#8344 AWI American Artillery

At the beginning of the American War of Independence, the colonies possessed artillery companies, guns and stores, but they lacked a unified and experienced national artillery arm. Under the leadership of men such as Henry Knox, the Continental artillery gradually developed into a disciplined and effective force. Congress eventually organized the artillery into four Continental regiments, although their companies and detachments were usually distributed among different armies and fortifications rather than serving together as complete regiments. By the later years of the war, American gunners had gained considerable experience and had become capable opponents of the professionally trained British artillery.

Box front

The Americans relied upon a varied collection of artillery. Their guns included pieces already held by the colonies, cannon captured from the British, weapons manufactured in America and artillery supplied by France. French field guns became particularly important to the Continental Army, while the light British 6-pounders captured at Saratoga in 1777 were highly prized and continued in American service for the remainder of the war. This mixture of sources meant that American batteries were less standardized than their British counterparts, but it also reflected the resourcefulness with which the Continental Army built its artillery arm.

Box back including scans of the poses

The cannon represents a galloper run, which was a small, mobile field piece mounted on a light carriage. It could be drawn by a single horse or a small horse team and was intended to move with infantry more easily than heavier artillery. Its relatively small shot had limited power at long range, but at close range using grape or canister it could still be highly effective against densely formed troops.

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The crew includes a man holding a linstock, another carrying a worm for clearing the bore, a gunner using the sponge and a crewman covering the touchhole with his thumb while the barrel is cleaned. An officer drawing or replacing his sword completes the group. The poses have been designed to work together as a gun crew, representing several consecutive stages in preparing a cannon for its next shot. Several of the men have removed their coats and work in shirts and waistcoats, an entirely practical appearance for the hot and strenuous labour of serving a gun.

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