What is the difference between a Smoothbore and a Rifle?
Being a proven technology of the Mexican War (the 1840s), Smoothbores were the most common cannons in use in 1860. Basically, a smoothbore is just a large reinforced tube, usually bronze or iron, with a cap on one end of the tube (the proper term would be: breech). The most common field artillery smoothbores fired 12 & 24 pound cannonballs. Smoothbores were partularly effective when loaded with canister and fired into advancing infantry at close range. A rifled cannon has grooves cut in a spiral pattern inside the bore. These grooves cause enlogated projectiles to spin in flight. This spinning causes equalizing in the center of gravity of the projectile, preventing an uncontrollable tumble while in flight. The effect of rifling also causes a longer and more accurate shot, making it easier to hit distant targets. This made rifles popular with artillery crews, they could attack a enemy artillery unit with smoothbore cannons from a great distance without fear of accurate return fire. Rifl
