Loyal Train of Artillery, USFAA training

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: Loyal Train of Artillery, USFAA training

Just to reiterate what I said earlier and Forquer echoed as life members of the USFAA, it is not a certifying organization for anything. If someone says they are trained and certified by the USFAA, warning bells should be going off. It is a professional organization of Redlegs that includes current artillerymen, those interested in muzzleloading artillery, and some of us that fall in to both categories. Many, or most of the USFAA members are very current on modern artillery, but can't tell a Napoleon from a Parrott. I encourage you all to join the organization if truly interested and committed to artillery, and yet don't get it confused as some oversight organization that sets standards and certifies anyone in living history. We had firing demos this morning with the Fort Sill Museum gun crew, and I passed along that someone had cited USFAA training here, and we all had a good chuckle. (And #3 and 4 were always outside the wheels!) The USFAA main office is across the street from my office, and the ladies there are nice, but not up on muzzle loading artillery. Maybe someone disagrees, but the National Park Service guys at Antietam had a good gun drill reference as I recall.

[marine05]

Re: Loyal Train of Artillery, USFAA training

"Come to the ready" where did that command come from? HBF has three commands for the gunner during the firing sequence, "Load", "Ready", "Fire".

[Danny]

Re: Loyal Train of Artillery, USFAA training

"Come to the ready" where did that command come from? HBF has three commands for the gunner during the firing sequence, "Load", "Ready", "Fire".

Dan -

"Come to the Ready" is the same thing as "Ready", and it comes from the same place, our Gunner's mouth.

Dan Wykes

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: Loyal Train of Artillery, USFAA training

Well, not that it answers anything, but I have talked to the director of the USFAA and one of the board members of the Loyal Train, and they will clarify that the Loyal Train is a chapter of the USFAA, but in no way does the USFAA endorse their training and certification program.

If you have issues with their drill, recommend you go to their website and contact them.

[Todd Watts]

Re: Loyal Train of Artillery, USFAA training

This past weekend at Mill Springs I got to watching a crew in the Federal battery on Saturday that was breaking most known rules. The #1 man was trying so hard to never be in front of the muzzle that he was laying across the barrel behind the front sight on the 3" rifle, actually having his left arm draped over the barrel. #2 was standing behind the muzzle as well during loading with his back to the barrel but inside the wheel. The #3 man seemed to be doing things fairly well, except he had his hand on the wheel during the loading sequence while he thumbed the vent. The #4 was doing that awful farbby twist dance when pulling the lanyard, and still was facing the gun as he pulled somehow. How he did that trick I never could figure out. I guess he had yet to catch the hook in the face yet to learn him better.

I personally am partial to the NPS training which is very close to the 1860s manuals. They alter it mainly in the time since they never allow rapid fire at the Parks and this has kept them 100% accident free for several decades now while still allowing a very close to perfect drill. Several NPS battlefields offer training to volunteers and are willing to let reenacting groups come to training weekends with their guns. They also can show proper inspection methods for guns, something that almost no reenacting groups know about. I personally am involved with Stones River Nat'l Battlefield and their training, but know that Chickamauga and Kennessaw Mt. have good programs as well since I do stuff with them as well. I have not undergone the USFAA training, but am a member. I would suppose they have a decent drill, but without seeing it I would not recommend for or against it myself.