Cannons mounted behind embankments on this hill made Confederate Camp Garnett a formidable position. Placed to sweep the turnpike below, they were 6-pounder smoothbores, light, mobile, and powerful at short range. Four cannons protected the Confederate works here. At Rich Mountain, cannons fired solid shot, shell, exploding balls, and cannister, cans containing many small iron balls that scattered when fired. Their noise and shocking power alone could demoralize an enemy.