the next thing was for the rest of the landing party to ascend to the cliff top , now that the trail - if there was such a thing - had been cleared , where they would make preparations to raise not only the rest of the troops now coming down the river aboard the transports , but also seventeen battering cannon , twelve howitzers , three mortars , and all of the necessary encumbrances in terms of shell , powder , planks and limbers necessary to make this artillery effective .