Thank you, 6lbgun, for your research insights and that Cornell link, most interesting! I hope to make it to retirement one day, and if successful I'll be walking in your tracks, no doubt. There's something both rewarding and addictive in such pursuits.
I considered starting a new thread with the quote below, as there is no Bormann reference, but hopefully the discussion of defective fusing warrants its inclusion here. This comes from Fighting for the Confederacy, a compilation of 1st Corps Chief of Artillery E.P. Alexander's memoirs that many here are likely familiar with, and I'm finding to be a great read and offering insights into the CS "long arm".
The subject here is the third day at Gettysburg, and I offer my apologies in advance if, unknown to me, this quote has already seen use on this forum:
"The proposition of Gen. Longstreet's critics is that a considerable force of his artillery should have charged along with his infantry. But that general suggestion does not go into detail, & there are many important details to be considered. First it must be borne in mind that our Confederate artillery could only sparingly, & in great emergency, be allowed to fire over the heads of our infantry. We were always liable to premature explosions of shell & shrapnel, & our infantry knew it by sad experience, & I have known of their threatening to fire back at our guns if we opened over their heads. Of course, solid shot could be safely used, but that is the least effective ammunition, & the infantry would not know the difference & would be demoralized & angry all the same."
Brief aside- I'm glad you've made more progress, Pete, although it comes with great displeasure.
