Attackers from the Sea-Let the Coastal Artillery is the Answer

                                                                              

When an enemy warship appears, coastal artillery was the first defense. This 32 pdr. smoothbore, muzzle loader could fire solid shot, explosive shell or the dreaded hot shot into the vulnerable wooden sailing ships of the early 19th century. The structure with a chimney in the background is a furnace to heat up the cannon balls (hot shot) so as to catch wooden ships on fire. Even today, fire onboard any ship is many a sailor's worst fear.                                            

Largely hidden behind angled ramparts up to ten meters (30+feet) thick, the artillerymen and their pieces were well protected from return fire. Batteries of heavy coastal artillery in stone, brick or earthen forts such as this protected key harbors and seaport cities throughout the 19th century world. 

Each fort would have a massive "bombproof" magazine as seen to the left that stored ammunition for the cannon. The other building to the right was the barracks for the forts garrison of soldiers. 

These pictures are from Fort McNab in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A traditional "star fort," Fort McNab was built to protect Halifax Harbor from possible American attacks during the 19th century.

Above is a model of a wooden frontier "Star Fort" with a cannon in the lower right redoubt. The star name is in reference to the corner redoubts that jut out like the spokes of a star.