximately 27 scale feet). Anyway, this diagram has been very useful for my needs and I thought another forum member might also find it to be useful . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Scott]

Mike It's tough to get the correct placement of multiple miniature cannon plus limbers with horses in a small space. Often the term "hub to hub" translates to folks as literally...hub to hub. There are a few period photos out there of actual batteries at drill which may be helpful for spacing. The spacing also factored in the limbers and teams passing though to limber up and move which rarely happens at CW reenactments because of cost of horses and gear. The diagram you posted is great! Britains will have to make a 6 horse standing team at some future time to show the full set up.

 

[Scott]

I had to look it up! I didn't know. National Civil War Artillery Association is using the period manual and the 14 yard interval is from the manual. Cool!


"The interval between the pieces is fourteen yards."

"Artillery drill: containing instruction in the school of the piece...."


http://books.google.com/books?id=P7...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[Warrior]

Sounds like you've got the makings of a great diorama Mike.

Are you going to incorporate any buildings into the diorama?

Any other Union units alongside the 114th PA?

What are you using for the main terrain board?

Will you be depicting any part of the peach orchard?

I've visited this part of the battlefield countless times, my last visit there I walked the route Barksdales charge took, planning on another visit later this year to walk the route Hoods attack took.

 

[mestell]

Mike It's tough to get the correct placement of multiple miniature cannon plus limbers with horses in a small space. Often the term "hub to hub" translates to folks as literally...hub to hub. There are a few period photos out there of actual batteries at drill which may be helpful for spacing. The spacing also factored in the limbers and teams passing though to limber up and move which rarely happens at CW reenactments because of cost of horses and gear. The diagram you posted is great! Britains will have to make a 6 horse standing team at some future time to show the full set up.

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Great looking period photos Scott showing the distances between the guns. I read one account where the observer wrote that a typical 6 gun battery covered a distance of 102 yds which would be very close to the info put out by the NCWAA. I have also read that the spacing was not only required for room to allow the limbers and horse teams to pass through but also to allow room for the gun crews to be able to turn the guns up to a 45 degree angle for oblique firing.
:smile2: Mike

 

[mestell]

Sounds like you've got the makings of a great diorama Mike.

Are you going to incorporate any buildings into the diorama?

Any other Union units alongside the 114th PA?

What are you using for the main terrain board?

Will you be depicting any part of the peach orchard?

I've visited this part of the battlefield countless times, my last visit there I walked the route Barksdales charge took, planning on another visit later this year to walk the route Hoods attack took.

Hi George. My dio base will be 16" x 46" so that it will fit on top of a sofa table that I have in my basement hobby area. I am going to try and create the scenery/arena as much as possible to scale. This would be a rectangular that in 1/32 scale would represent a piece of ground approximately 43 feet deep by 123 feet long . . . not really a very big area. The dio base won't be long enough or deep enough to really incorporate the Sherfy buildings. The Sherfy barn is huge to begin with and would be a monster in 1/32 scale. I have considered the possibility of painting a backdrop depicting the Sherfy buildings . . . but then again, with my painting skills the backdrop just might end up being blue sky :tongue:. The 57 PA and the 105 PA moved across Emmitsburg Road to support the 114th PA on their right as Bucklyn's Battery withdrew. These two PA regiments slugged it out with the 13th & 18th Mississippi regiments. Again the dio base won't be able to realistically accomodate these troops so they won't be shown as they would have been further to the right of the dio base. That is the one major advantage you have with your 28mm figures . . . you can create the "big picture" in a small area. In 1/32 all I can do at best is create a small piece of the action. In reality, I will have to place the 114th closer to the gun section than what they should be and I will have to forego the Sherfy buildings. As I said, this diorama will be "influenced" by the historical events of the day but the size restrictions will limit total accuracy.

I have not even thought about the materials yet but I would suspect the terrain board will be made from Floral Foam.

The actual Sherfy Peach Orchard will not be included since it would lie a little distance out in front of the diorama.

All in all, with the great looking Union artillery sets now available and the 114th PA Zouaves soon to be available, I couldn't pass up a chance to depict the 114th PA coming to the rescue of Buckner's Battery.
:smile2: Mike

W. Britain stock photos of the sets I plan on using

 

[Warrior]

You are right, the buildings would be huge in that scale, specifically the barn. It sounds like a great project, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

And you are on point regarding the smaller scale, not as dramatic as the larger scale, but you can do a lot in a smaller space.

I look forward to seeing this when it's done.......

 

[Scott]

One "glitch" as I see in the photo is that the Colors are flying and the laundry in back isn't. July and second day of the battle, heavy wet laundry is unlikely.

Great colorful subject.

 

[mestell]

One "glitch" as I see in the photo is that the Colors are flying and the laundry in back isn't. July and second day of the battle, heavy wet laundry is unlikely.

Great colorful subject.

That's just a W. Britian catalog stock photo Scott just to show a preview of their 114th offering soon to be released. They are colorful, aren't they . . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Scott]

That's just a W. Britian catalog stock photo Scott just to show a preview of their 114th offering soon to be released. They are colorful, aren't they . . . . . .
:smile2: Mike

Haha Thanks. I can see a company coming on line at the double quick with the first men on line firing.

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Mike & Scott,
We have already released three crews and guns for each side with a few extra figures.

When we started, we had envisioned full batteries deployed like the images posted and we are well on our way to bring all of the important elements to ACW collectors. Look for other elements as we move into the next few catalogs for both Federals and Confederates, along with a few more 'universal' crewman to build extra crews.
All the Best,
Ken

 

[mestell]

Mike & Scott,
We have already released three crews and guns for each side with a few extra figures.

When we started, we had envisioned full batteries deployed like the images posted and we are well on our way to bring all of the important elements to ACW collectors. Look for other elements as we move into the next few catalogs for both Federals and Confederates, along with a few more 'universal' crewman to build extra crews.
All the Best,
Ken

I am putting my thoughts and ideas dwon on paper for this diorama Ken . . . . I'll talk to you about in more detail at the Chicago OTSN show. See you and Ericka in a couple of weeks . . . . looking forward to it . . . .
:smile2: Mike

 

[Napoleon1er]

One "glitch" as I see in the photo is that the Colors are flying and the laundry in back isn't. July and second day of the battle, heavy wet laundry is unlikely.

Great colorful subject.

Easily remedied by a little piece of wire pulling the clothesline to a tilt.

 

[mestell]

Earlier this week I received WB ACW #31097 Union Artillery Set #3 "Make Ready" and #31098 Confederate Artillery Set #3 "Fire!" Both these artillery sets are very nice and I would recommend both.



To continue this thread I thought I would share a photograph of the three most recent WB Union artillery sets (#31097 is in the middle) as I currently have them displayed on a 48" long sofa table. The guns are spaced at 16" apart from wheel hub to wheel hub. That would be about 43 scale feet between guns . . . regulations called for 50 feet. Just thought I would show this perspective to give the viewer an idea on how far apart the guns should be placed if room is permitted on a diorama. Of course most of our dioramas will not allow this and so most of us need to use "compressed distances" in our scenarios. This winter I hope to create a diorama base that will sit on this table. I will use it to primarily display a Union gun section (two guns with crews) and my 114th PA Zouaves.
Mike