During the Civil war, artillery was an effective and devastating weapon, especially against the 
close-packed infantry formations in use at the time. At ranges of up to 350 yards, canister containing 
steel balls much like a shotgun shell, would be fired upon oncoming troops. Using double cannister of 
two loads per gun, a battery of two pieces could, with one volley fired at close range, inflict 80% 
casualties on a company of 100 men . The artillery truly were, the loud-mouthed dogs of war.

The largest artillery, was garrison or fortress artillery such as Columbiads, 24 and 32 pounders, and 
mortars. Field artillery were smaller, lighter, and being horse drawn, very manoeuvrable. The artillery 
workhorse of the Civil War was the 12 pounder smooth bore Napoleon, a weapon that would have been 
familiar to it's name-sake. With the introduction of modern rifled cannon such as the Parrott and 3 inch 
ordnance rifle, accuracy improved tremendously at ranges of up to 2000 yards, firing a bewildering 
variety of ordnance.

Donaldsonville Artillery and their alter ego, the 3rd New York Light Artillery, man a 6-pound mountain 
rifle and limber using the drill and discipline of the period. All members are qualified annually at the 
Artillery School held at Fort Niagara N.Y.. Their ability to manoeuvre their field piece, while keeping up 
with the infantry on attack, has earned them the respect and admiration of their American counterparts. 
Their ability to "galvanize" (switch from Confederate to Union artillerists) as required, permits them 
more flexibility in meeting the needs of the event or demonstration.

The original battery was formed in Donaldsonville, Louisiana in 1837 as the Cannoneers de 
Donaldsonville. They mustered into Confederate service in August of 1861 and shipped out to Virginia 
on the 18th of September 1861, under Captain Victor Maurin. The unit served on the peninsula with 
General Rains and then with various brigades under the command of General Longstreet. The 1863 
re-organization of the Army of Northern
Virginia saw the unit attached to the 3rd Corps. The battery was mentioned in dispatches at 
Sharpsburg, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and they surrendered at Appomattox. Captain Maurin was 
recognized for his ability by B.G. William Pendleton who was the
Chief of Artillery under Robert E. Lee.

The  3rd. New York Light Artillery served under General Couch of the 4th Corps in 1862 after which 
they were assigned to the 5th Corps Artillery in 1863 under Col. Tompkins. Both the Donaldsonville and 
3rd. New York batteries fought at Gettysburg and may have actually fired upon each other on that field.