American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

This is a canister round for a 12lb cannon. Each ball is about the size of a golf ball. When in close range (300 yards or less) double canister was used.

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Colonel Jason "Skeedaddle" Campbell
The Mahoning 4th Brigade
3rd Division
2nd Corp
AoT
"Let's fill up our canteens, boys. Some of us will be in hell before nightfall and we'll need the water"

Did the civil war use the term Grapeshot? I thought this was used at very close range. It is a term common in naval warfare.

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General Cam McOmish

Brigade Commander
Alabama State Volunteers
Cleburne's Division
Hardee's Corps
(1/1/1)
Army of Tennessee
Confederate States of America

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapeshot

I think for field artillery in the Civil War just canister was used. Yet I have read the following quote,

"A little more grape, Capt. Bragg" - General Taylor at the Battle of Buena Vista in 1847.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

General McOmish, I have read the term "grapeshot" used by field artillery personnel during the War. I'm thinking maybe it was interchangeable with the term "canister"???

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Colonel Jason "Skeedaddle" Campbell
The Mahoning 4th Brigade
3rd Division
2nd Corp
AoT
"Let's fill up our canteens, boys. Some of us will be in hell before nightfall and we'll need the water"

They may have used it that way but I understand that a true grapeshot had few larger balls compared to canister that had more but smaller balls. Because of that grapehspot was also used at larger distances compared to canister. While grapeshot was also effective against persons it also served to cut rigging, destroy spars and blocks, and puncture sails. Canister afaik was pure anti-infatry at short ranges.

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Lieutenant General Christian Hecht
Commander I Corps, Army of the Potomac

"Where to stop? I don't know. At Hell, I expect."