“Make ready, prepare to give fire, GIVE FIRE!!!!” With these words the public is introduced to the spectacle of the Artillery. I am Joshua Owen, Gun Captain, and your guide to the Artillery.

     Artillery has been around since biblical times, 1st Samuel chap 20 verse 40 “And Johnathan gave his artillery unto his lad and said, go, carry them to the City. But in those days they were machines for hurling projectiles at an enemy using stored mechanical energy. It was the invention of gunpowder, usually credited to the Chinese in the 9th century that led to the development of projectile weapons powered by rapid gaseous expansion, i.e. guns. The first artillery pieces were fairly rudimentary but as manufacturing processes improved they became more and more effective and larger. It was Gustavus Adolpho who emphasized the use of smaller, lighter pieces thus increasing the rate of fire making them more effective against infantry. He invented an early form of cartridge containing both shot and powder, and also used a type of canister shot.

     The piece we most commonly use is a Falconet, one of the smaller field pieces, i.e. guns that were relatively easy to move to and from the battlefield, the larger pieces were called siege pieces and were not intended to be moved until the battle/siege was won or lost. Before we go any further, I must correct a common error. The word “Cannon” is used in modern times as a generic term, in the 17th century however it referred to a particular size of artillery piece.

     Below is a basic guide to the size of some of the artillery pieces.

     The Falconet normally has a crew of five comprising, a Gunner, two Matrosses, and two labourers, although it can be manned by fewer. The gunner is also known as the gun captain.

     Gunners Glass (the artilleryman’s bible) states that “A Gunner should perform his postures orderly and comely and nimbly in the charging and discharging his Ordnance. Let the Gunner therefore endeavour to set forth himself with as comely a posture and grace, as he can possible, for the agility and comely carriage of a man in handling his ladle, sponge and loading his Piece is such an outward action as doth great content to the standers-by.” Broadly speaking this means that the gunner should conduct himself in an orderly, efficient, and workmanlike manner so as to make the best possible use of his gun and crew. The sequence (postures) for loading and firing is as follows,

1. Put back your piece.
2. Order your piece to load.
3. Search your piece.
4. Sponge your piece.
5. Fill your ladle.
6. Put in your powder.
7. Empty your ladle.
8. Put up your powder.
9. Thrust home your wad.
10. Regard your shot.
11. Put home your shot gently.
12. Thrust home your last wad with three strokes.
13. Gage your piece.
14. Handle your vent spike.
15. Search your vent.
16. Handle your priming powder.
17. Prime your piece and cover your vent.
18. Handle your linstock and blow off your coals.
19. Prepare to give fire
20. GIVE FIRE!!!!

     In action and with an experienced and well drilled crew it would not be necessary to give all these orders.

    The only commands given would be,
1. Make ready the piece.
2. Prepare to give fire.
3. GIVE FIRE!!!!

     Singly the smaller pieces would not have been very effective, especially in a major battle, Civil War artillery were clumsy, difficult to move and of limited effect except in siege warfare or in damaging morale. Sir James Turner quotes Monluc in French, “Il fait plus de peur, que du mal” (It frightens more than it hurts). but as part of a battery, or against troops and loaded with hail shot they would have been devastating, bearing in mind they far outranged any musketry opposing them. They would also have been used against smaller fortifications where it would have been impractical to bring up siege pieces.

 

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