Private John Gilleland of the Mitchell Thunderbolts had a great idea. As a member of an elite home guard unit, the businessman was sure his invention would bring a quick end to the war. He took his concept to an Athens, Georgia foundry and persuaded them to turn out a double-barreled cannon. Fired simultaneously, its barrels would throw a pair of balls connected with a chain in order to "mow down Yankees as a scythe cuts wheat." Legend has it that in its sole test firing, balls whizzed around in erratic fashion and killed three Thunderbolts. For years, it has been fired with blank charges during local civic celebrations. Here the balls are being checked to see there is no chain attached before it is used again.

Confederate Vandenburgh Volley Gun

This weapon was developed in 1860 by General Origen Vandenburgh of the New York State Militia. After failing to sell it in England he sold it to the South, despite his position. The Muzzle view shows the multiple barrels, in this case 85 rifled bores of .50 calibre. When the breech was screwed home, it forced the individually loaded rounds into an air tight seal with the weapons firing chamber. All the barrels were fired simultaneously by means of a percussion cap located in the centre of the breech handles.