Do you recall what an Artificer does?
[/quote]According my Funk & Wagnall, an artificer is a military mechanic...boy, that helps a lot, doesn't it?
The Ordnance Manual, which includes a military dictionary, skips right over it!
Both Gilham's and the Field Artillery Tactics briefly mention it, first in the Organization of a Six-Pounder Mounted Battery where they list artificers variously at 2, 4, and 6 men per battery! (p. 4)
The next reference to artificers occurs on p. 47: "...and such numbers of ARTIFICERS as the service of the battery may require." On p. 49, the positions of the artificers are noted as being on the same line as the buglers. This, plus the fact they are not part of the each gun's 9-man crew, would indicate they are extraneous to the normal function of the crew.
While the artificers are briefly listed in various manuals, perhaps even more important is the omission of their positions or duties during manuevers or on the myriad of plates showing disposition of the battery during manuevers. Where were they?
But, to answer your question: The artificers were specialists who were paid an additional rate like teamsters. During non-combat times, they used the tools of the battery wagon and the forge and worked primarily as a blacksmith, repairing the wood and iron parts of the battery carriages. As noted in the quotes from the above manuals, a few batteries had an artificer assigned to each section. However, there were usually two men designated as artificers in a single battery. They were responsibile to the Battery First Sergeant and traveled in the rear of the battery near the battery wagon and forge.
Hope this helps.
J
