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.

                                                                              

Napoleon's Queen of the Battlefield

Batteries (normally six cannon and two howitzers plus caissons and crews) of Light (a relative term as this piece weighs just under 2000 lbs.) field pieces like this 12 pdr Foot Artillery cannon were the Queens of the battlefield to a master of artillery like Napoleon.

Firing a 12 pd ball or the deadly grapeshot (a mass of smaller iron balls that in action made the cannon a giant shotgun), field artillery was used to deadly effect throughout the 17th to 19th centuries. 

Howitzers such as this 5.7-inch (muzzle diameter) example were used to lob shells in a high arc over intervening terrain, fortifications and friendly troops.  Howitzers were used in smaller numbers than field cannons but were no less deadly when place under the command of an expert such at Napoleon.

Renaissance Cannon - Death with a Bang

"Vive le Roi," (Long Live the King), cannon of the armies of the king of France. Note the fleur de lys design embossed on the barrels.

A deadly serpent ready to strike.

Ottoman splendor that brought death to the enemies of the Sultan.

Early bombards such as this spelled doom to the tall Medieval castles that had protected the nobles for centuries.

The development of artillery was a trial-and-error process.  Some ideas such as this early breech loading design were centuries ahead of their time (in other words, a good idea that couldn't safely work with the metallurgy of the era)

But some improvements were very successful as this improved bombard clearly shows.

The last sight any enemy would want to see, the mouth of one of the improved artillery pieces right before it goes BOOM!