<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2006-01-30</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001297720</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>James River Coal CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JRCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001295984</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pirate Capital LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 CONNECTICUT AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORWALK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06854</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001333606</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hudson Thomas R Jr</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PIRATE CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 CONNECTICUT AVE 4TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORWALK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06854</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2014707</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 corrects the original Form 4 filed on January 3, 2006 and subsequently amended on January 5, 2006 which
 inadvertently reported two internal ledger entries with regard to 150,000 shares and 25,000 shares  as purchases and sales
 occurring on the same day.  The above line-item has been reported to gain access to the filing system and represents the
 amount of securities beneficially owned as of the date hereof.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons are held directly by Jolly Roger Fund LP, a limited partnership
 for which Pirate Capital LLC (&quot;Pirate&quot;) serves as general partner and Jolly Roger Offshore Fund LTD, Jolly Roger Activist
 Portfolio Company LTD and Mint Master Fund LTD, each an entity for which Pirate serves as investment advisor (collectively,
 the &quot;Funds&quot;). Pirate is deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner of the securities due to its position as general partner
 or investment advisor, as applicable, of the Funds, and its pecuniary interest in such shares is a fractional interest in
 such amount. Thomas R. Hudson, Jr., as the sole managing member of Pirate is also  deemed to be the indirect beneficial
 owner of such securities.  The Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership of any and all such amounts in excess of such
 actual pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Pirate Capital LLC, by Thomas R. Hudson Jr. its Portfolio Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas R. Hudson Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
