Casemates and Cannon

A disciplined crew of five men could fire an accurate shot from this forty-two-pounder smoothbore cannon in less than one minute, making teamwork and timing essential in battle. It was one of twenty-seven guns that occupied these first-tier casemates. This casemate is an 1870 reconstruction, but the cannon is one of Fort Sumter's original guns and rests on a 1961 reconstruction carriage. Artillery crews drilled daily to increase speed and skill with a variety of specialized tools and implements. Cannoneers were assigned specific duties, including sponging the barrel, ramming home powder and shot, sighting, and adjusting the gun's direction. Crew members punctured the cartridge bag containing gunpowder with a vent pick, placed the friction primer, and attached the lanyard, which was yanked on the command "fire." Tasks varied depending on the type of gun and the projectile selected for a given target and range.

South Carolina · United States