"We have now, besides the twenty-nine guns mounted in the first tier (three 8-inch howitzers, five 42-pounders, and twenty-one 32-pounders), nineteen guns mounted on the third or barbette tier (six 8-inch columbiads, five 8-inch sea-coast howitzers, two 42-pounders, and six 24-pounders). These are all well placed for firing on Fort Moultrie, Morris Island, and Fort Johnson. As fast as the remaining guns are mounted they will be distributed with the same object. Every precaution has been taken to secure the shutters for the embrasures and loop-holes and the main gates. The latter have been re-enforced by a solid wall three feet thick by five feet high, with a narrow doorway of 20 inch width to serve for passage, and also for embrasure of an 8-inch howitzer in case of attack. A discharge of canister from this gun will sweep the wharf. The lanyard of this gun is carried back through a hole in the second gate. The lanyards of the two guns to sweep the landing to the right and left are also brought inside, to insure those guns being fired, even if the retiring guard forgets to do it while npon the outside. A large number of shells have been arranged with friction tubes to be used with long lanyards, so that the shell, being rolled over or suffered to fall from the edge of the parapet, will explode as it gets to the end of the line. The room over the gateway has also been supplied with hand grenades."
January 21, 1861, Anderdson, Fort Sumter
"We have now fifty-one guns in position, viz: In barbette, four 42- pounders, three 32-pounders, six 24s, six 8-inch columbiads, and five 8- inch sea-coast howitzers (24); in casemate, twenty-two 32-pounders and two 42-pounders, (24); and to guard the gateway, which has been nearly closed by a heavy stonewall, three 8-inch sea-coast howitzers; and we are now preparing platforms in the parade for the three 10-inch columbiads, which we are unable to raise to their proper positions. I shall have some of the lower embrasures, in which guns are mounted, closed. This will make our little command more secure."
March 2, 1861, Foster, Engineer, Fort Sumter.
"One 42-pounder gun was put in position and the carriage put in good order, so that the gun can be used with more effect than the others on the barbette tier. Three 32-pounders are being removed to the gorge, and as soon as this is done a 42-pounder will next be mounted there. After this, we will make an effort, with some new blocks that we have made, to raise a 10-inch columbiad and to mount it at the right gorge angle."
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One of the 10-inch columbiads was placed as a high angle to serve as a morter and was aimed at Charleston. The command numbered right at 80 (plus or minus 1 or 2 men)- two companies. During the bombardment the men worked in shifts and fired at all directions from the lower tiered guns. One company would work the guns while the other rested. The companies were split into three detachments, each detachment worked two guns. So six guns at any given time were being fired. So it looks as if at least twelve, (maybe thirteen) guns could be manned and used to repel a ship. Not counted in this number are the Baltimore civilians that were reported helping the gun crews.
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David Upton