Artillery Preparation-
Training to Win the War

Mott's Artillery Re-enactors Demonstrate
Preparation and Firing of Field Artillery

One of the goals of the Friends of JVH and the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment National Historic Site is to present information regarding artillerymen's lives while stationed at the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment during the winter of 1778 thru the early summer of 1779. One of the most prominent aspects at Pluckemin was the Artillery Academy, where officers and artillery men were trained on the all aspects of artillery preparation, planning, officer training, and engineering.

Sometimes it's important to provide perspective on how a artillery cannon is prepared to fire. Properly managing the effectiveness of the artillery was critical to many of the successes of General Washington's campaigns. While it wasn't until Valley Forge where formal army training began, it was at Pluckemin where artillery officers were first trained in a formal atmosphere as what has been now named "America's first artillery training academy," the forerunner to West Point.

Video Demonstrations - Prep & Fire

Below are two videos of current day re-enactors from a regiment known as Mott's Artillery, an artillery unit serving under General Henry Knox's Continental Artillery unit of the Continental Army.

The first video is the actual firing of the cannon. The second video is a 7 minute instructional video on how the artillery re-enactors prepare to fire the field artillery cannon that was similar to those used for training while at the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment, and at various field battles, such as Princeton and Trenton. In February, 1777, John Lamb, a Colonel in General Knox's continental artillery, appointed Gershom Mott to be in charge of the 6th Company of the new 2nd Continental Regiment of Artillery.

Re-enactors from Mott's Artillery demonstrate the instruction of preparing to fire, and firing of a revolutionary war 3 pound bronze field artillery cannon outside Clarke House on the Princeton Battlefield - Sunday, May 2, 2010. Instruction overview presented by Artillery Captain John Mills who is also the Curator of Princeton Battlefield, who has been the Commander of Mott’s Artillery since 1998.

 

Additional Information

We'd like to thank all the people supporting and promoting revolutionary war historic efforts to preserve and promote our american history.

To learn more about the history of the Mott's Artillery - Click Here

In February, 1777, John Lamb, now a Colonel, appointed Mott to be in charge of the 6th Company of the new 2nd Continental Regiment of Artillery. Mott’s Artillery, a non-profit (501c3) corporation, is a member of the Continental Line and associate member of the Brigade.

Princeton Battlefield - Save Princeton Battlefield - Click Here

Princeton Battlefield Park - Click Here

To learn more about the history of the Vanderveer/Knox House - Click Here

Submitted: May 2, 2010
Prepared by: Brooks Betz
Video prepared by: Brooks Betz