Wanting to keep the model from getting dusty and subject to harm, I decided I'd put it in a case of some sort. Then, in keeping with my propensity for complicating things, I figured that a diorama was in order.
Searching for some reference material after which to model the diorama, I happened to find a picture (Library of Congress, online) that showed four Parrot rifles on a hill. Further investigation provided some interesting information. Now you will be subjected to all that if you read on.
In the Spring of 1862, the Army of the Potomac began the Peninsular Campaign aimed at capturing the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia. In late May, the fighting was centered just east of Richmond known as the battle of Seven Pines (or Fair Oaks). On the night of May 31, several Federal horse artillery batteries were ordered to cross the Chickahominy River so there would be support for the next days fighting. The river was swollen due to heavy rains. The four pieces shown in the original photograph were the only cannon to make it across the river. They were Battery B, 1st Regiment, New York Light Artillery, commanded by Captain Rufus Pettit. For the diorama, this photo is the background, with the model being an addition.
A light, or horse, artillery battery typically consisted of four to six pieces, each with a limber drawn by six horses. The cannon were hooked to the limbers which also carried ammunition and necessary supplies. A single caisson was a horse drawn wagon that accompanied the battery, and it carried extra ammunition, a spare wheel, and other supplies.
A Parrot rifle was a major improvement in artillery. It was named after the designer who conceived the idea of a rifled cannon, giving greater range and lethality. This is particularly interesting to us because of our visit to Savannah, Georgia a few years ago.
We went to Savannah with Sean and Tara when they lived in Athens. We visited Fort Pulaski, which had been occupied by Confederate forces. The fort was besieged by Federal forces which included the first use of rifled cannon. The fort had been designed to withstand bombardment by smooth-bore cannon in the early 1800's. However, the rifled cannon were able to open a hole in the wall of the fort over the course of one night, causing the fort commander to surrender for fear of a round hitting the magazine and blowing up the facility.
All this work rekindled my interest in a book Sean and Tara gave me a couple of years ago. It is a memoir of a Confederate general who commanded the artillery in Longstreet's Corps. Written in 1907, it provided insight into many of the major battles, including the one on which this diorama is based.
It's interesting that we have more ties to that area of the country than I would have thought. First off, I spent three months at Fort Lee, Virginia during 1970-71. It's located in Petersburg, which is just south of Richmond, and was the last major battle of the Civil War. Then, of course, the Jehles lived in Charlottesville, VA for two years. Finally, we found out recently that one of Janell's uncles on her fathers side of the family died in a military plane crash near Richmond in 1945.
