4.62-inch James Hot Shot Base

Federal

James Hot Shot Pattern I

DIAMETER: 4.45 inches
GUN: 12-pounder rifle and/or smoothbore, 4.62-inch caliber
LENGTH: 4 1/6 inches
WEIGHT: 7 pounds 14 ounces
CONSTRUCTION: Hot shot base
SABOT: Lead ring covered with a tin sleeve (missing)
FUZING: None

This rare James sub-pattern hot shot base was recovered from the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, which took place in April 1862. A red-hot 12-pounder solid shot projectile was intended to be used with this iron base. This pictured specimen is one of two known. James also obtained patent #34,965, on April 15, 1862, for a similarly constructed base for the 6-pounder (3.67-inch caliber) Bormann-fuzed spherical projectile. To the authors' knowledge the base described in this patent was not manufactured.