Basically, that was it, though you needed to maintain the cannon, aim it, and so on (don't forget to first swab the bore from unexploded gunpowder so you don't blow things up!). The (first) image ...

Discover our selection of the best Tchaikovsky works including the ‘1812 Overture’, ‘The Nutcracker ... in a majestic celebration of cannon fire. It is one of the best examples of ...