Outdoor sound propagation in the US Civil War

The basic physics of outdoor sound propagation are outlined and used to examine cases of inaudibility and unusual audibility during battles of the United States Civil War. The effects of these unusual acoustics on command decisions during battle are described and examined. Battles discussed include Iuka, Fort Donelson, Five Forks, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Perryville and Seven Pines.