PDA

View Full Version : Goodwins Battery



R. C. Hubbard Jr
07-26-2009, 11:47 AM
In 1863 a New York battery was recruited in response to Lee’s heading north.
The officer doing the recruiting was a Capt. Wm F. Goodwin. Goodwin was from Powhatten, Ohio (not sure how he came to recruit a NY battery) and holds several patents for breech-loading artillery. http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/nhnycw/a ... 03135v.jpg (http://memory.loc.gov/ndlpcoop/nhnycw/ac/ac03/ac03135v.jpg)
As with all breech loaders of the period, it claims an incredible rate of fire; 15 per minute and projected a ball six miles.
This can be seen in this NY trib, artcle.
GOODWIN'S BATTERY.—Capt. GOODWIN is recruiting in this city for a Battery to be attached to the 11th Artillery. His company is nearly half full, and he hopes, in the course of a few weeks, to be in position to take the field.
His guns—his own invention—have been warmly approved by leading artillery officers and accepted by the Government. They are breech-loaders, and are claimed to have the widest range of any in the world. They have projected a ball the enormous distance of six miles and can be fired at the rate of fifteen times a minute. Capt. G. assures us that they can be fired fifteen hundred rounds without cleaning or swabbing.
Capt. Goodwin is an officer of high character and large experience in the science of gunnery, and his Battery is destined to make its mark.
Goodwins battery appears to a good unit attached to a unit which refused to go forward in battle ( the 11th NY heavy Artillery) in this report from the OR’s.
. Goodwins battery of four 10-pounder rifled breech-loading gnus went forward this morning. The Eleventh New York Heavy Artillery, excepting Goodwins battery, which rendered good service, left this morning for New York City, to report to General Wool. This is the regiment which refused to go forward as infantry when the rebels were advancing and near this place. Three hundred and thirty-eight prisoners captured at Greencastle. The Fifth go to the rear this morning as guard. Lieutenant Cron and 93 men, of the One Hundred and tenth Ohio, of Milroys command, as guard, will be instructed to report to General Schenck. L. THOMAS, Adjutant- General.
I also found this item on the Net.
ACCIDENT IN THE 11TH ARTILLERY.—A serious accident occurred on Thursday last in the 11th Heavy Artillery, which went from this city to Fort Hamilton, New York harbor, the particulars of which are sent us by a correspondent there.
Capt. Goodwin went out upon the shore of the island to practice with his guns--twelve pound breech loading pieces—preparatory to the arrival of Gen. Dix to inspect the guns. He fired solid shot for some time and then began to fire blank cartridges and was trying an experiment at rapid filing. He put in a cartridge at the breech before another had fairly left the muzzle, and it ignited, the whole charge blowing out at the breech. The face and right shoulder of Capt. Goodwin were badly burned. The copper plug was driven through the hand of Richard Fitzgerald, shattering it badly, and it passed between the legs of Lt. Ferris, who was sitting upon a fence near by.
The two injured men were taken to the hospital. Fitzgerald suffered the amputation of his arm at the shoulder. Capt. Goodwin's wounds were dressed, but it was difficult to determine what the result would be, but it is probable that he will lose the sight of his right eye.

Has anyone seen one of these 10 lb. or 12 lb. guns or know of one that exists?
Any more known about this battery?.
Thanks
Bob.

cannonmn
07-29-2009, 01:45 PM
A description of the gun and testing of it is here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=romg5D ... n&pg=PA183 (http://books.google.com/books?id=romg5Drmwq8C&lpg=PA184&ots=ll3Sh5vdHC&dq=william%20f.%20goodwin%20%20ohio%20cannon&pg=PA183)

cannonmn
07-29-2009, 02:22 PM
Patent including drawings:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=QLpvAA ... ew_r&cad=0 (http://www.google.com/patents?id=QLpvAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0)

R. C. Hubbard Jr
07-29-2009, 04:16 PM
cannonmn,

Thanks for posting. I have seen his patents but had forgotten about Lincoln and the Tools of War which I have read a couple of times.
Being a short term Battery there may not be much more. Would be interesting to see how it works.

Thanks

Bob

R. C. Hubbard Jr
07-29-2009, 04:24 PM
Lincoln and his tools of war said the Goodwin was still trying to sell the goverment a Battery of four of his gun later in the war. I would assume that they were the ones from the 90 day Battery he had raised.

Thanks