3.80-inch (14-pounder) James Rifle No. 69 - Sharpsburg, MD - Static Artillery Displays on Waymarking.com

The bronze part of the cannon (bore) is long green with age. The only discernible writing on the muzzle is the registry number, 69, and the inspector, J.B.. There were no other markings. I looked inside the bore and saw it was rifled. This cannon is different as it has an 'extend-a-cab' feature. Instead of two wheels on either side, there is four wheels and an area to sit cargo, like a munitions chest which is what I think is currently there. Next to it is an additional carriage minus the weapon. That one has a spare tire mounted to the front like you might see on an old van. The HMDB site made this comment (thanks to Craig Swain's insight): A caisson and a 6-pdr Light Field Gun are part of the artillery display. Behind the gun is a limber. The field gun is rifled using the James system, and is often referred as a 12-pdr or 14-pdr rifled field gun..

I discovered a comprehensive a site where the entire inventory of cannons here at Antietam has been catalogued. The site is HERE. They have actually documented most of the Civil War National Battlefield sites. I navigated to the page and looked for the Initials JB and the Registry #69 and found out the details of this weapon. Although it is a cannon, it is called a rifle as the bore has been rifled, which is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis. This spin serves to gyroscopically stabilize the projectile, improving its aerodynamic stability and accuracy. SOURCE

The following information was made available on the Civil War cannon website: Greenwood - Reg# 69 - INSP JB - YR 61 - WT 874 - GRVS 15RH - Visitors' Center. Greenwood was the foundry where the cannon was manufactured, officially known as & located Miles Greenwood & Co., Cincinnati OH. The model year was 1861, although it may have been manufactured at a later date. The tube weight is listed as 875 pounds, but this one was a pound short of the standard, weighing in at 874 pounds. The weapon was also known as the 14-pounder James Rifle, also referred to (as seen in the title of this waymark) 3.80-inch bronze James rifles, Type 1. The 3.8 refers to the diameter of the bore. The 14 refers to the poundage of the projectile w/ a 1.25 pound charge having a range of 1530 yards (at 5 degrees).

Although the James rifles were reported to be extremely accurate, bronze rifling wears rapidly and the James rifles and projectiles soon fell out of favor. No new James rifles were known to have been produced after 1862. The total numbers of James rifles are uncertain, but the 1862 Ohio Quartermaster General annual report recorded 82 rifled bronze pieces (44 of those specified as "3.80 bore [James rifles]") out of a total of 162 of all field artillery types. Unusual or out of favor types migrated to the Western theaters. SOURCE The Foundry and year of casting are stamped on the end of the left trunnion. (M. Greenwood Cincinnati O 1861)

What type of artillery is this?: Rifled Cannon Where is this artillery located?: Monument grounds What military of the world used this device?: Federal Army of the Potomac Date artillery was in use: 09/17/1862 Date artillery was placed on display: 09/17/1900 Cost?: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Artillery is no longer operational: yes Still may work: no Are there any geocaches at this location?: No. National Park Facility. Parking location to view this Waymark: Not Listed

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