How effective were the Hemp bales at the first Battle of Lexington?
At the first battle of Lexington, Missouri in 1861 during the civil war the Confederate supporting Missouri State Guard advanced up the hill towards Federal troops behind soaked Hemp bales, using them as protection from enemy fire. It worked, and the Federal encampemnt was captured with little loss of life. This was still early in the war. Was this technique used elsewhere by either side during the rest of the conflict, and was it as sucessful as at Lexington?
History - 3 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Wtf is this true?
Answer 2 :
I don't believe using hemp bales was a routine strategy. I think armies used anything that was available. However, if the hemp bales would have been torched that would have made the battle a little more interesting.
Answer 3 :
Apparently the confederates dipped the bales in the Missouri River and the absorbed water kept cannon balls from getting through. As far as I know this was the only place to use the technique and maybe because the armies were small enough that they could get away with it. The only reason I'd even heard about this is because I'm from Missouri
At the first battle of Lexington, Missouri in 1861 during the civil war the Confederate supporting Missouri State Guard advanced up the hill towards Federal troops behind soaked Hemp bales, using them as protection from enemy fire. It worked, and the Federal encampemnt was captured with little loss of life. This was still early in the war. Was this technique used elsewhere by either side during the rest of the conflict, and was it as sucessful as at Lexington?
History - 3 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Wtf is this true?
Answer 2 :
I don't believe using hemp bales was a routine strategy. I think armies used anything that was available. However, if the hemp bales would have been torched that would have made the battle a little more interesting.
Answer 3 :
Apparently the confederates dipped the bales in the Missouri River and the absorbed water kept cannon balls from getting through. As far as I know this was the only place to use the technique and maybe because the armies were small enough that they could get away with it. The only reason I'd even heard about this is because I'm from Missouri
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