This is the grandfather of all modern breech loading artillery. The 12-pounder Whitworth Breechloading Rifle, manufactured in England, was invented by Sir Joseph Whitworth, and imported into North America during the Civil War. It was a very rare gun during the war, but was an interesting precursor to modern artillery in that it was loaded from the breech and had exceptional accuracy over an enormous range. An engineering magazine wrote in 1864 that, "At 1600 yards the Whitworth gun fired 10 shots with a lateral deviation of only 5 inches." This degree of accuracy made them effective in counter-battery fire, used almost as the equivalent of a sharpshooter's rifle, and also for firing over bodies of water. They were not popular as anti-infantry weapons.