Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Casemates and Cannon
Fort Sumter National Monument
South Carolina
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010
1. Casemates and Cannon Marker
Load Ready Fire! A disciplined crew of five men could fire an accurate shot in less than one minute. Teamwork and timing during battle were essential to the crew of this 42-pounder smoothbore cannon, one of 27 guns that occupied these first-tier casemates.
This casemate is an 1870 reconstruction, but the cannon, which rests on a 1961 reconstruction carriage, is one of Fort Sumter's original guns.
Artillery crews drilled daily to increase speed and skill using a variety of specialized tools and implements. Cannoneers were assigned specific duties: sponging the barrel, ramming home powder and shot, sighting, and adjusting the gun's direction.
Crew members would puncture the cartridge bag (containing gunpowder) with a vent pick, place the friction primer, and attach 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.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1870.
Location. 32° 45.15′ N, 79° 52.51′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Historic Charleston and in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 42-Pounder, Banded and Rifled (a few steps from this marker); Powder Magazine (a few steps from this marker); Mining Casemate (a few steps from this marker); Holding the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Gorge Wall (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery Huger (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Sumter 1861-65 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Garrison Defending Fort Sumter (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.
More about this marker. On the left side of the marker is a drawing depicting a crew drilling with the cannon. On the right are drawings of the implements used with the cannon - sponge, rammer, vent pick, lanyard hooked to friction primer, fuse wrench, and fuse. The drawings also show a fixed shell, sabot, and detached cartridge (powder bag). The drawing on the lower right shows two soldiers carrying a shell. Cannoneers use shell longs to carry a ball. A fuse wrench was used to screw a fuse into a shell or case shot (exploding
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 4, 2013
2. Casemates and Cannon Marker
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010
3. Casemates and Marker
Note the back of the carriage holding the cannon just behind the marker.
Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010
4. 42-pdr Seacoast Gun on Casemate Carriage
This gun was cast by Cyrus Alger of Boston in 1856. It weighed 8500 pounds at that time.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,516 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 4, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4. submitted on May 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.
