As breechloading guns were limited in number, this document concerns loading muzzleloaders. Regulations called for 6-9 privates and a corporal who served as the gunner. While the gunner did not fire the piece, he sighted the gun and estimated the range to the target. He was the direct commander of the gun crew. Each crewman, except the gunner, was numbered. The diagrams use different colors to distinguish positions.
On the command "Load", Number 3 (dk. blue) placed his thumb in a thumbstall and covered the vent. Number 1 (red) sponged out the bore, to clean out the barrel and extinguish any remaining sparks. Number 5 (lt. green) removed the round from his haversack and gave it to Number 2 (lt. blue). Number 2 placed the round into the muzzle and Number 1 rammed it back into place. Number 3 keeps the vent closed throughout this procedure, preventing a breeze from fanning any sparks into the vent. While this is happening, the gunner (dk.. green) has shouted orders for the type of ammunition and distance required for the shot to follow the one being loaded. At the limber Number 6 (yellow) and Number 7 (violet) prepare the shell and charge. They also cut and insert the proper fuse.
Once the round was in place, Number 3 moved back to the trail of the gun. The gunner stepped up to the sight and aimed the gun. The proper elevation was achieved by turning an elevating screw. This was a large screw, with handles at the top, upon which the rear of the barrel rested. By lowering the screw, a higher angle of elevation was achieved. The deflection was set by Number 3 moving the handspike left or right to the gunner's commands. While this occurred, Numbers 1 and 2 remained at their positions on either side of the muzzle, and Number 5 returned to the caisson for another round.
Number 5 received the new round from Number 6 and 7, and returns to the cannon. Number 3 then moved back to the vent, and using a priming wire, punched a hole in the bag containing the gunpowder, exposing some of it. Number 4 (gray) removed a friction primer from a pouch. The friction primer consists of a short tube welded at a 90° angle to a longer tube. The long one contains standard gunpowder. The short tube holds friction powder, a fine-grain gunpowder, and a wire with a rough end. The tube was pinched at one end and the wire went out the other side, where it formed a loop. Number 4 now placed the long tube of the friction primer into the vent. He attached the hook on the lanyard to the hoop of wire. The lanyard is then held taunt, and the members of the crew assume their positions. The gun was then announced as "Ready".
The gunner stepped to one side to observe the effects of the shot. The order to "Fire" was normally preceded by the gun or section, such as "Gun 2, Fire!" With this command, Number 4 gave a swift tug on the lanyard. The tug pulled the wire through the fine gunpowder, creating a spark that ignited the powder in the large tube of the primer. The "flash" traveled down the primer and to the exposed powder on the charge bag, which in turn fired the main charge.
A good crew performed the loading procedure without wasted effort or movement. A field battery could fire 2 shots a minute. A faster rate of fire could be achieved if sponging was omitted. That, however, caused a greater danger to premature ignition from sparks in the bore.
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