Return to Gettysburg Campaign Index    Gettysburg Shop

The number of Confederate cannon taking part in the bombardment of Cemetery Ridge on 3 July is given variously as anything from 138 to 179 in accounts which are all more or less equally reliable. The figure used here is "about 150", which is basically that of Lee's chief of artillery, The Reverend Brig. Gen. William N. Pendelton, who said "nearly 150". This can be reconciled rather readily with the highest number given, 179, cited by Col. Edward P. Alexander, who had been responsible not merely for the guns which were to conduct the bombardment, but also for about two dozen short range howitzers which were to be held in reserve and used to accompany the infantry attack. Merely deducting these from the figure of 179 brings it down into the "about 150" range. Neither is it any more difficult to reconcile this figure with the lowest estimate, 138, which is clearly too low. At least 142 guns can be definitely demonstrated to have fired during the bombardment, which is certainly within the limits of Pendleton's "nearly 150". As result of these calculations we are left with between 142 and 155 guns. Since it is impossible to clarify the matter further, the figure "about 150" appears reasonable. On the other side of the battlefield, were apparently 106 guns deployed along Cemetery Ridge. However, only about 85 actually engaged in counter-battery fire during the bombardment, and most of these for short periods only, as Union chief of artillery Brig. Gen. Henry Hunt preferred to save ammunition for the expected infantry attack. There was room along the ridge for many more guns, but 136 or so were being held in reserve, for use once Confederate intentions became clearer.

Return to Gettysburg Campaign Index    Gettysburg Shop