Mountain Top Removal

Train rolls past Redan A

Here is a shot of the nearly completed artillery battery redan behind the Falmouth engine terminal.  Note that I earlier called it a redoubt in error. From wikipedia,

A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a hastily-constructed temporary fortification. A redoubt differs from a redan in that the redan is open in the rear, whereas the redoubt was considered an enclosed work.

The results of mountain top removal at Redan A

I replaced the first redan that JD was working because we realized that it was too cramped, mostly because the slope of the hill was problematic. To make more room for the redan, I had to shave off a good portion of the hill to create more flat ground to allow room for the revetments, the cannon recoil platforms and some interior space.  I was able to reuse some of JD's original revetments, so his work did not go to waste. With the extra space, I was also able to add a bomb proof for ammo storage.

A higher view of the Redan

The redan, cannons, and figures in this scene are 28mm (1/56th) scale.  See if you agree that the forced perspective works.

The guns and figures are stand-ins until the railroad delivers the new artillery. Most Union batteries were standardized on a single gun type. If you look closely you'll notice that there are three different types of guns there. Two are probably a Confederate designed Brooke rifle since they have double banding, but I've never seen a Brooke Rifle used as a field piece. They were normally naval or fixed fort guns. The new guns on order are 6 pound smoothbore Napoleans, probably the most common field piece in the war.

I have not finally decided on whether to install the downed trees as an abatis.  You can see some of them on the left of the redan.

We are still thinking about a name for the redan.

Hand-held iPhone shot looking down the length of the redan.