Fort Adams
Artillery School

	Historic Parks and Museums
	Living History Information & Reenactment Calendar of Events
	Timeline of the American Revolution
	Continental Sloop PROVIDENCE

Newport RI, June 5-6, 1999

The United Train of Artillery (UTA) and Lamb's Artillery sponsored an artillery school at Fort Adams during the weekend of June 5-6. Revolutionary War re-enactors from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Canada traveled to Newport, Rhode Island to attend the two-day school. A total of nineteen artillery pieces were present for the event, including some fine examples of travelling and light field pieces and mortars. In addition, two of Rhode Island's original bronze three pounders cast by Paul Revere in 1797 were on display.

The encampment was laid out to the specifications of an American artillery camp complete with an artillery park, and gun drill and artillery fire demonstrations were presented on both days. A fine variety of sutlers were on hand selling their wares, and on Saturday evening a ceremony was held honoring Saint Barbara, the patron saint of artillerists.

Classes were held inside the fortifications both Saturday and Sunday. Scheduled seminars and topics of discussion included gun safety, the proper manufacture, fitting and use of artillery tools, creating powder charges and quills, moving and firing heavy guns, and authentic 18th century artillery battlefield tactics. A discussion was held regarding the safe and proper use of artillery among infantry, with an emphasis on getting parks and event coordinators to allow a more accurate yet safe depiction of artillery at battlefield reenactments. Lamb's artillery made a good point regarding artillery units incorporating as non-profit organizations to help defer the potential damage of lawsuits on units as well as the owners of the guns in the event of a serious accident at a public event. Most important was the opportunity for artillerists from around the country to share ideas and techniques, with a liberal amount of time given todiscussion.

Special thanks go out to the staff of Fort Adams, John Tabor of the UTA, and the members of Lamb's Artillery who without their effort and planning the artillery school would not have been the success that it was.

Updated June 27th, 1999