The Fast Passage provides easy entry to Narragansett Bay. So in wartime, an enemy fleet could have sailed right into Newport, with cannons blazing! To answer this potential threat, Fort Adams focused its firepower here on the west wall.

Top tier aimed to take down the mast and rigging. These guns could fire cannon balls linked by chains and bars that could cut the halyards, smash rigging and shred the sails.

Center tier swept the decks with cannon balls and even grape shot at close range.

Bottom tier, almost level with the water, aimed to skip the deadly hot shot, heated cannon balls, to strike at the waterline. Not only did they pierce the hull but also started fires in the wooden ships.
[ Along Bottom of Marker : ]The Deadly West Wall ? 1855
Top Tier ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Range
7 ? ? ? 8-inch Columbiads ? ? ? ? ? ? 2.1 miles
33 ??? 8-inch S.C. Howitzers ? ? ? 1 mile

Center Tier ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? Range
34 ?? 32 Pounders ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1.1 miles
3 ? ? 8-inch Columbiads ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2.1 miles
3 ? ? 24 Pounders ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1.1 miles

Bottom Tier ? ? ??? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Range
34 ? 42 Pounders ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1.8 miles
3 ? ? 8-inch Columbiads ? ? ?? ? ? 2.1 miles

117 Cannons
Later 10-inch Rodmans were added to the West Wall

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Changing Role of the Fort
Building a Fortress
A Giant Among Forts
Defending Narragansett Bay
Going Great Guns
Life in Fort Adams
Returning Old Glory 2001
Fort Adams Foundation
Between the Wars
The Irish Connection to Fort Adams

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