Encyclopedia · Historical periods

Artillery of the American Revolution

The artillery of the American Revolution was drawn from captured British guns, the ordnance brought from Ticonderoga, and French supplies, organized into a Continental artillery arm under Henry Knox.

Also known as: Revolutionary War artillery.

Period1775-1783
Sources of gunsCaptured British ordnance, the Ticonderoga guns, and French supply
LeadershipHenry Knox
TypeEuropean smoothbore field and siege guns

An improvised artillery

Lacking foundries and trained gunners at the outset, the American cause built its artillery from whatever it could gather: cannon captured from the British, the guns hauled overland from Fort Ticonderoga in the winter of 1775-1776, and, increasingly, ordnance and stores supplied by France.

Under Henry Knox this materiel was forged into a Continental artillery arm that served through the war, from the siege of Boston to the decisive bombardment at Yorktown, using the European smoothbore field and siege guns of the day.

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