CS 8
The Confederate States of America
To all to whom these Letter Patent shall come:
Whereas Phidello W. Hall of Springfield, Texas has alleged that he has invented a new and useful
Automatic Breech Loading Gun.
Issued August 10, 1861
A News item from Richmond Examiner dated Aug. 16, 1861 stated “A patent has been issued to P. W.
Hall for a revolving rifle. The barrels are worked by a revolving cylinder which forms the breech of the
gun, and the revolution of which, loads with powder and ball and caps from receptacles in proper place
and turns. All this is done automatically.”