What are the steps to firing a cannon in the 1700s?

First you load your gunpowder, then a wad of material to snug the cannonball.

You would then place a cannonball, and push it down with a rod.

Finally you insert a wick, and light the wick.

After firing the barrel would be swabbed clean and would be pushed/pulled back to the starting position.

For a practiced crew of 5 it would be accomplished in under 30 seconds.

1) put a thing down the barrel to clean out the sparks from the previous shot.

2) put a wet sponge down the barrel to finish off any embers.

3) repeat step 2 for safety.

4) load the powder and cannonball (they are connected)

5) push the powder and cannonball down the barrel

6) poke something into a hole near the back of the barrel to open the powder bag

7) using a slow match, light the powder using the same hole from step 6

the whole process takes about 30 seconds for a trained crew

SCREAM! AIM! FIRE!

Im kidding,

First of all refill the gunpowder container in the cannons barrel where the cannonball would be.

Insert a cannonball,

Light fuse,

Proceed to action at the VERY top.

1. The gunner would seal the touch hole with a leather thumb sheath to eliminate O2 from entering through the touch hole.

2. The barrel would be sponged

3. The barrel would wormed and the worm would be inspected for remnants from the previous firing.

4.The barrel would be sponged again and re-wormed if necessary if the barrel is not clean.

5. Once the barrel is clean, powder monkey retrieves a powder charge from the magazine and brings it forward to powder handler at the front of the gun.

6. The powder handler places the charge in front of the bore of the gun at the command of Load.

7. The rammer rams the charge till it bottoms out at the back of the barrel.

8. The gunner removed the the leather thumb sheath from the touch hole and uses the prick to test the charge is seated properly by pushing the powder prick into the touch hole and into the charge. He yells "home" to let the crew know the charge is good.

9 The powder monkey then brings up the canon ball to the powder handler and he places the ball in front of the barrel bore with his hand below the barrel.

10. The Gunner yells load and the rammer rams the ball with a wad of rags down the barrel until seated against the charge.

11 The gunner then sights the gun with the gun crew adjusting the telemetry and height.

12 Gunner primes the gum by pouring black powder into the touch hole.

13 Gunner yells ready and the gun crew cover their ears and step clear the gun.

14 Gunner waves the the fuse which is a wooden rod with a piece of lit salt peter until the salt peter is glowing.

15 Gunner yells fire and he touches the salt peter to the powder in the touch hole and the powder ignites the charge firing the cannon.

16 Gunner seals the touch hole with the leather thumb sheath and the Barrel is sponged and wormed and process is repeated.