Ron,
I am confident that your knowledge of field artillery surpasses mine both "in the day" and now. I know of your experience and reputation. But for the purpose of corresponding with you on this issue in the hope of learning more about the King of Battle may I ask questions and offer some comment? Since this "operation" was in 1864 I believe that all of the 2.9 inch Parrotts would have been replaced with the standard (and more refined) 3 inch Parrott or more probably with the more reliable and readily manufactured and available 3 inch ordnance rifle. Since the O.R. can only provide the issue of 2.9 inch Parrotts in 1862 to this battery, don't you think it is probable that they could have been replaced by that time. The ordnance rifle was close to equal in weight to the Parrott. This, assuming that since they were more advanced Federal guns, they were rolling on the heavier carriage than the earlier cut down trail of the Type 1 carriage that six pounders and 12 pdr field howitzers originally entered service on? Do you think the second four guns could have been 12 pdr field howitzers and not Napoleons? I understand that the probability of four 12 pdr smoothbore howitzers would have been odd for a Federal battery (reduced in size as it was). And we must take into consideration the limber and ammo chest load in factoring the total pulling weight of the pieces and their fatigue on the team. Just a few questions and comments "aimed" at, in my book, an expert in the field.

Your obedient student,

Keith