The James rifle was a siege artillery gun employed by the United States during the American Civil War. During the early part of the war, the Federal army lacked rifled siege artillery. To fill this gap, the army rifled existing smoothbore pieces with the system developed by Charles T. James. Firing shot and shells also designed by James, these newly-rifled smoothbores gave good service during the April 1862 bombardment of Fort Pulaski. However they were retired from frontline service soon after.
Smoothbore guns Rifled with James System
| Name | Bore | Weight
of projectile |
Weight
of gun |
Length
of gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-pdr M. 1839, rifled
(48-pdr James rifle) |
5.82 in. | 48 lb.
(shot) |
5,790 lb. | 124 in. |
| 32-pdr M. 1829, rifled
(64-pdr James rifle) |
6.4 in. | 64 lb.
(shot) |
7,531 lb. | 125 in. |
| 42-pdr M. 1841 rifle
(84-pdr James rifle) |
7 in. | 64 lb.
(shell) |
8,465 lb. | 129 in. |
 Two Model 1829 32-pounder siege and garrison guns, rifled by the James method(64-pdr James rifles). The one in the foreground is on a siege carriage. The one behind is on an iron, front pintle, barbette carriage. |
 A James pattern solid shot. The “birdcage” at the base would have been covered by sheet lead which, upon firing the gun, would have expanded into the grooves of the rifling. |
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