tsk tsk tsk... cocking the hammer and putting in the powder and ball.
The hammer is left DOWN on the cap nipple while the gun is charged with the powder and shot. THEN the gun is rammed then you raised the weapon to ready with a cap in hand at half cock. Need to be at this position before the Infantry officer behind your line of battle can see that you are in a position to execute his fire order when ready.
Need about 18 seconds or so to complete the evolution. Drill, drill and more drill until it becomes mindless automation. But dont be so mindless as to forget to take the rammer OUT (And stowed) prior to raising the gun.
Some civil war weapons were found to have been loaded over and over until entire barrel was filled with powder, wad, shot, powder, wad, shot all the way to the muzzle. Apparently due to a mental defect affecting the soldier under combat stress at the time.
Others were found with rammers still in them
And some weapons simply failed when a soldier loaded his powder, wad and leadball, another leadball and still another leadball ....
Now we can talk about the repeaters, the kind you load on sunday and shoot all week as one unit referred to them.
One soldier at Antietam was shot dead so fast that his body was remain frozen at the time of his death in middle of loading balanced just so. It is my understanding the kill shot that went through the heart shut him down while he was racing to load.