Northwest Bastion
The plan of Fort Ward consisted of five bastions with positions for 36 guns. The Northwest Bastion illustrates how the entire stronghold appeared in 1864. This bastion is armed with six reproduction weapons based on Fort Ward’s original table of armament: three 4.5” Rodman rifled guns (No. 14, 16, 17), two 24-pounder smoothbore Howitzers (No. 13,15), and one 6-pounder James Rifle (No. 12).
The cannons worked in concert to sweep the field toward Little River Turnpike (Duke Street) to the south, and Leesburg Turnpike (King Street) to the north. Artillery crews in teams of 5-7 men were assigned to each gun position. Infantrymen were stationed along the ledge (banquette) between the gun platforms.
The Northwest Bastion was restored by the City of Alexandria, 1961-64.
The Precise Art of Firing a Cannon was the result of a skilled team effort. A well-drilled gun crew, consisting of seven men plus a gunner, could fire a field cannon 2-3 rounds per minute.
Load! 6 & 7 cut fuses and distribute rounds to 5 who carries them to 2. 1 sponges barrel. 2 puts round in gun. 1 rams round into barrel while 3 closes vent with thumbstall. (Image depicts 6 & 7 standing next to a limber with rounds, and 5 carrying a round to the cannon. 2 stands at the end of the barrel to load a round into the cannon and 1 stands at the end of the barrel to sponge and ram rounds into the barrel. 3 and 4 stand ready at the back of the cannon and a gunner stands at the back of the cannon to oversee the team.)
Ready! 1 & 2 step clear. 3 pricks cartridge with priming wire. 4 hooks lanyard to primer, puts primer in vent and moves to the rear.
Fire! 3 steps clear. 4 pulls lanyard and fires gun.
Range of fire at maximum elevation
|
Gun Type |
Weight of Projectile |
Powder Charge |
Weight of Tube |
Range (approx.) |
|
4.5” Rodman |
25-30 lbs. |
3.25 lbs. |
9,700 lbs. |
1.75 miles |
|
24-Pounder Howitzer |
24 lbs. |
2.00 lbs. |
1,380 lbs. |
.75 miles |
|
6-Pounder James |
6 lbs. |
1.25 lbs. |
884 lbs. |
1.00 miles |