Twelve-Pounder Napolean
The twelve-pounder Napolean cannon was developed by France in 1853 The Napoleon was the most popular smoothbore cannon used during the American Civil War. It was named after Napoleon III of France and was known for its safety, reliability, versatility and power, especially at close range. Its ability to fire either ball, shell, canister or grapeshot allowed it to replace all the previous field guns. It came to America in 1857 and was the last cast bronze gun used by an American army. The Federal version of the Napoleon can be recognized by the flared front end of the barrel, called the muzzle-swell. Confederate Napoleons were produced by Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond in at least six variations, most of which had straight muzzles. 3 inch Ordnance Rifle
The 3-inch (76 mm) ordnance rifle also used in the American Civil War was invented by John Griffen in 1861. It was one of the first and the most widely used rifled gun during the war. Rifling is adding spiral grooves along the inside of the gun barrel for the purpose of spinning the shell or shot and creating gyroscopic force which increases the accuracy of the gun. Adding rifling to a gun tube made it more difficult and expensive to manufacture and increased the length of the tube, but it increased the range and accuracy of the weapon. Primarily produced by the Phoenix Iron Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.Economic and Social Impacts
Both of these weapons were used in the American Civil War when the United States of America (Union or North) fought the Confederate States of America (Confederacy or South) . The Union won the war resulting in reconstruction of the south, abolishment of slavery, and the states staying united.
