Revolutionary Artillery in the Revolutionary War Essay

In 1775, thirteen colonies began a fight for their independence from Britain’s rule. Without formal training in artillery tactics or a proper armament of artillery pieces, early units had to overcome adversity and hardship. But with courage and dedication the artillery and its leadership were able to play a vital role in the success on the battlefields, and ultimately the victory resulting in America earning its freedom. During the Revolutionary War, the Artillery assets that were available were a combination of cannons, mortars and howitzers. There were two types of cannons used at this time. The Field Guns, which were lightweight and easier to move, and the Siege Guns, which were much heavier and less mobile. The cannons utilized†¦show more content†¦The howitzer was originally designed with a short barrel and large caliber resulting in the charge to be smaller so as not to add too much stress to the round inside. This meant that the howitzer was primarily a short range weapon system. The estimated ranges of the artillery pieces are as follows, the cannon fired with a maximum range of 2,000 yards and an effective range of 1,000 yards. The mortar fired at a maximum range of 1,400 yards with an effective range of 750 yards and the howitzer fired at a maximum range of 1,300 yards and an effective range of 750 yards. Henry Knox played a pivotal role in the development of early artillery, from the acquiring cannons to leading the regiment in battle his impact was unquestionably profound. One of his first exploits with artillery was during the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he directed the rebel cannon fire onto enemy formations. After Bunker Hill, Knox was aspiring to take command of the Continental Artillery from Richard Gridley, however the process was slow due to the fact that Knox did not have a commission in the Continental Army. John Adams worked with the Second Continental Congress to acquire a commission for Knox as Colonel of the artillery regiment. Knox soon received his next mission from General Washington, even before his commission had arrived. The Army had recently captured over 50 tons of armaments afterShow MoreRelatedBattle For The American Revolution957 Words   |  4 Pages1781, arguably the most important battle for the American Revolution took place in Yorktown, Virginia. During this 10 day battle, American forces decimated the British with strategic and relentless artillery fire virtually ending the Revolutionary War. This monumental battle was won from not only artillery fire, but also clever tactics. General George Washington and French commander Comte de Rochambeau out-smarted the British forces by exercising patience to gain the tactical advantage. 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