After this army’s artillery had been captured by the British during the summertime retreat, old bronze cannons shipped from France and new iron cannons cast at the Salisbury Furnace in Connecticut replaced the loss. Soldiers were terrified of cannon fire, and the guns defending Bemus Heights had nearly six tons of cannonballs and other shot ready to hurl at any attacker. General Gates praised Major Ebenezer Stevens as “gallant, vigilant and ready to improve on every situation,” and Stevens worked tirelessly to keep his guns and artillerymen well supplied.