He might be waiting for a sight of his first centurion (or Aztec) – but I don't know what this gunner doing. Any ideas?



He seems to be holding a strap of some kind that is bent over at the top. And he makes a very good mule handler, if not a gunner.

www.michaelscott.name/1809/1809blogpost35.htm

Fuse for cannons?

Horseholder?

Ready to thumb the vent?



Don't try slip Centurions in without me noticing! - FSN

Offering a fine Habanos to his bestie?

Can't be the match as there's already a gunner with the match.

He makes a good horse holder as I mentioned but there's no horse in the pack (or room on the base) and if he were that leaves only two French line foot gunner poses to man all the guns as the other is an officer not inclined to get his gloves dirty. (Why's there got to be a handbag of an officer in a pack of only four artillery crew?    )

I suppose it could be a leather finger stall on his right thumb. But it should be on his left thumb. Bit thin, as well. The other hand would be operating the elevating screw. It would make it his little finger on his left hand not the end of a strap as I thought.

Smoking so near gunpowder? 

Are you sure it's not just his thumb and he's got his hands up to shove the wheel after firing?

Wouldn't he have his hands open to do that?

I think fsn has it – but the hands are the wrong way round, meaning he has to stand on the wrong side of the gun. Wouldn't be a problem – but a whole Grand Battery of wrong positions?