US ARTY James, Charles Tillinghast

Charles Tillinghast James

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Born: September 15, 1805

Birthplace: West Greenwich, Rhode Island

Father: Silas James 1758 – 1836
(Buried: Silas James Lot West, Greenwich, Rhode Island)​

Mother: Phebe Tillinghast 1768 – 1848
(Buried: Silas James Lot West, Greenwich, Rhode Island)​
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3.8 in. James Solid Shot
Patented by James 2/26/1856
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Public Domain Photo
by U.S. Gov. Employee
Natl. Museum of Am. History

Wife: Lucinda Waite 1809 – 1901
(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​

Children:
Abby James Slocum 1830 – 1907​
(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​
Charles Tillinghast James Jr. 1836 – 1845​
(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​
Lucinda Elizabeth James 1840 – 1851​
(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​
Walter James 1843 – 1870​
(Buried: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island)​

Education:

Self – taught in Mathematics and Mechanics​
1838: Received Honorary Master of Arts from Brown College​
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6-pdr. Gun altered with the 3.8-inch James Rifle System
Designed by Charles Tillinghast James

©Michael Kendra, Antietam NB, November 2019

Occupation before War:

Worked in the small mills in Quinebaug Valley of Connecticut​
Helped Supervise the Startup of Mills in Providence, Rhode Island​
1834: Brought on to overhaul Steam cotton manufacturing mill​
Leading Engineer and Advocate for Steam Mills​
Designer and Promoter of Steam Mills for small seaport towns​
1839 – 1846: Owner of Southern half of Brewster – Coffin House​
1845 – 1846: Promoter of mills in Portsmouth, New Hampshire​
Involved with the Graniteville Mill in South Carolina​
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14-pdr. James Rifle
Designed by Charles Tillinghast James
©Michael Kendra, Gettysburg NBP, February 2020


1851 – 1857: United States Senator from Rhode Island​
1856: Granted his first patent for “improvements to a cannon projectile” called the James Federal Pattern Projectiles

Civil War Career:

Developer of the James Rifle and a rifling system for Artillery​
1862: Granted a second patent for an improved version of the James Federal Pattern Projectiles
1862: On October 16, James was demonstrating his projectiles to a group of foreign military officers gathered on Long Island, while nearby one of his workers was attempting to remove a fuse/cap from a loaded artillery shell, when the shell exploded, killing the worker instantly and fatally wounding James himself.​

Died: October 17, 1862

Place of Death: Sag Harbor, New York

Cause of Death: Mortally Wounded in an accidental explosion.

Age at time of Death: 57 years old

Burial Place: Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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02/26/1856
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If nothing else, he will always be known for designing one of the most interesting shell/bolt designs of the Civil War era and one of the worse tube designs. Just my opinion of course.
 
James was a major general in the Rhode Island State Militia, He only served as senator from 1851 to 1857, the supposed reason he declined to run again was because he saw a decline in his assets while away from his property. His cannon and projectiles which helped breach Fort Pulaski and other masonry forts are said to be his greatest contribution to the war.That accidental explosion which killed him and the man removing the fuse, was part of a demonstration to foreign military officers.
 
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Ha! I just realized, for this photo, these aren't James Rifles as far as I know! I need to fix this!

Looks like old 18 or 24 pounder iron siege guns, maybe, an older prewar or Confederate designs I think. I wonder if this is one of those Photos of the Civil War early 1900's books that's mislabeled...
 
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Ha! I just realized, for this photo, these aren't James Rifles as far as I know! I need to fix this!

Looks like old 18 or 24 pounder iron siege guns, maybe, an older prewar or Confederate designs I think. I wonder if this is one of those Photos of the Civil War early 1900's books that's mislabeled...
Update, so these two guns on the right are 32-pounder cannon converted to 64-pounder James rifles!
 
I'm replacing the photo in the bio anyway, being that there is no way to "see" that the guns have the conversion done on them, and that there is only a glancing blurry hint of projectiles hidden behind the berm, and they may as well be round balls.

I think an actual "James Rifle" designed 100% by Mr. James is more appropriate for the bio!
 
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