Confederate Artillery Defense
About noon December 13, 1862
Army of Northern Virginia
General Robert E. Lee, Commander
Brigadier General W. N. Pendleton
Chief of Artillery
304 guns on the battlefield
Army of the Potomac
Major General A. E. Burnside, Commander
Brigadier General H. J. Hunt, Chief of Artillery
381 guns on the battlefield
Smooth bore cannon had an extreme range of about one mile; rifled cannon up to three miles. Since long range fire was not very effective, defending artillery, protected by earth-works, blasted attacking infantry and prevented enemy guns from advancing too close. The Confederates made good use of both frontal and crossfire during the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Marker is on Lee Drive, on the right when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
