Ruggles' Battery, Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee
N 35° 08.241 W 088° 20.555
16S E 377688 N 3889099
Ruggles' Battery was the largest massed artillery bombardment ever seen in North America as of April 6, 1862 during the Battle of Shiloh. The artillery pieces were of various types and sizes as was usual during the War Between the States.
Waymark Code: WM612K
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 03/15/2009
Views: 6
The battery stretched from the approximate coordinates N35 08.241 W88 20.555 to N35 08.023 W88 20.510.
As repeated CS assaults against the Hornets Nest fail, a number of artillery units are assembled along the south edge of Duncan’s Field beginning around 3:00pm. The amalgamation of batteries include the Washington Artillery of New Orleans (5th Co.), Bankhead’s Tennessee Battery, Swett’s Mississippi Battery, at least two batteries from Arkansas plus others totaling nearly 55 guns. At the time, it was the largest concentration of artillery ever seen in North America. From around 3:30 onwards they pound the US forces gathered around the Hornets Nest across Duncan Field with shot & shell. However US counterbattery fire gave as good as they got, disabling Robertson’s Florida battery and parts of others. Credited with finally breaking up Hornets Nest sector, the reality was that US resistance in the area was already beginning to crumble as assorted small units broke and retreated north to Pittsburg Landing.
Some controversy exists as to who exactly gave the order to concentrate artillery at this point. It has gone down in history as “Ruggle’s Battery” even though Brig. Genl. Daniel Ruggles was an infantry officer with little authority to order such a move. Major Francis Shoup, Chief of Artillery of Hardee’s Corps later claimed the honor during the postwar years. Other sources indicate that Brig. Genl. James Trudeau began the concentration after orders from Beauregard. NPS tablets at the site and literature tend to go with the “Ruggle’s Battery” designation.
Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles was the commander of the First Division of Major General Braxton Bragg's army corps, which — in turn — was part of General Albert Sidney Johnston's Confederate Army of the Mississippi. Around 3 p.m. on April 6, 1862 Ruggles was busy accumulating a large concentration of artillery for an assault on the Hornets' Nest.
At this point in the war an artillery battery consisted of six cannons, with the battery further subdivided into three sections, two cannons per section. This was not a hard and fast rule, though, as some batteries might be reduced to as few as two or three cannons. The concentration of guns that became known as "Ruggles' Battery" was actually a "Grand Battery". A grand battery was a mass of several artillery batteries firing, more or less, as a single unit. Therefore "Ruggles' Battery" was more accurately "Ruggles' Grand Battery".
By 5 p.m. Ruggles had amassed 62 cannons, which bombarded the Hornets' Nest position unmercifully. The grand battery consisted of two portions. In front of the central Hornet's Nest thicket were five batteries and one section, numbering about 26 cannons. These were Cobb's Kentucky Battery, Byrne's Kentucky Battery, Thrall's section of Hubbard's Arkansas Battery, Swett's Mississippi Battery, Trigg's Arkansas Battery, and Robert's Arkansas Battery. To the left of those batteries, before the right flank of the Hornet's Nest along Duncan Field, were about 36 cannons in six batteries. These were Rutledge's Tennessee Battery, Robertson's Alabama Battery, Stanford's Mississippi Battery, Bankhead's Tennessee Battery, Hodgson's company of the Washington Artillery of Louisiana, and Ketchum's Alabama Battery.
After five unsuccessful assaults, it was the concentrated fire of the grand battery and the subsequent Confederate assaults and outflanking maneuvers that collapsed the Hornets' Nest. Ruggles' Grand Battery was the largest concentration of artillery fire up to that point of the American Civil War.
What type of artillery is this?: Various types and sizes
Where is this artillery located?: Park
What military of the world used this device?: Confederate States Army
Parking location to view this Waymark: N 35° 08.287 W 088° 20.570
Artillery is no longer operational: yes
Still may work: no
Are there any geocaches at this location?:
unknown
Date artillery was in use: Not listed
Date artillery was placed on display: Not listed
Cost?: Not Listed
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