Terrain and its Affect on the Use of Artillery in the American Civil War.

The affects of dissected limestone terrain on the use and effectiveness of field artillery during the American Civil War are shown using examples taken from the Battle of Perryville, KY, a duel between artillery batteries and for artillery positions. Smoothbore weapons were more effective over shorter wavelength, more dissected terrain, whereas modern rifled cannon proved to be more advantageous over longer wavelength, more open terrain. Terrain-based optical illusions also had a significant affect on the outcome of the battle. These influences are illustrated using different methods of visualization and analysis based on a 30-ft-resolution raster digital elevation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]