Cannon Firing
Firing the Four-pounder Cannon at the Petry-Honan Home
Major Edward White, started the family tradition of cannon firing. Major White served as an officer in Lafayette’s Light Infantry during the American Revolution. After the war, he made it a rule and duty to celebrate, with his neighbors, all the battles of the Revolution that he had fought in. He had a four-pounder cannon on his plantation near Milledgeville, Georgia which he used to fire the salute on such occasions. Whenever the cannon fired, it was a signal and invitation to neighbors to come celebrate, eat barbecue and drink rum.
The Honans continue the tradition started by Terry’s great-4th grandfather with their four-pounder cannon which is fired during the Pilgrimage by a group of War Between the States reenactors and on the fourth of July by American Revolutionary War reenactors.
Cannon Firing Commands
1. Clean the vent
2. Stop the vent
3. Worm the bore
4. Wet sponge
5. Dry Sponge
6. Load Powder
7. Load Projectile
8. Release vent
9. Pick the charge
10. Prime
11. Ready to Fire
12. “Fire”
War Between the States reenactors “loading powder”
“Fire”
Cannon firing at the Petry-Honan home will be:
Friday, March 30, 2007:
9:00 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM & 5:00 PM
Saturday, March 31, 2007: 9:00 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM &
5:00 PM
Sunday, April 1, 2007: 1:00 PM, 3 PM & 5 PM