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PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:25 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2003 4:32 am
Posts: 1737
Location: USA
Sharpshooting in the Civil War by Major John L. Plaster

This is a rather specialized book which will only appeal to those interested in the details behind weapons and tactics in the Civil War. The book is organized into three major parts covering how sharpershooters were organized within the armies, their weapons and tactics and examples of their use in battles.

Unfortunately, the author does not delve deeply into the technical details of how effective they were but gives examples of extreme shots made. He does discuss the organizational and tactics used pointing out how sometimes they were effective and sometimes completely ineffective. Also some of the overlap between sharpshooters and skirmishers is discussed. Neither side really new how to effectively organize and use sharpshooters and many times they were nothing more than elite skirmishers.

Both sides organized sharpshooter regiments like Berdan's 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter regiments. This was probably a very poor way though to organize sharpshooters. Partially because concentrating them in a single organization defeated their purpose which was more to be decentralized, free ranging fire power. The regimental organization encouraged generals who didn't know how to use them properly to send them in in regimental formation. Also, the type of rifle used for long range sharpshooting was a very inferior weapon for line fire.

A good example of the incorrect use of sharpershooters due to the regimental organization was Burnside sending them in a assault regiments. The heavy slow firing scoped rifles were out classed by muskets and Enfields. The 29 men of the 2nd Minnesota Sharpshooters lost 20 men in less than 10 minutes. The 1st U.S Sharpshooters lost over half their men.

Because of their miss use most sharpshooters armed themselves with two weapons. The heavy scoped rifles were left in the regimental wagons until they were actually deployed as sharpshooters. Western Sharpshooters favored the Henry llever-action rifle for skirmishing since most skirmishing occurred at less than 200 yards. I was surprised to find that the Henry was a very short ranged weapon. Even at 200 yards the bullet dropped two feet.

Probably the best indication of the changing function and correct use of sharpshooters was when Gen. Lee in early 1864 ordered 36 infantry brigades of the AoNV to organize formal sharpshooter battalions giving each brigade a five company battalion. It also indicated the changing nature of war as the armies moved into the trench warfare era.

I would have liked to have seen more information on the tactics and effectiveness of sharpshooters and skirmishers during the Civil War since that it mine main interest in purchasing the book. The author does give examples of extreme shots and how probable sharpshooter kills affected battles. He just doesn't give the statistic that would allow you to determine how effective these men were compared to the line soldier.

_________________
General Kennon Whitehead
Chatham Grays
AoT II/1/3 (CSA)


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