Minimum Requirements For Ordnance And Crews

1^st Confederate Division

A. General

1. The Artillery Branch Chain of Command and Staff are obligated to enforce this general order prior to and during the event to ensure safety of personnel and equipment. In addition, the chain of command is charged with conducting historically based events.

2. Each unit commander is responsible for the conduct of his unit and shall be held accountable for the misconduct of any unit member. Also, the Chief of the Piece and /or the Gunner is responsible for the discipline of the gun crew, safe operation of the piece, and carrying out of orders of the elected and appointed Chain of Command.

3. All gun crews or detachments are expected to Register for Events within a complete 4 or 6 gun battery. The battery commander or first sergeant is responsible to register the whole battery. Individual detachment registrations can be refused based on Event size.

4. There is to be no discharging of cannon in camp. All discharging other than in the scripted battle shall take place on an established firing line after notifying and receiving approval from the Chain of Command.

5. No member of a cannon crew shall be allowed on his piece if he has been drinking alcoholic beverages during the 6 hours preceding the commencement of firing and/or he appears to be intoxicated.

6. The maximum rate of fire for any one cannon will not exceed one round per one minute, from time of discharge to placing next cartridge into muzzle. Slower rates of fire are encouraged. Battery Commanders are responsible controlling the Rate of Fire. Batteries shall only be assaulted at a pre-arranged signal. The signal to opposing infantry or cavalry shall always be the furling of the battery guidon indicating all guns are clear and safe for assault.

7. While on the field the ammunition chest shall be placed at least 35 feet to the rear of the trail. All rounds shall be kept in ammunition chests, except for rounds being delivered to a piece. The lid of a chest shall remain closed and the chest locked at all times except when rounds are being removed, during inspections, or while work is being performed inside chest.

8. 8. A 150 foot minimum safe firing distance shall be maintained between the muzzle and any person, animal, or vehicle in its front at all times. At 150 feet the crew shall load only “light cartridges.” A “light cartridge” is defined as no more than 3 oz of black powder per inch of bore with NO COMPRESSION FILLER. No cannon shall discharge or be loaded with any

9. person, animal, or vehicle within 100 feet of the muzzle, - be conservative. If “light cartridges” were not prepared beforehand, then firing will cease at the 150 foot minimum.

10. 10. All Artillery officers shall hold an accountable position as defined as defined by Artillery Special Orders.

11. Per Division Policy, female troops shall be allowed in the ranks only if said participants can successfully maintain the appearance of a male soldier AT ALL TIMES during the event weekend. If a soldier is discovered to be female, she will be discharged from service, as was standard practice during the Civil War. This policy will be administered by each battalion commander.

12. Any deviation from these Artillery Regulations must be approved by the Artillery Chain of Command in advance of the opening fire for the event or the day. It is our intent to havesafe and enjoyable, historical Event. The Chain of Command is in place to provide you support. If you forget an implement, break a lanyard, are short a cannoneer or have other deficiencies, please request assistance through your chain of command before the field inspections. We can probably help you meet the requirements that will be enforced.

B. Ordnance Inspection And Requirements

1. Only full scale War Between the States Artillery field pieces will be allowed. No mortars allowed unless plainly stated in event package. No Mountain / Pack Howitzers (MPH) are allowed except those previously “Grand fathered” under Artillery Branch guidelines. M.P.H. must be acceptable per host regulations.

2. All Reproduction artillery tubes will be equipped with a steel safety liner or sleeve. Original tubes will be inspected for serviceability on an individual basis. All carriages will be inspected for general condition and determined serviceable on an individual basis per inspection checklist.

3. Only Friction primers or percussion primers shall be used to discharge cannon.

4. Blank artillery cartridges shall be made up of Black Powder only, not to exceed 4 oz. per inch of largest bore diameter. Cartridges must have a minimum of three wraps of heavy duty aluminum foil and be packed to a firm consistency. Cartridges will be subject to random selection for inspection.

5. Only cannon grade, 1F, or 2Fg black powder is permitted to be used. No 3Fg or 4Fg is to be contemplated for artillery cartridges. Powder grades cannot be mixed. No artillery cartridges shall be constructed at the event site.

6. Artillery cartridges will be stored in the ammunition chests at all times. All rounds will be individually stored in a sealed cardboard container within the ammunition chest. This will be fully enforced after July 1, 1999.

7. The bore of a cannon shall be thoroughly sponged with water and wormed after each cartridge is discharged. Wet / dry sponging is a matter of unit preference.

8. Each piece shall be equipped with the following implements in good working condition:

A.     Two Sponge/Rammers - Shall fill the bore and be capable of sponging the bottom of the         breech. The sponge for field howitzers shall fill the breech.

B.     Worm - Shall be of a size capable of dislodging all foreign objects in the bore.

C.     Sponge Bucket

D.     Thumbstall or Glove for thumbing the vent.

E.      Priming Wire

F.      Gunner’s Haversack

G.     Friction Primer Tube Pouch

H.     Gimlet or Vent Punch

I.        Vent Brush

J.       Two pairs leather gauntlets or gloves for Nos. 1 & 2

K.    Model 1848 Ammunition Chest (period) – Limber recommended.

1.) Capable of being locked
2.)    No loose powder in chest

9. Towing. After initial arrival at Event site all pieces / carriages are expected to be equipped for towing between scenario sites, without loading onto trailers. Depending on time and site factors, each 4-6 gun battery may be limited to only one towing vehicle between scenarios.

C. Crew Inspection And Requirements

All crews shall be inspected on their piece for proper drill and safety. Each artillery unit will provide the AAG a written copy of their drill. Crews will be inspected in accordance with their own drills. If units do not file a written drill with the AAG, the unit will be provided one on which it will be judged. It is highly suggested you bring a copy in your limber to the event to avoid delays.

A cannon crew (detachment) consists of a minimum of seven men including the Gunner (corporal). Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, Gunner, and Sergt must be 17 years of age or older. Nos. 5 through 8 must be 16 years of age or older. (Participants 15 and younger shall not serve the pieces.) Artillerymen under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or recognized guardian.

Crew members No. 1 & 2 shall wear their jackets/coats with sleeves down while serving the piece.

The No. 1 man shall not double or triple “tamp” the charge. The charge will be rammed home in one motion only.

In the event of a misfire (for any reason ) the command is given “do not advance the primer has failed” At this point the No. 1 man shall place his rammer on the hub of his wheel as a clear indication of the misfire. With this the crew shall go into the proper failed primer drill after a minimum of a 3 minute wait. During this time the cannon shall not be left unattended or moved. The misfire shall be cleared when the Gunner is satisfied that it can be done safely. Should a piece have three consecutive misfires the Battery and Battalion commanders shall be notified. Prior to any additional action in behalf of the gun crew, the Battery Commander shall be present. No. 1 will hold his rammer on hub until piece is cleared.

Once the Battery Commander is present, the piece shall be flooded with water through the vent, then the muzzle. The cartridge shall then be wormed out when the Gunner is satisfied that it can be done safely. No cartridges shall be reseated or “tamped” if the primer fails to discharge the piece.

A Chief of the Piece (sergeant) is authorized for a crew that meets the minimum crew size (7). The Chief of the Piece (sergeant) cannot take the place of the Gunner (corporal).

Only the Chief of the Piece (sergeant) is authorized to wear a saber and saber belt. In keeping with General Orders issued December, 1862, no enlisted cannoneers are authorized to carry revolvers/pistols. As Chiefs of the Piece (sergeants) were mounted in all battery types, sabers of any period type are highly encouraged.

All artillerymen are expected to wear jackets, canteens, and haversacks in the field. Knapsacks and blanket rolls are highly encouraged for cannoneers.

D. Mounted Artillery (Horse-Drawn)

All 1st Confederate Division Rules and Guidelines for Mounted Cavalry shall apply to artillery horses and harness/tack.

There shall be at least one outrider or Section Chief per section of guns (lieut). If there is only one horse-drawn gun on the field, that gun shall be accompanied by a mounted Chief of Piece (sergeant).

When in movement, mounted artillery shall not travel at a rate greater than a trot. Rate of movement in the field may be greater if directed by the Commander of Mounted Artillery. Cannoneers shall walk at least an arm’s length to the outside of the wheel. If this interval cannot be maintained, the Gunner shall give the command to march to the rear, and the gun crew shall march behind the piece. Cannoneers shall only ride on the ammunition chests of limbers and caissons, with a maximum of three per chest. They shall mount the limber or caisson and ride according to directions in Instructions for Field Artillery. No one shall ride on the gun or foot board of the limber.

If there is more than one mounted gun operating as part of a larger artillery unit, the field the following applies:

1) When in column, pieces shall maintain a minimum distance of five yards between the last cannoneer or the muzzle of the lead piece, and the lead horse of the following piece.

2) When in line, pieces shall maintain an interval of fourteen yards. Actual interval will be dictated by the terrain.

5. The only cannoneers to step inside the wheels to limber or unlimber the piece shall be the Gunner and the No. 5 man, and the following shall be observed:

1) To Unlimber: after the piece has come to a full stop, the Gunner and No. 5 shall step in, remove the key, and lift the lunette off of the pintle hook. When the lunette is clear, the Gunner shall command the wheel horse Driver to “drive on.”

2) To Limber: after the piece has been moved to the limber and the lunette placed on the pintle with the key in place, the Gunner and No. 5 man shall step clear of the wheels. Before moving the piece, the wheel horse Driver shall look at the Gunner and call out “clear wheels.” The Driver will not initiate movement of the piece until he hears the Gunner respond “wheels clear” to indicate that all cannoneers are outside the wheels of the gun and limber.

3) To Lock the Wheel: upon encountering a steep grade on the line of march, the Chief of Piece or Gunner shall halt the piece, and the No. 5 man shall step between limber and piece to lockout the gun wheel before descending the grade. The order to move shall be the same as when limbering.

Pieces shall not be loaded or fired until the horses are behind the piece. If there is more than one gun on the field, no gun in a section or battery shall be fire until all of the horses are behind their piece. Pieces shall not be moved when loaded

The emergency command to stop all movement shall be “All Stop!” This command should be given in a loud voice by anyone upon the recognition of an imminent hazard, a person or horse in distress, or an equipment failure. The command should be repeated until all pieces have come to a halt. The command to resume movement shall be given by the officer or NCO in charge only when the problem that initiated the emergency command has been corrected or eliminated

D. Mishaps, Incidents, & Misfires

1. Misfires will be reported by the battery first sergeant to the battalion ordnance officer per Special Orders.

2. Mishaps or incidents involving personal injuries or significant property damage shall be investigated and reported per Artillery Branch Bylaws. Minor injuries that occur in camp or in the field not involving ordnance shall also be investigated as ordered

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