Don't know if this is any use; the rifles/muskets used by many in the Civil War did not have much of a range to them. That said there were other weapons available that did; however, and this to me is just nutz, officers commanding at the time preferred a 'charge' attack upon objectives, accordingly the only use for the rifle would a be a few rounds at close range then to hand fighting. Attacking a cannon emplacement would thus be almost suicide since the range of that gun is far greater.

So it isn't the bravery or lack thereof of the rank and file that shocks me, rather, its the stupidity of the CO's in not providing their own cannons to oppose the enemy.

It is often said, so I need to repeat it here, that in such battles time was most important not soldiers.

Whatever you think, it is almost certain that both Confederate and Union Irish troops would have known about Fontanoy where a French Irish Regiment withstood the winning British and charging into the them sent the Englishmen running away.