Part 5 (1/2)

In 1740, Maritz of Switzerland made an outstanding contribution to the technique of ordnance manufacture. Instead of hollow casting (that is, forming the bore by casting the gun around a core), Maritz cast the gun solid, then drilled the bore, thus improving its uniformity. But although the bore might be drilled quite smooth, the outside of a cast-iron gun was always rough. Bronze cannon, however, could be put in the lathes to true up even the exterior. While after 1750 the foundries seldom turned out bronze pieces as ornate as the Renaissance culverins, a few decorations remained and many guns were still personalized with names in raised letters on the gun. Castillo de San Marcos has a 4-pounder ”San Marcos,” and, indeed, saints' names were not uncommon on Spanish ordnance. Other typical names were _El Espanto_ (The Terror), _El Destrozo_ (The Destroyer), _Generoso_ (Generous), _El Toro_ (The Bull), and _El Belicoso_ (The Quarrelsome One).

In some instances, decoration was useful. The French, for instance, at one time used different shapes of cascabels to denote certain calibers; and even a fancy cascabel shaped like a lion's head was always a handy place for anchoring breeching tackle or maneuvering lines. The dolphins or handles atop bronze guns were never merely ornaments. Usually they were at the balance point of the gun; tackle run through them and hooked to the big tripod or ”gin” lifted the cannon from its carriage.

GARRISON AND s.h.i.+P GUNS

Cannon for permanent fortifications were of various sizes and calibers, depending upon the terrain that had to be defended. At Castillo de San Marcos, for instance, the strongest armament was on the water front; lighter guns were on the land sector, an area naturally protected by the difficult terrain existing in the colonial period.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 28--EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SPANISH GARRISON GUN.]

Before the Castillo was completed, guns were mounted only in the bastions or projecting corners of the fort. A 1683 inventory clearly shows that heaviest guns were in the San Agustin, or southeastern bastion, commanding not only the harbor and its entrance but the town of St. Augustine as well San Pablo, the northwestern bastion, overlooked the land approach to the Castillo and the town gate; and, though its armament was lighter, it was almost as numerous as that in San Agustin. Bastion San Pedro to the southwest was within the town limits, and its few light guns were a reserve for San Pablo. The watchtower bastion of San Carlos overlooked the northern marshland and the harbor; its armament was likewise small. The following list details the variety and location of the ordnance:

_Cannon mounted at Castillo de San Marcos in 1683_

Location No. Caliber Cla.s.s Metal Remarks

In the bastion of San Agustin 1 40-pounder Cannon Bronze Carriage battered.

1 18-pounder do do New carriage.

2 16-pounder do Iron Old carriages, wheels bad.

1 12-pounder do Bronze New carriage.

1 12-pounder do Iron do.

1 8-pounder do Bronze Old carriage.

1 7-pounder do Iron Carriage bad.

1 4-pounder do do New carriage.

1 3-pounder do Bronze do.

In the bastion of San Pablo 1 16-pounder Demicannon Iron Old carriage.

1 10-pounder Demiculverin Bronze do.

2 9-pounder Cannon Iron do.

1 7-pounder Demiculverin Bronze do.

1 7-pounder Cannon Iron Carriage bad.

1 5-pounder do do New carriage.

In the bastion of San Pedro 1 9-pounder Cannon Iron Old carriage.

2 7-pounder do do Carriage bad.

2 5-pounder do do do.

1 4-pounder do Bronze Old carriage.

In the bastion of San Carlos 1 10-pounder Cannon Iron Old carriage.

1 5-pounder do do New carriage.

1 5-pounder do Bronze Good carriage.

1 2-pounder do Iron New carriage.

The total number of Castillo guns in service at this date was 27, but there were close to a dozen unmounted pieces on hand, including a pair of pedreros. The armament was gradually increased to 70-odd guns as construction work on the fort made additional s.p.a.ce available, and as other factors warranted more ordnance. Below is a summary of Castillo armament through the years:

_Armament of Castillo de San Marcos, 1683-1834_

Kind 1683 1706 1740 1763 1765 1812 1834 of gun Iron Iron Iron Iron Iron Iron Iron Bronze Bronze Bronze Bronze Bronze Bronze Bronze

2-pounder 1 .. .. ** .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

3-pounder .. 1 .. ** 2 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

4-pounder 1 1 * ** 5 1 .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. ..