"rolling artillery"

I've read about an infantry charge supposed by rolling artillery and there was also a horse artillery's. Did the cannons actually move along with the attacking force? I thought it took a long time to set up a cannon.

This is a interesting question. And I should not even try to answer as I do not know.

But it would seem to be a fact that at times it was necessary to change position of the artillery either forward or retreating to safety. In that case it would be probably dependent on how well the team worked together and just how dedicated they were. Also sure the time needed would be different then what we would think it might be as most movement would be on foot, horse, or mule for both sides. Anyway you look at it what a terrible war to fight for both sides in losses.
I am sure there is someone that can give a real answer to this post.

I understand cannon would be moved forward along the flanks. And would start before the actual advance. And could only move once in the couse of an assault
It was the designation of ‘light’ artillery.
Artillery drill had its full crew, but even practiced to ‘service by two’.

Well, I'm reading a book on the Napoleonic wars , say 1793 to 1812. They were very similar to our own civil war in the respect that the French divisions/corps kept going up against the same opposing divisions/corps of the allies. Last night there was another battle with an artillery supported cavalry charge and I'm still confused on whether the cannons stayed put or were moved up with the attack. To move, you would have to get a team of horses, caissons with ammunition, etc. Off hand- seems impossible. Well if I get an answer I'll post.

It was called "Flying Artillery"when moved by horses wasn't it?

If this picture represents a possible battle, Then I think it is about time to get rolling. What a disaster.

Rich44 said:

If this picture represents a possible battle, Then I think it is about time to get rolling. What a disaster.

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This is the view from the Union lines arrayed on the top of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg - the advancing troops are part of General George Pickett's brigade - the so-named Pickett's Charge. It was a fantastically brave but in the end fruitless attempt to remove the Union forces off the high ground. To the left of this location is the tree'd knoll known as Little Round Top, where Col. Chamberlain and his regiment earned everlasting fame by carrying out a headlong bayonet charge to save the left end of the line.

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If you ever serviced a gun you will find it can be moved by a crew quickly
One wouldn’t want to match with one, but moving along an advance wouldn’t not be too difficult as we are only talking a few hundred yards.
Guns were quickly moved to new positions sans horses.
Local to me is Wilson Creek. The union advanced on a camp pretty freely. They were halted when a battery was quickly run up a hill from camp and fired on the union flank

The concept of field mobile artillery was initially a Swedish concept borrowed by Napoleon lll of France. This famous 'Napoleon' 12 pdr cannon made famous in the American civil war was a brass tube of 1200 lbs reduced from the old gun barrel design of about 1800 lbs. The Union Army made this design famous at Gettysburg defending the high ground. While still a stout piece that required a 6 horse team it was much more portable than the old guns, and could be maneuvered by a gun crew with a rope and cross handle system, but not far I'd say. I have helped move a 6 pdr field piece and it is not an easy task.

Treestalker said:

The concept of field mobile artillery was initially a Swedish concept borrowed by Napoleon lll of France. This famous 'Napoleon' 12 pdr cannon made famous in the American civil war was a brass tube of 1200 lbs reduced from the old gun barrel design of about 1800 lbs. The Union Army made this design famous at Gettysburg defending the high ground. While still a stout piece that required a 6 horse team it was much more portable than the old guns, and could be maneuvered by a gun crew with a rope and cross handle system, but not far I'd say. I have helped move a 6 pdr field piece and it is not an easy task.

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Yes, the Swedes and their lightweight 'leather guns' were masters of rapid artillery on the field. It's sad to say that their incredible exploits on the battlefields of the Northern Wars are more or less forgotten outside of Northern Europe, but the history is well worth reading or watching on the many Youtube movies and articles. The 'Lion of the North' was not a figment of the imagination.

I'm Sure what you are refering to is a Rolling Barrage. The guns don't move but incease their range at the speed of the Marching Infantry or the speed of the oppositions retreat. Gun Layers have to be GOOD. Have seen it done on an Artillery range in Wales, but that as done with 25lds. OLD DOG.

Regarding moving cannon by man and horse, it is difficult today to conceive the difficulties involved in moving cannon 300 miles across mountains and streams in 56 days.

https://www.gilderlehrman.org/histo.../dragging-cannon-fort-ticonderoga-boston-1775

Red Owl said:

I've read about an infantry charge supposed by rolling artillery and there was also a horse artillery's. Did the cannons actually move along with the attacking force? I thought it took a long time to set up a cannon.

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The concept of mobile artillery support started about the mid 1800s. Prior to that, the artillery would be positioned, the battle joined and went from there. There were some visionary types thinking ahead and one of them was Maj Ringgold, Battery C, 3rd US Artillery. In the Battle of Palo Alto, Maj. Ringgold would constantly move his artillery from one position to another for the most advantageous firing position. During the battle, Maj Ringgold was mortally wounded but the lessons were learned. Mobile artillery could wreak havoc on unsupported infantry.

Field artillery, even horse drawn doesn't take long to get into action and that's the difference between field artillery and artillery in fortifications. I've watched a Civil War era horsedrawn 3in Ordnance Rifle brought into position, unlimbered, loaded, aimed and fired in less than 5 minutes and I'm sure it could be done quicker.

Let's not confuse a rolling barrage with "rolling (flying) artillery". A rolling barrage is when the artillery adjusts it's fire so the target zone is moving and the infantry advances into the area the artillery was previously just bombarding. That is a fairly new concept and not really possible with muzzleloading artillery and no indirect fire capability.

Eutycus said:

It was called "Flying Artillery"when moved by horses wasn't it?

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It was all move by horses back then.

I was in artillery and what we call rolling artillery was firing in battery from left to right or right to left.

TFoley said:

This is the view from the Union lines arrayed on the top of Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg - the advancing troops are part of General George Pickett's brigade - the so-named Pickett's Charge. It was a fantastically brave but in the end fruitless attempt to remove the Union forces off the high ground. To the left of this location is the tree'd knoll known as Little Round Top, where Col. Chamberlain and his regiment earned everlasting fame by carrying out a headlong bayonet charge to save the left end of the line.

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My GG Granddaddy Pvt Wm. Thomas Carlisle was at Round Top with the 44th Alabama Infantry Regiment (consisting of 363 men), under the command of General Law. The 44th captured an artillery battery along with 40 to 50 prisoners. The 44th and 48th also assisted in capturing Devil's Den and 3 guns of the 4th New York Battery.

From Colonel Perry’s report:

“General Law informed me that he expected my men to take a battery. Such was their extreme exhaustion, having marched without interruption twenty-four miles to reach the battlefield, and advanced at a double-quick step fully a mile to engage the enemy, that I hesitated for an instant to order them immediately forward …. However, I rushed forward, shouting to them to advance. It was with the greatest difficulty that I could make myself heard or understood above the din of battle. The order was, however, extended along the line, and was promptly obeyed. The men sprang forward, over the rocks, swept the position and took possession of the heights, capturing 40 or 50 prisoners around the battery and among the cliffs.. The conflict continued to rage with great fury until dark. Again and again the enemy with great force attempted to dislodge us from our position and retake the battery, in each case with signal failure and great loss. Lieut.-Col. John A. Jones, Maj. Geo. W. Cary and Lieut. W. P. Becker, acting adjutant, behaved with great coolness and courage. I abstain from mentioning by name others who deserve special commendation, because the list would be so long as to confer little distinction on any single individual, and because injustice might be done to others whose good conduct escaped my observation. The regiment lost 24 killed and 66 wounded.”

He wasn't wounded until shortly after the Siege of Petersburg, at the Battle of Chaffin's Bluff. On 6 Sept 1864, he received a leg wound and was captured.

Prior to the Napoleonic wars it was common for the guns to be moved by civilian contractors. Once the guns were positioned prior to a battle they got the hell out of there, no reason for them to risk their horses or oxen. I doubt the guns were moved very far by hand. The weight of the guns plus if you move the gun you also have to move all the ammunition would limit how far you could move.

By the WBTS field artillery were heavy guns. The twelve pound Napoleon,and three inch rifles. Ranges could be a mile or more. This was the end of Muzzleloading artillery.
For much of the ml period field guns were six, four and two pounders. Ranges were rarely over five hundred yards. Only sieges of forts brought out the big guns.
Advancing along a flank was well with in the muscle energy of a gun crew
There was a world of differnce between Lee and Meads guns and Napoleon and Weasley, and another world between them and Washington and Cornwallis
Washington had more in common with Marlboro almost a century before then he did with Napoleon twenty years later.

Juice Jaws said:

It was all move by horses back then.

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For the same reason that fast-moving columns of troops or police were called 'flying columns' or, here in UK, The Flying Squad - Scotland Yard's version of the American 'Untouchables'.