This device, canister shot, acted much like a shotgun blast . . . from a cannon. Effective at ranges of less than 400 yards, such shells could be filled with lead balls that weighed an ounce each, or simply packed with minie balls and sawdust. They could also be packed two to a cannon, doubling the deadly fire. The 16th Texas Cavalry faced this horror at Mansfield on April 8, 1864. The back-to-back engagements at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill left one company of the 16th so depleted, that it was only able to field 14 men.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 23:12:44 +0000
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