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What's that all about?
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Author:  Joe Meyer [ Fri Oct 04, 2013 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  What's that all about?
The term "windage" had a much more different meaning to Civil War-era field artillery gunners and crews than it does today. Can anyone describe what "windage" actually meant and two good reasons why it had to be so assiduously maintained in combat?
Author:  D. Groce [ Fri Oct 04, 2013 2:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Just a guess at one reason/meaning. Does it have to do with the wind clearing the smoke from the cannon other weapons so weapons could be aimed more accurately? Maybe also keep the acrid smoke from tearing up the troops eyes?
Author:  nsimms [ Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
The gunpowder was laced with marijuana. Some commanders like McClellan preferred for the smoke to blow in his direction, while other commanders like Sherman preferred that it blow in the direction of his opponent's lines.



Just in case you're wondering, yes, I'm blowing smoke!
Author:  Ernie Sands [ Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Windage is what General Puffinhouser used to bellow at his troops.
Author:  Joe Meyer [ Fri Oct 04, 2013 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Nice try, David, but not correct. I'm sure glad that I didn't say that windage had to be so assiduously broken in combat? Ned and Ernie would have had a field day with that!
Author:  M. Lichtenberg [ Fri Oct 04, 2013 6:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
But seriously folks, its the gap between the round and the bore of the gun. The bigger the gap the easier to load the weapon, but the less efficient the charge as the energy escapes around the shell. The beauty of the Minnie ball - actually a conical bullet with an indention and soft led skirt at the bottom was it's diameter was smaller than the bore and easily dropped down through the barrel - but upon firing the soft led deformed and adhered to the rifling and greatly reduced the windage.

Rifles existed long before the Civil War (google Baker rifles) but it was the Minnie ball an invention of Claude-Étienne Minié, that made the mass use of rifles on the battlefield practical.

Generally my wife gets upset when I have windage.

Lt (vol) M. Lichtenberg
1/1/XIV Army of the Cumberlad
Author:  Joe Meyer [ Fri Oct 04, 2013 8:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Yup! That's it, alright! And there's one more reason why it was important besides having the clearance to load.
Author:  KWhitehead [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 7:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Windage also refers to the left/right adjustment to your aim on a rifle.
Author:  Joe Meyer [ Sun Oct 06, 2013 2:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Care had to be taken in loading smoothbore guns that the Boarmann-type fuze on shell and spherical case rounds was on the top and toward the mouth of the gun, or the force of the propellant explosion would drive the fuze itself into the round and perhaps detonate it while still in the tube. If properly loaded the flame of the propellant passed over the top of the projectile by means of the windage gap and lapped the face of the round.
Author:  JMatthews [ Mon Oct 07, 2013 11:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Very interesting! As I am fighting against Lt. Lichtenberg around Glendale in the Peninsula, I hope his tactical skill does not match his knowledge of Civil War era firearms. Whatever the windage is on his damned yankee artillery it is working, lost 11 guns already.
Author:  heydreck [ Mon Oct 07, 2013 8:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
windage played a major role back then same as it does today,,the direction of a mans piss, and that of his spit can be greatly affected by it.
Author:  John Sheffield [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
Great question General Meyer with some very good answers and here I was thinking it had something to do with whether
or not the men were to be allowed to have beans for supper. :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Author:  KWhitehead [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
John Sheffield wrote:
Great question General Meyer with some very good answers and here I was thinking it had something to do with whether
or not the men were to be allowed to have beans for supper. :roll: :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol:


I think that refers to "Down Wind" not "windage".
Author:  John Sheffield [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's that all about?
:shock: :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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