Artillery Night Fire (video)
This is a 64-pounder Columbiad canon. It is referred to as number 137 (each of the 155 cannons in the fort were numbered). Each of the cannoneers is also referred to by number, and each has a specific set of tasks to perform.
Number 1 (TJ) is positioned on the right side at the muzzle. His job is to use a wet sponge to swab out the barrel. Then, after the powder charge is inserted he rams it down the barrel to the breach. When Number 5 (the gunner in charge of the piece) calls “Point”, Numbers 1 and 2 then take large wooden leavers to the tail end of the carriage in order to swing the gun left or right to aim it at its target, then return to their post. After the gun is fired, Number 1 again swabs out the barrel with a wet sponge to extinguish any remaining sparks and then uses a worm to remove any remnants of the powder bag that might still be in the barrel.
Number 2 (me) is positioned on the left side at the muzzle. His job is to assist Number 1 with the wet sponge, because on a cannon this big it take a lot of effort to ram the tight-fitting sponge down the barrel, rotate it three time each direction, and then withdraw it. Next, he dismounts and takes the powder charge from Number 4. After Number 1 signals he is ready by tapping the ram rod on the end of the barrel, Number 2 loads the powder charge into the end of the cannon’s mouth. When Number 5 (the gunner in charge of the piece) calls “Point”, Numbers 1 and 2 then take large wooden leavers to the tail end of the carriage in order to swing the gun left or right to aim it at its target, then return to their post. After the weapon is fired, he again mounts the carriage and assists Number 1 with the wet sponge. (For this demonstration, I was at position Number 2. My back is to the camera as I climb up to help swab the barrel, and then I dismount. If you look carefully just after you hear the photographer say “OK”, you can see me insert the silver-colored powder charge in the muzzle of the cannon and then TJ at Number 1 rams it home.)
Number 3 (John) is positioned on the right side at the breach. His primary function is to pull the lanyard attached to the friction primer to fire the cannon.
Number 4 (Wes) is positioned on the left side at the breach. He brings up the powder charge from the magazine and hands it to Number 2 prior to loading. At the command “Point”, Number 4 adjusts the elevating screw at the breach of the cannon barrel to raise or lower the trajectory so the ball will hit the intended target and not go long or short.
Number 5 (Park Employee) is the gunner in charge of the cannon. He is positioned at the center rear of the cannon and calls out the orders to “load”, “point”, and “fire”. While others are swabbing the barrel or loading the piece he keeps the vent at the breach blocked to prevent any air from being sucked into the cannon (possibly fanning any embers there may be in there). After the powder charge has been rammed down, Number 5 inserts a priming pick into the vent to puncture the powder bag and expose the powder to the primer. He then inserts a friction primer into the breach; attaches the end of the lanyard held by Number 3, and then dismounts. He stands to the rear and to the side where is out of the way of the recoil and can observe the fall of the shot in order to correct his aim on any successive shots.
Artillery Night Fire (video)
This is a 64-pounder Columbiad canon. It is referred to as number 137 (each of the 155 cannons in the fort were numbered). Each of the cannoneers is also referred to by number, and each has a specific set of tasks to perform.
Number 1 (TJ) is positioned on the right side at the muzzle. His job is to use a wet sponge to swab out the barrel. Then, after the powder charge is inserted he rams it down the barrel to the breach. When Number 5 (the gunner in charge of the piece) calls “Point”, Numbers 1 and 2 then take large wooden leavers to the tail end of the carriage in order to swing the gun left or right to aim it at its target, then return to their post. After the gun is fired, Number 1 again swabs out the barrel with a wet sponge to extinguish any remaining sparks and then uses a worm to remove any remnants of the powder bag that might still be in the barrel.
Number 2 (me) is positioned on the left side at the muzzle. His job is to assist Number 1 with the wet sponge, because on a cannon this big it take a lot of effort to ram the tight-fitting sponge down the barrel, rotate it three time each direction, and then withdraw it. Next, he dismounts and takes the powder charge from Number 4. After Number 1 signals he is ready by tapping the ram rod on the end of the barrel, Number 2 loads the powder charge into the end of the cannon’s mouth. When Number 5 (the gunner in charge of the piece) calls “Point”, Numbers 1 and 2 then take large wooden leavers to the tail end of the carriage in order to swing the gun left or right to aim it at its target, then return to their post. After the weapon is fired, he again mounts the carriage and assists Number 1 with the wet sponge. (For this demonstration, I was at position Number 2. My back is to the camera as I climb up to help swab the barrel, and then I dismount. If you look carefully just after you hear the photographer say “OK”, you can see me insert the silver-colored powder charge in the muzzle of the cannon and then TJ at Number 1 rams it home.)
Number 3 (John) is positioned on the right side at the breach. His primary function is to pull the lanyard attached to the friction primer to fire the cannon.
Number 4 (Wes) is positioned on the left side at the breach. He brings up the powder charge from the magazine and hands it to Number 2 prior to loading. At the command “Point”, Number 4 adjusts the elevating screw at the breach of the cannon barrel to raise or lower the trajectory so the ball will hit the intended target and not go long or short.
Number 5 (Park Employee) is the gunner in charge of the cannon. He is positioned at the center rear of the cannon and calls out the orders to “load”, “point”, and “fire”. While others are swabbing the barrel or loading the piece he keeps the vent at the breach blocked to prevent any air from being sucked into the cannon (possibly fanning any embers there may be in there). After the powder charge has been rammed down, Number 5 inserts a priming pick into the vent to puncture the powder bag and expose the powder to the primer. He then inserts a friction primer into the breach; attaches the end of the lanyard held by Number 3, and then dismounts. He stands to the rear and to the side where is out of the way of the recoil and can observe the fall of the shot in order to correct his aim on any successive shots.