How was a cannon fired?

A cannon was fired by first priming the touch hole with gunpowder, then loading a projectile, such as a cannonball, followed by adding more gunpowder as a charge. The cannon was then aimed, and the fuse or a lit wick was used to ignite the gunpowder in the touch hole or the cannon’s main charge. This ignition created a rapid expansion of gases, which propelled the projectile out of the barrel with significant force. Fire safety and proper positioning were crucial to ensure the safety of the crew operating the cannon.