The artillery sergeant on a Civil War gun crew was the gunner — the man who actually aimed the cannon. He stood behind the gun, sighted the target through the iron sight on the breech, called the elevation by reading a brass scale on the rear of the carriage, told the loader which round to use (solid shot for accuracy at long range, shell at medium range, canister at close range), and gave the command to fire. The gunner's accuracy decided whether a battery did anything useful in a fight. He was promoted to the position from cannoneer after years of drill and combat experience. The pointing arm in this figure shows the gunner doing the central job: aiming.

This W. Britain figure depicts a Federal artillery sergeant (gunner) directing his gun — right arm extended to point out the target, the left hand resting on the sword hilt at his hip. He wears the regulation artillery shell jacket in dark blue with red branch trim on the collar and cuffs, the red sergeant's chevrons on both sleeves, the light blue trousers with the red artillery stripe, the dark forage cap, and the M1840 NCO sword at his left hip. The figure is the command centerpiece of any Federal battery diorama — without the gunner, the gun cannot aim. Pair this figure with M1841 6-Pound Bronze Field Gun for the gun he is sighting; with Union Artillery Crewman for the cannoneer team he is directing; or with Union Light Artillery Driver for the limber team that brought the gun forward.

Scale: 1/30 (60mm). Matte-painted metal. W. Britain model 31375. From the American Civil War range. Single foot figure, supplied painted and ready for display.