The term matross refers to a member of an artillery crew who served as an assistant to the main gun crew rather than as a primary gunner.
Duties
Matrosses performed the manual tasks required to operate field pieces: they helped with loading, sponging, and preparing the guns for firing. They formed part of the gun crew and handled much of the physical work that supported the gunner.
Weapons and movement
Rather than heavy ordnance, matrosses typically carried personal arms such as muskets fitted with bayonets for self-defence. When artillery units moved, matrosses accompanied the supply wagons and served as sentries or escorts for those stores.
Rank and organisation
In rank structure a matross was subordinate to a gunner. In the American forces of the relevant period, a matross was considered equivalent in status to an artillery private (artillery enlisted rank).