12 pounder Whitworth b/l target practice 11/14/1861

[cannonmn]

Notice that these target records are dated the same date as appears on the Camera Lucida image of the gun which was fired at the Washington Navy Yard "experimental battery."

Notice that these test firings took place the same day the camera lucida image (see previous Whitworth post) of the gun was made.  You can see how people thought the Whitworth might be good for counterbattery use; there's just about zero lateral dispersion at 1300 yards.  By 2000 yards, I'm guessing that the air resistance of the relatively blocky shape of the projectile had caused enough loss of spin to de-stabilize it somewhat.

I found this among John A. Dahlgren's papers in the Library of Congress, and as far as I know this information has never appeared in a printed publication.

[Artilleryman]

 " By 2000 yards, I'm guessing that the air resistance of the relatively blocky shape of the projectile had caused enough loss of spin to de-stabilize it somewhat."

Having some experience at long range artillery shooting, I would think that considering the type of sights that were being used would have as much if not more effect on the accuracy.  At any rate the record would indicate that this gun was capable of hitting a gun with about 50% of its shots at this range.  From a practical stand point seeing an opposing gun well enough to accurately sight on it at 2000 yards would be very hard to do, much different from aiming at a 20 x 40 white tarp.