When the American Civil War (1861-1865) broke out, both Confederate and Union experts decided that specialized sharpshooter units should be formed. These highly trained marksmen served in a front-line role and, due to the technological developments of the 1850s, were equipped with weapons that could guarantee greater accuracy over increased range than traditional muskets. This title examines the recruitment, training, tactics and deployment of sharpshooters from both sides of the conflict. It also takes a close look at the specialized personal weaponry of the sharpshooter, the rifle and its accoutrements, as well as the sharpshooters' unique insignia and identification patches.
Action-packed account of the legendary 1st and 2nd U.S. SharpShooters Based on diaries, letters, and other firsthand sources Photos of the men as well as their uniforms, equipment, and firearms plus paintings by acclaimed Civil War artist Don Troiani This detailed and beautifully illustrated book tells the story of Col. Hiram Berdan's brilliant conception: the U.S. SharpShooters, a specialized 2-regiment unit of marksmen recruited from the farming and backwoods communities of the North. Known for their distinctive green uniforms, Sharps breech-loading rifles, and risky tactics, the SharpShooters fought at battles such as the Peninsula, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. The book covers their training, tactics, and weapons and is a must-have for Civil War enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history of special forces.
At the outset of the American Civil War, the Union Army's sharpshooters were initially equipped with the M1855 Colt revolving rifle, but it was prone to malfunction. Instead, the North's sharpshooters preferred the Sharps rifle, an innovative breech-loading weapon capable of firing up to ten shots per minute – more than three times the rate of fire offered by the standard-issue Springfield .58-caliber rifled musket. Other Union sharpshooters were equipped with the standard-issue Springfield rifled musket or the .56-56-caliber Spencer Repeating Rifle. Conversely, the Confederacy favoured the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifled musket for its sharpshooters and also imported from Britain the Whitworth Rifle, a .45-caliber, single-shot, muzzle-loading weapon distinguished by its use of a twisted hexagonal barrel. Featuring specially commissioned artwork, this is the engrossing story of the innovative rifles that saw combat in the hands of sharpshooters on both sides during the Civil War.
The part played in the Civil War by the small Marine Corps of the United and Confederate States is overshadowed by the confrontations of the great armies. Nevertheless, the coastal and riverine campaigns were of real importance, given the strategic significance of the Federal blockade of southern ports, and of the struggle for the Mississippi River. Marines wearing blue and grey fought in many dramatic actions afloat and ashore – ship-to-ship engagements, cutting-out expeditions, and coastal landings. This book offers a comprehensive summary of all such battles, illustrated with rare early photographs, and meticulously researched color plates detailing the often obscure minutiae of Marine uniforms and equipment.
Though less famous than Hiram Berdan's sharpshooters, Birge's Western Sharpshooters played a significant role in the American Civil War. Here is their history, told by one of their own.At Shiloh, Corinth, Atlanta,and on Sherman's great march, the Western Sharpshooters dispensed fifty caliber death at a thousand yards.
Sharpshooters are much more than skilled marksmen. They must be stealthy and patient, willing to sit hidden in uncomfortable places for hours, and much more. This instructive volume highlights the different weapons, ammunitions, and other equipment favored by various sharpshooters, their benefits and shortcomings, and their development. Readers will also enjoy learning about the favored tactics and ruses used by these eagle-eyed warriors. A list of notable sharpshooters and snipers highlights their fascinating feats as well as the wars in which they participated and country affiliations. Tales of tremendous adventures will keep readers engrossed and eagerly flipping pages.
This book is a guide to the Native American soldiers who served in Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. During the Civil War, nearly 140 men from tribes in Michigan volunteered for this all-Indian unit. They had names like Agahgo (old Porcupine), Kakakee (Pigeon Hawk), Benasis (Little Bird), and Wolf. These men were sharpshooters in the army of General Grant and fought in some of the fiercest battles of the war. Recently, their story has been rediscovered, and now historians and history buffs are searching for information on the lives of these remarkable men. Everything known about the soldiers of Company K can be found in this book! Here you will find the spelling of their names, where they lived before the war, what tribe they were from, enlistment date and place, and their fate in battle - killed, wounded, captured, survived; it's all here, and more. This book will also tell what happened to the veterans after the war - where they lived, when they died, and where they are buried. If there is a photograph in existence, this book will tell you where to find it. If there is a pension file in National Archives, this book will give you the number. In addition, there is information about the parents, wives, and children of these soldiers. This is the perfect book for genealogists and historians seeking complete information on the men of Company K. Civil War historian Chris Czopek has spent more than twenty years gathering together the information in this book. Many of his sources are unpublished and not yet available on the internet. You cannot find this information anywhere else ! "Who Was Who In Company K" is the only reliable source of information on these remarkable Native American soldiers. Self-published by Chris Czopek of Lansing, MI. 226 pages - 2nd Edition
During the American Civil War, the mounted soldiers fighting on both sides of the conflict carried a wide array of weapons, from sabers and lances to carbines, revolvers, and other firearms. Though some sections of the cavalry placed their trust in the sabre, the advent of viable breechloading carbines -- especially repeaters such as the Spencer -- was to transform warfare within little more than a decade of General Lee's final surrender at Appomattox. However, output struggled to keep up with unprecedented demands on manufacturing technology and distribution in areas where communication was difficult and in states whose primary aim was to equip their own men rather than contribute to the arming of Federal or Confederate regiments. In addition, the almost unparalleled losses of men and equipment ensured that almost any firearm, effectual or not, was pressed into service. Consequently, the sheer variety of weaponry carried reflected the mounted soldiers' various roles in different theatres of operation, but also the availability -- or otherwise -- of weapons, notably on the Confederate side. Fully illustrated, this study assesses the effectiveness of the many different weapons arming the Civil War cavalryman and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the decisions made after 1865 concerning the armament of the US cavalry.
