Ron,
The round that was discovered in Petersburg (there are a lot found in my part of the country) was referred to as a Napoleon round. Of course the Napoleon saw some different configurations during the war. Both iron and bronze. And most Confederate Napoleons didn't have the graceful curves of the original 1857 model bronze gun. Tredegar's "Napoleon" resembled a Parrott in that it had a wrought iron reinforcing band around the breech. I think y'all have a reproduction of this gun out in your neck of the woods that you shoot in competition. I know the range was short on these smooth bores but what would really have been the difference from shell and case shot in it's application? Both are basically anti personel rounds. So if your line of infantry that you are supporting had not advanced and the enemy's had, then why wouldn't a round like this be used? I know from my research that infantry dreaded solid shot from smooth bore guns because of their tendancy to bounce and richochet instead of boring into the ground like a rifled bolt would do. I recall a quote from a Confederate general (can't remember the name) that I read in a modern magazine that basically said that a battery of smooth bores was the most effective artillery against infantry. This was deadly work for sure. I remember one of the guys that was posting here a few years ago referring to a round called "rotten shot". Supposedly this was case shot with little or no fuze that came apart in or immeadiately after exiting the muzzle. That had to be a desperate situation. And you are so right about some six pounders being rifled for the James round. I can take you to one in particular on display on Jackson's line at Fredericksburg. From the look of the rifling it saw little use in combat and was probably one of the prototype/research pieces. I believe it's a Cyrus & Alger gun. Thanks for your response Ron. I'd love to see what others have to contribute as well. RED LEGS RULE!!!

Keith