Artificer Questions

[elmira64]

Wm.H.Noyes listed as wheelwright in the battery descriptive book. Enlisted as Private 20 Aug 61, appointed Corporal 15 Apr 63. Appears in Sep / Oct 64 muster roll as Artificer. I know the function / duties of the Artificer, but uncertain of the distinction after 3yrs. service aside from a possible pay increase.
Was the rank of Corporal retained? Prior to being identified as Artificer, would he have been assigned to a piece or to the battery/forge wagons.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

@elmira64 you might find this of interest.

Artificer in the Engineer Corp of the Union Army - Authentic Campaigner

<u>New to the Authentic Campaigner</u>? Start Here to Learn & Discuss the Beginning of Your Road To Authenticity.

www.authentic-campaigner.com

 

[Rhea Cole]

Wm.H.Noyes listed as wheelwright in the battery descriptive book. Enlisted as Private 20 Aug 61, appointed Corporal 15 Apr 63. Appears in Sep / Oct 64 muster roll as Artificer. I know the function / duties of the Artificer, but uncertain of the distinction after 3yrs. service aside from a possible pay increase.
Was the rank of Corporal retained? Prior to being identified as Artificer, would he have been assigned to a piece or to the battery/forge wagons.

You are correct, artificers were paid $25.00/month. They were separate from the gun crews & drivers. They did not participate in the daily battery drills.

Often, artificers were civilian contractors. Obviously, during the war there were enlisted men with journeyman skills who became artificers.

In an artillery battery a gunner was a corporal. They managed a gun crew, aimed the piece & made sure that the correct round / fuze was loaded. An artificer, on the other hand, had no command authority.

During engagements the artificers were in a reserve position with the battery wagon, traveling forge, reserve ammunition & supply wagons. Their job was to do what needed to be done depending on circumstances.

A battery was a rolling crafts fair. The soft iron tires on the wheels wore out at a regular rate. Spokes & felloes were cracked & broken under the hard knocks of everyday use. Battle damage was, of course, a whole other magnitude of damage to deal with.

As to rank, in a battery NCO ranks were associated with specific command positions. The rank went with the job. Artificers were paid at the same rate as corporals.

Every caisson assigned to an individual gun had a spare wheel & a spare limber pole.

Replacing a wheel was a regular part of gun crew drill. Two men passed the handspike under the axil box & lifted. The wheel was pulled off, a slather of grease from the bucket hung under axil box & the spare wheel is slipped on. It only takes a few moments. The Stones River living history gun crew has performed this drill many times.

In the battery wagon there were spare hubs, spokes, felloes & tires. There was also a jack & other tools necessary for maintaining the wheels.

 

[Dan Kohli]

Looking at the regulations, it doesn't appear that the artificer would hold the rank of corporal at the same time. They are supposed to be busy plying their trades. That being wheelwright, blacksmith, farrier, or harness maker etc. The Ordnance Department had the rank/position of artificer too, which got renamed privet of the first class, who worked with gunpowder and ammunition. The equivalent "rank" for the engineers mostly did work similar to the artificers of the artillery an cavalry. The regulations called the cavalry equivalent farriers or blacksmiths.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Looking at the regulations, it doesn't appear that the artificer would hold the rank of corporal at the same time. They are supposed to be busy plying their trades. That being wheelwright, blacksmith, farrier, or harness maker. The Ordnance Department had the rank/position of artificer too, which got renamed privet of the first class, who worked with gunpowder and ammunition. The equivalent rank for the engineers mostly did work similar to the artificers of the artillery an cavalry. The regulations called the cavalry equivalent farriers or blacksmiths.

As I indicated above, artificers had no military position. It was their pay, not rank, that was the same. In the artillery, the rank was associated with a position. Gunners were corporals. Sargents were the chief of a section of two guns. The gun crew had numbers 1-7 that indicated their position on the gun. Every crewman was trained to perform every position's tasks.

In photos of artillerists you very seldom see any stripes. Gun crewmen, drivers & artificers were slick sleeves.

 

[Dan Kohli]

As I indicated above, artificers had no military position. It was their pay, not rank, that was the same. In the artillery, the rank was associated with a position. Gunners were corporals. Sargents were the chief of a section of two guns. The gun crew had numbers 1-7 that indicated their position on the gun. Every crewman was trained to perform every position's tasks.

In photos of artillerists you very seldom see any stripes. Gun crewmen, drivers & artificers were slick sleeves.

Fair point, I was having trouble finding a better term than rank.
I do agree with you about the insignia,, I have yet to find any evidence that there was any "chevrons" for artificers during the war.

 

[elmira64]

As I indicated above, artificers had no military position. It was their pay, not rank, that was the same. In the artillery, the rank was associated with a position. Gunners were corporals. Sargents were the chief of a section of two guns. The gun crew had numbers 1-7 that indicated their position on the gun. Every crewman was trained to perform every position's tasks.

In photos of artillerists you very seldom see any stripes. Gun crewmen, drivers & artificers were slick sleeves.

In the example of Wm. Noyes, as a Corporal he would have been assigned to a piece. When designated an Artificer, it was in effect a lateral move paywise. Thanks RC and DK for clarifying
this.

 

[Biscoitos]

Wm.H.Noyes listed as wheelwright in the battery descriptive book. Enlisted as Private 20 Aug 61, appointed Corporal 15 Apr 63. Appears in Sep / Oct 64 muster roll as Artificer. I know the function / duties of the Artificer, but uncertain of the distinction after 3yrs. service aside from a possible pay increase.
Was the rank of Corporal retained? Prior to being identified as Artificer, would he have been assigned to a piece or to the battery/forge wagons.

What unit did Noyes serve in?

 

[elmira64]

What unit did Noyes serve in?

Battery D 1st New York (Light) Artillery