United States Volunteers

A. All attending units will be assigned to the Artillery organization formed for a particular event. Units wanting to be assigned to a particular Infantry Brigade must obtain permission from the Chief of Artillery and the Commanding General.

B. All attending units will be assigned to Batteries. Batteries will be assigned to Battalions.

C. The Chief of Artillery will choose Battery and Battalion commanders on individual experience and past performance of leadership at previous events.

D. All attending units will participate in all safety inspections, drills, demonstrations, battle formations and camp duties that they may be assigned.

E. The Chief of Artillery will assign staff positions.

F. All attending units with less that six guns will be organized into Batteries. Existing officers of the attending unit will be utilized in these batteries. Excess officers will be asked to perform positions and duties where needed.

G. Officers are expected to have knowledge of their duties and be prepared to perform duties of their rank. This may mean temporary assignments with duties of their rank other Batteries than their own.

H. The Chief of Artillery will be chosen by the Federal Commanding Officer.

I. The Chief of Artillery must approve all officers above the rank of Captain.
No walk on Regimental Grade officers, i.e. Maj., Lt. Col. or Col.

J. NOC’s of Regimental rank will be assigned duties of their rank, i.e. Ordnance Sgt., Quartermaster Sgt., or Sgt. Major.

K. Company grade NCO’s will be expected to perform duties according to their rank. Surplus NCO’s may be asked to perform as cannoneers.

L. All officers will be required to attend their appropriate meetings. Meetings will be held at four different levels. Meetings will have designated meeting places and times posted. Remember that information has to flow down the chain of command as well as up the chain of command

N. Morning Reports and other paper work will be issued daily and turned in at Battery headquarters, consolidated, then sent to Battalion headquarters and then sent to Division headquarters. Times will be posted when paper work is to be turned in.

Full scale No. 1 or No. 2 carriage with 57 - inch wheels. Full scale original or reproduction, 6 pounder smoothbore or rifled, 12 pounder smoothbore or rifled, 12 pounder Napoleon, 12 pounder howitzer, 2.9 inch Parrot rifle, 3 inch Parrot rifle, 3 inch Ordnance rifle. Other types will be accepted if tube and carriage are of proper period type. A photograph accompanying registration form would help guarantee acceptance. On all carriages, cheeks and trunnion straps must be thoroughly bolted; all checks must be through bolted to trail.
NO LAG BOLTS.

Reproduction gun bores should be lines with seamless steel tubing with a minimum 3/8 inch wall thickness and yield a strength of 85.000 PSI or greater. Breechplug should be expertly installed by a competent manufacturer. San colored bored and not acceptable. The vent should be lined with a threaded vent liner similar to an original gun vent liner in order to provide and unbroken passage through the casting and the liner into the bore. Original gun bores should be lined or tested for metal strenght by a competent metallurgy company. All tubes and carriages must be free of rot, rust and in good working order to be acceptable.
NO MOUNTAIN HOWITZERS, SUB-SCALE GUNS OR MORTARS unless approved for certain rare uses by Federal forces in the Eastern Theater of Operations.

Full scale limber carriage and chest with 57-inch wheels. Limber chest should be constructed and resemble an original in looks and size. The chest is used to contain prepared rounds and small equipment. The chest should have a center divider and a removable tray for small equipment. Friction primers are not to be stored in the limber chest (see ignition devices). The chest should have a self-closing lid restricted to opening at no greater than 80-degree angle. The lid chest should be arched as the original to repel water. The chest lid should be covered with heavily painted canvas or copper ( copper preferred). The chest lid should seal the chest with a lip all the way around as the original. This will prevent sparks fromentering the chest and exploding the rounds inside. NO flat top lids without lip to seal the chest will be allowed. The Chest must be provided with a hasp and lock. The chest is to be kept locked when not serving ammunition. The interior of the chest must be constructed with non-ferrous materials (copper nails). If ferrous nails or screws are used, they must be countersunk and heads puttied over. The chest must be kept clean and free from loose powder. No bulk powder or unauthorized equipment should be stored in the chest (Cordless electric drill, hammer, screwdriver, pliers or other things that could cause sparks). Only the Chief of the Piece or Number 6 should be responsible for opening or locking the chest. No one else, regardless of rank, should be allowed in the chest except during inspections.

All rounds must be triple wrapped in heavy-duty aluminum foil. No staples or tape of any kind. Rounds must not leak powder. No long twist of foil on the round as this could become a projectile. Use black powder only, NO modern smokeless powder. Black powder used to make rounds should be cannon grade; 1F, 2Fa or 3Fa only. All rounds should not exceed 3 ounces of specified black powder per inch of bore diameter. Plastic bags are not recommended for use in making rounds because melted plastic could plug the vent and coat the breech, totally disabling the gun. Flour should only be used in large size bore guns (12 or 24 pounder guns). Flour is not recommended for small bore size guns (6 pounder or 3 - inch guns). The lfour must be rolled in a separate aluminum foil cup, them placed inside the powder round on top of the powder. The two are then folded shut to form one round. The round must be marked to show which end contains the flour. NO separate flour and powder rounds will be allowed. It is recommended that rounds be made in a safe environment before coming to an event. Bulk powder has many possible hazards in the field; with campfires and smokers everywhere, the safe environment is hard to control. It is recommended that rounds be kept in individual cardboard tubes or non-ferrous similar substitute. This will protect them from damage and powder leaking into the limber chest. Remember: when transporting bulk powder, follow Local, State and Federal regulations.

Reproduction friction primers, Hidden locks, Parrot locks or locks using .22 caliber blanks. Friction primers or blanks should be stored in a safe, non-ferrous container outside of the limber chest. Never store friction primers or blanks inside the limber chest tray. A faulty primer or blank could explode the limber chest. Friction primers or blanks needed for firing should be placed in the tube pouch only and carried by Number 4. When firing is finished, return unused primers or blanks to the safe, non-ferrous container outside the limber chest. No locks using musket caps and a nipple will be allowed. The vent cannot be roperly cleaned with this firing device.

The lanyard used to ignite friction primers or activate a lock must be long enough to allow the Number 4 cannoneer to stand outside the wheel and out of the way of recoil.

The most commonly used manuals are the 1861 or 1864 Field Artillery manual, Patton’s manual, N.P.S. manual or Artillery Association Manual.

While artillery drills may vary somewhat, all must be approved by the Chief of Artillery or his appointed representative at each event. These are the minimum steps that all drills must include:

Brush vent; Stop vent; Worm - until all debris is removed; Sponge - Damp, not soaking; Spnge - again, without wetting the sponge this time, or a dry sponge; Advance the round; Ram - Do not crush the powder or break the round in the bore. You can only get a round so tight, after that you are asking for trouble; Sight the piece - Take your time with this step; Ready; Prime; Prepare to fire; Fire.

3 minutes between rounds is recommended. The use of a stopwatch is discouraged. The Cannoneers attention may be lost waiting on a watch causing an unsafe situation. Take your time with each step of the drill and it will take 3 minutes between rounds.

It is important that Number 1 and Number 2 have their eyes fixed on the muzzle of the gun. That will help them determine whether the gun has fired or not. When the gun fails to fire, Number 1 or Number 2 whose eyes should be fixed on the muzzle or anyone who realizes that the gun has not fired should immediately call out:

Number 2 must now determine why the gun did not fire. He receives from Number 3 the gimlet or tool he needs to clear the vent. Number 3 makes sure he hands the gimlet or tool to Number 2 over the top of the wheel, so that Number 2 does not expose himself to the vent or the muzzle. After th vent is clear, Number 2 receives the priming wire from Number 3 over the top of the wheel as before. Number 2 should always hold priming wire or gimlet between thumb and forefinger, never placing thumb or finger through the ring. Number 2 should drop priming wire into the vent to wee if the round is against the breech, then push priming wire into round. Number 2 returns priming wire to Number 3 over top of the wheel. Number 2 then receives from Number 4 is in position. Number 3 moves back into position when Number 4 moves. Number 2 slides around the front of the wheel, hugging the wheel until outside the wheel. The Gunner should be closely watching every step of this whole procedure. He is responsible that no mistakes are made. Number 2 then commands:

Federal Artillery uniforms and accoutrements were nearly identical to Federal Cavalry with the exception of trim color on the Artillery shell jacket, which was red. Some uniforms were of special design according to the state, but all Federal uniforms generally consisted of the following:

Officers: Coat - sack coat, frock coat or non-regulation officer’s coat. NO enlisted man’s shell jacket with shoulder straps. Trousers - Sky blue or dark blue. Hat - Forage cap, kepi or slouch hat. Shoes - Jefferson brogans or period boots. Accouterments - Sash, saber, saber belt, haversack, canteen, revolver and revolver holster. Federal officers usually wore a saber and sash as a badge of rank.

Enlisted: Cost - 4 buton sack coat or shell jacket Trousers - sky blue. Hat - Forage cap or slouch hat. Shoes - Jefferson brogans or period boots. Accouterments - Haversack, Canteen, Saber belt.

Optional saber, revolver and revolver holster.

Canteens will be mandatroy for all Artillerymen regardless of rank. Non-issue clothing or gear such as neckerchiefs, animal parts, knives, etc… will not be allowed unless pictorial or written documentation is presented to the Chief of Artillery for his approval.

Revolvers and sabers are not recommended for enlisted personnel. They can get in the way of the operation of the gun. If they are carried, they must standard Federal issue for Light Artillery. The use of proper saber belt and holster is required to carry a revolver or saber. NO revolvers sticking in the belt with no holster. Permission for firing revolvers must be obtained from the Chief of Artillery. Revolvers can only be fired under the supervision and by command of the Battery commander. Cannoneers firing revolvers must be at least 25 yards in front of the limbers. There will not be any individuals firing revolvers at will. Revolver safety is addressed in TAB C Weapons Safety of this Safety SOP and must be followed. All revolvers brought to an event must be inspected in an UNLOADED CONDITION by an Artillery Safety Inspector or a USV Safety Inspector before they will be allowed on the field.

Parks will be formed when transportation of guns from camp to battery positions warrants its necessity. Guns will be parked with Battery camps if possible, but at large events a Division park will be necessary. Guard mounts will be posted for security and safety of the guns and ammunition while in park. Requests for Guards will be made so as not to put a burden on any one unit. Remember, when on duty as a Park gurad, you will be watching all the guns, not just yours. A wall tent may be set up to be used as an office area for the guard. Guards posted during the night time hours should have reliefs sleep in this area.

Camps will be laid out according to the 1861 or 1864 Artillery regulations, either Type 1 or Type 2 layout or field bivouac. Each Battery commander will decide the layout for his battery camp. All units assigned to said Battery must comply with the chosen layout.

TENTAGE:

Battery commanders

- One wall tent and fly.

- To be used as sleeping quarters and office area for the Battery.

Section Commanders

- One A tent or shelter tent.

Optional Wall tent & fly.

Enlisted

- One A tent, shelter tent or bivouac under the gun tarp.

No wall tents will be allowed for use by enlisted personnel.

Mess and supply tents

- They have their places in both layouts and may be used.

Dependent camping

- Will be determined by the Commanding General, Chief of Artillery or the Battery Commander. Provisions will be slightly different at each event, but we will try to accommodate your families. Many time you will be camping with people you have never met or serve with before. Please treat them and their families the way you would like to be treated.

A. Guns will be fired in designated Battle areas and Demonstration areas only. If a gun is fired for colors, a Safety area will be marked off and Safety guards will be posted. Firings not scheduled must be approved by the Chief of Artillery. No one will let one rip because they are bored or they want to wake everyone up.

B. A Safety Zone of 50 yards in front of the guns will be maintained whenever the guns are firing. If troops come within this Safety Zone, an immediate cease-fire must be given. Pay close attention to this Safety Zone so you do not get caught with loaded guns and troops within the Safety Zone.

C. When a gun has a failed primer or is loaded and troops are within the Safety Zone, Number 1 should place the sponge on the hub of the wheel. Number 1 may have to catch the attention of Infantry troops by placing the sponge horizontally over his head and moving it up and down for a more visible signal. To avoid confusion of Infantry troops, this signal should only be used when troops are within the Safety Zone. Do not use this signal for every round loaded or to play a fast on the opposing forces.

D. The best Safety regulation in this Safety SOP is the use of Common Sense. Use it freely. The only good reenactment is one in which no-one is hurt.