Tybee Island in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Hot Shot Furnace
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 9, 2013
1. Hot Shot Furnace Marker
Only the foundation remains of one of the fort’s furnaces which heated cannon balls. Used against wooden ships, the red-hot projectiles could start a disastrous fire – even after skipping on the water several times.
Loading a cannon with hot shot required special precautions. The paper powder bag, double thick, was inserted first. Hay wadding, first dry, then wet, served as a buffer between powder and cherry-red projectile. Wet clay was then often placed ahead of the shot.
( Above illustrations of a fork for hot shot and tongs : )
Tools such as these were used to handle the hot cannon balls.
It took about thirty minutes to heat a 32-pounder shot in a hot furnace. More than 60 rounds could be prepared at one time.
The invention of the ironclad ship, along with the widespread use of exploding shells, made hot shot obsolete.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles.
Location. 32° 1.655′ N, 80° 53.403′ W. Marker is on Tybee Island, Georgia, in Chatham County. Marker can be reached from Fort Pulaski Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located inside Fort Pulaski. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Red-hot Shot (here, next to this marker); This Memorial Commemorates The Act Of... (here, next to this marker); Model 1859 Seacoast Carriage (within shouting distance of this marker); Key to the South (within shouting distance of this marker); Powder Magazine (within shouting distance of this marker); 4.5 Inch Blakely Rifle (within shouting distance of this marker); Prepared for Battle (within shouting distance of this marker); Brooke Rifle (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tybee Island.
More about this marker. A photograph of a hot shot furnace appears on the left side of the marker.
Also see . . . Fort Pulaski National Monument. National Park Service website. (Submitted on August 17, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 9, 2013
2. Hot Shot Furnace Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 9, 2013
3. Marker Inside Fort Pulaski
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 9, 2013
4. Inside Fort Pulaski
This view inside Fort Pulaski looks in the direction of the marker, seen near the left center of the photo.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 576 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 17, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
