Ruggles’ Batteries
After six hours of blood fighting here it became evident
that Confederate infantry alone would not break the strong Union Defenses along
the Sunken Road and the thickets beyond.
Toward late afternoon, Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles brought forward eleven batteries
of artillery and placed them in a line that began here and extended to your
right along the wooded edge of Duncan Field and beyond.
According to Ruggles’ official report, there were 62 cannon
here – the greatest concentration of field guns seen on a North American
battlefield up to that time.
For more than an hour the Confederate artillery roared,
unleashing a great storm of shot, shell, and canister that kept the Union
soldiers in the “Hornets’ Nest” pinned down.
Confederate infantry then encircled the Hornets’ Nest and forced its
defenders to surrender.
The combined guns of Ruggles’ batteries could fire more than
180 rounds every minute – three pounds per second! The noise was deafening.
Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, a West Point Graduate, was
convinced that Confederate infantry needed artillery support to conquer the Hornets’
Nest.
Ruggles’ Batteries – April 6, 1862 – P.M.
The Cannon you see today mark the locations of Ruggles’
batteries. Although not the same cannon
used in the battle they comprise one of the best collections of Civil War field
artillery in existence.
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