Porter’s Battery

(Chain of Command)

Captain:

          The Captain of Porter’s Battery will be the founding gun owner.  As the gun owner carries all of the liability for the gun and its use, his command of the unit is necessary.   The Captain shall also attend all Officers’ Calls at events to represent the unit.  However, the Captain will conform his rank in the field as required at reenactments and events when the unit falls in with other reenacting units.

All gun owners are responsible for their own ammo.  Powder bounty or bounty money given at events go to the gun owners.  All gun owners who join with two (2) guns will be the rank of Lieutenant.  Those with one (1) gun will be Sergeants.  The founding gun owner will always be the Captain.

The Captain may also appoint additional support positions, such as Quartermaster, Chaplain, Adjutant, Spotter, Bugler, Black Smith, Provost, Judge Advocate, Paymaster, Cook, Aide-de-Camp, and others as needed.  The Captain will determine the rank given to these additional support positions.

First and Second Lieutenant:

Has command of, and responsibility for, their respective sections consisting of two Artillery crews, and their equipment. The Section Chiefs receives their orders from the Captain and performs various additional duties such as: Brigade/Division artillery inspector, requisitioning ammunition, clothing, tools, tent, and Battalion Officer of the day. Occasionally a Section from a Battery will be ordered out on picket duty or a special detail with a small infantry force.

In the event the Captain is absent, the Senior Lieutenant takes command of the Battery.

The ranking staff NCO works for, and answers to, the Captain only. He carries out all details desired by the Captain that pertained to the Battery, not an individual segment of it. He assists the Captain in the supervision of the Batteries operations and is responsible for the Administration work of the Battery. He prepares reports, calls roll, maintains the fatigue and duty rosters, and makes recommendations on personnel actions. He also assigns, assists, supervises, and checks the various details such as: posting guards and equipment repair. He is the overseer of training and discipline, and instructs the Sergeants on their NCO duties. During battle he has no combat station, but stays near the Captain and carries out any orders issued him. If the Battery happens to be short an officer due to leave, sickness, or death, the First Sergeant takes up the duties of the Chief of the Line of Caissons by direction of the Captain.

He remains assigned until replaced or promoted to the Junior Lieutenant. Only in extreme necessity will the First Sergeant have command of a Section.

     Has command of, and responsibility for the men and equipment of a Gun Crew. The personnel consist of the gunner and his cannoneer and the Chief of Caisson and his drivers. The sergeant assigns all duty positions in his Gun Crew, except for the Corporals, and he insures that the cannoneer’s and drivers are not only properly trained, by that they can switch roles on an individual basis if necessary. During battle he takes his post in rear of his piece. In action he is to: follow, repeat, and carry out the Section Chief’s orders promptly; insure that the Gunner selected the correct target and used the proper range and projectile; and check that the Chief of Caisson is prepared to bring forward ammunition as necessary. The Sergeants are ranked in order of seniority, i.e., Second Sergeant, Third Sergeant, Fourth Sergeant, etc.

     Has command of, and responsibility for the men and equipment of a Gun Crew. During battle each carries out the orders of his Chief of the Piece. He aims and sights the piece and gives the orders for its combat firing. According to the Section Chief he controls the rate of fire.

Has active participation in the loading and firing of the piece they are assigned, and are trained according to numbers that describe the duties of each particular gun position. Though each is trained in a priority position, they are generally trained on all positions and also that of driver. The cannoneer receives their battle commands from the Gunner with the Chief of the Piece supervising the overall action of the Gun Crew.

In addition to higher headquarters requirements for pickets, all Batteries have a minimum of two guards on duty at all times. The guards are posted at the Battery Ordnance Park to protect the guns and caissons from theft of miscellaneous hardware and to keep curious infantrymen from damaging the guns unknowingly.