THE NATIONAL CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION
EXCELLENCE THROUGH SAFETY, EDUCATION AND AUTHENTICITY
REX PROELII
WHO WE ARE
THE NCWAA IS A SAFETY TRAINING AND RESOURCE SHARING ORGANIZATION WITH 2,000 PLUS MEMBERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS THE SAFE OPERATION OF CIVIL WAR ERA MUZZLE LOADING ARTILLERY AS USED FOR LIVING HISTORY EDUCATION AND CIVIL WAR REENACTMENTS. OUR SECONDARY MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AUTHENTICITY IN ARTILLERY, ACCOUTERMENTS, DRILLS, LIFESTYLES, CLOTHING, ETC, WHERE THAT AUTHENTICITY DOES NOT JEOPARDIZE SAFETY.
OUR GOALS
1. TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND AUTHENTIC SET OF STANDARDS FOR UNIVERSAL CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY USE INCLUDING MANUALS FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF CREWS, ORDNANCE INSPECTION, AS WELL AS HANDS-ON TRAINING IN THE USE OF MUZZLE-LOADING ARTILLERY AND EQUIPMENT. THIS INCLUDES EDUCATING INFANTRY AND CAVALRY ON THE DANGERS INVOLVING CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY.
2. TO PROMOTE RESEARCH, THE PRINTING OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, DRILLS, AND INFORMATION RELATED TO CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY.
3. TO PRESENT AS SAFELY AND AUTHENTICALLY AS POSSIBLE INTERPRETATIONS, BATTLES, ENCAMPMENTS, LIFESTYLES, TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, AND INDOMITABLE SPIRIT OF CIVIL WAR ARTILLERYMEN
4. TO OFFER HISTORICAL SITES, FORTS, STATE PARKS, AND ORGANIZERS ASSISTANCE SETTING SAFETY REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES.
5. TO HELP ORGANIZE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES SO ARTILLERY PLAYS A PROMINENT ROLE IN BOTH CAMP AND BATTLEFIELD SCENARIOS WITH A FORMAT THAT SERVES THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
6. TO CREATE A WELL-RUN AND ACCESSIBLE SAFETY TRAINING ORGANIZATION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR QUALITY PROGRAMS AND GROWTH OF MEMBERSHIP.
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
SAFETY ABOVE ALL ELSE
The NCWAA Drill / Procedure is based on the 1845-1864 US manual, Andrews' Mounted Artillery, Patten's Artillery Drill, and other supporting manuals of the period and follows the military protocol of Teaching, Practicing, and Demonstrating the loading and firing of artillery "by Detail". Necessary steps have been added, to address specific safety issues, that were not addressed in the original drill. The original procedure had very little concern for the safety of the crew, with none for those in front of the guns. In the spirit of honoring those who fought in this terrible conflict, both the Drill and/or the Procedures, have been kept as close to the original manual as safety will allow.
For those who have a preferred manual, any one of the original period drill manuals can be used if NCWAA safety precautions and procedures are incorporated into that drill and firing procedure.
Unmodified original period drills and procedures have always been allowed for living history and demonstrations with limited or no firing of the piece.
See our download section for copies of the period drill manuals.
Note: Loading "by Detail" need not be used in the field. The NCWAA has never required the use of loading by detail, other than while teaching and drilling.
FOR TRAINING INFORMATION CONTACT:
or
IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OR MATERIAL FOR
THIS PAGE
CONTACT:
ROGER HOUSE
304-622-8297
THE NCWAA NEEDS YOUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
EACH NEW MEMBER BRINGS NEW IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES
MORE ABOUT US and why we do what we do
The NCWAA Drill and procedure is based on the original US War Dept. drills and procedures outlined in the 1845 through 1864 manuals. As the original drill manuals were primers that were geared toward the instruction green recruits one at a time on a single gun. Our drill was modified to better instruct a full crew simultaneously. The original drill manuals were laser focused on only the basic duties and function of each cannoneer, starting with the load command. The NCWAA drill begins at the limber and includes the preparation of the gun and equipment for firing. Due to accidents and safety concerns, other modifications have been added through the years. The most obvious is the addition of the implements on the hubs. This change was due to several severe accidents and the concerns of local government officials. The original procedure did not do anything that would telegraph their activities to the enemy. We however have friends and fellow reenactors in front of and all around the gun. When we put the implements up, it is to alert all to the condition of the gun and where it falls in the loading process. When number 2 places his implement on the hub, this alerts all, a round or charge has been placed in the tube and is ready to be rammed. This starts the steps that can be hazardous to both number 1 and anyone downrange (in front of the gun). A premature detonation at this point would send deadly projectiles downrange (pieces of, or a complete rammer...or pieces of # 1 and the rammer). When the cannoneers take their ready stance, this alerts all that the gun is about to fire. A command for Worm or Search has also been added, as we must use a more safely constructed blank round that is made using an aluminum foil housing. A well made round is paramount to artillery safety. We have also added some small changes, to better train and control the actions of those on the back of the gun. Hearing protection has also been addressed. A complete study of cannoneers hearing loss was performed by Dr. W. Phillips in 2005. The results were very clear and strongly indicated the need for hearing protection while firing cannon. At this point, the NCWAA added hearing protection to our drills and procedures by suggesting the use active ear protection in both ears, or the use of passive ear protection in the ear facing away from the muzzle and covering the ear closest to the muzzle when firing. With an earplug in the ear that is aimed to the rear of the gun and the other covered, a fair amount of ear protection is achieved. After firing, the ear without an earplug is uncovered, and a sufficient amount of hearing is returned to address safety and awareness of the cannoneer's surroundings. Again, the covering of ears can be avoided if active hearing protection is used in both ears. The NCWAA also requires a minimum exposure to the muzzle while loading. We also treat all guns as loaded while servicing the piece. To reduce the chance of premature discharge, steps are taken to reduce the rate of fire to a maximum of one round in three minutes, with a minimum of two minutes between the fire command and introduction of the next round. Using two complete introductions of the sponge, well made rounds, and other proper loading procedures allows the guns to be fired at a maximum rate of one round every three minutes. However, a slower rate of fire can be safer, especially for new and inexperienced crews. Keep in mind that too slow a rate of fire can also present safety problems when cannoneers lose concentration and become distracted. Our motto is "Safety Above All Else", but with a mix of safety, period military protocol and the original procedures, we have preserved the core and essence of the basic Civil War period drills and procedures.
The firing of cannon is dangerous and can cause the loss of life and limbs if done incorrectly or as the result of numerous unforeseen phenomena