Mexican artillery at the Alamo

[vampire23]

  Hi Guys,
what color was the wheels and frames?Where they plian wooden,or were they painted if so what color.
Thanks
Vampire23

[duhamel]

 

[Conquistador]

   Nice pic!  But I suspect it is not contemporary to the Alamo.    

Seriously, is there a period source that describes the color?

Gracias,

Glenn

[Malamute]

From my research the carriages were just plain wood, not painted. But the evidence is sketchy at best...

This is a timely post as I should have the greens for the new Boot Hill Mexican Artillerymen shortly.

[duhamel]

  Mexican Artillery

The artillery branch of the Mexican Army also was officered by trained professionals. Many of its senior officers were foreign-born veterans of European wars, and most of its younger officers trained at Chapultepec Military College. At Chapultepec, they mastered the theoretical knowledge of artillery and perfected their gunnery.

Mexican cannon tubes were of mixed caliber, often old and obsolete, sometimes defective from long wear, thus potentially dangerous to operate. Gun carriages were mostly of eighteenth century-vintage Gribeauval design which, though perfectly serviceable, was heavier and less maneuverable than the "box trail" carriage design newly adopted for U.S. field artillery (Peterson 1969:88-90) (a, Figure 25). Gunpowder for cannon as well as muskets generally was of inferior quality, often propelling projectiles far short of their intended targets (Thompson 1846:173). Another weakness of Mexican field artillery was their poor logistical support and insufficient mobility. To move ammunition and ordnance, civilian carts and drivers were hired as needed. As the drivers were unacquainted with artillery drill and tactics, battery evolutions were awkward at best and moved slowly, if at all, during an engagement (Smith 1919:156).