Benson, for example, tells of using a captured spencer repeating carbine late in the war at petersburg but also admits he had to discard it after he ran out of ammunition. The very best memoir is the civil war diary of wyman white. In the pantheon of civil war literature, few soldiers are as poorly understood as sharpshooters and skirmishers. Confederate scout and sharpshooter berry greenwood benson witnessed the first shot fired on fort sumter, retreated with lees army to its surrender at appomattox courthouse, and missed little of the action in between. These highly trained marksmen served in a frontline role and, due to the technological developments of the 1850s. The sharpshooters new civil war books, this one tells. This innovative rifle was designed by sir joseph whitworth, a famed british engineer and inventor. Posts may contain affiliate links, meaning cwba might get a commission from purchases made through those links, at no cost to you. Subscribe to tocwoc a civil war blogs feed via rss or email to receive instant updates. Marksmen through the ages as well as many articles for magazines such as muzzle blasts, muzzle loader, the gettysburg magazine, the skirmish line, crossfire. I wanted to write a civil war novel that was different from others that have mainly been dramas set against the backdrop of the war. Today, examples of civil warused whitworths are exceedingly scarce. The memoirs were first published in book form in 1962 but have long been unavailable. The modern sharpshooter appeared in central europe around 1700 the term comes from the german scharfschutzen, so the book begins with a look at how european armies employed both light infantry and sharpshooters through the napoleonic wars and the mexican war in america to the minie revolution in firearms just prior to the civil war.
Apr 12, 2020 sharpshooters wore camo and hefted stateoftheart rifles with longer, flatter trajectory the greenclad soldiers waited patiently in the shadows of the pennsylvania woods. Instead, the norths sharpshooters preferred the sharps rifle, an innovative bree. These were the first and second regiments of united states sharpshooters, very much celebrated and publicized units in their time, though almost completely forgotten today. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. But as the diary and letters indicate, the war was not the end all of his life. This video is part of the american battlefield trusts in4 video series, which presents short videos on basic civil war topics.
White never missed an engagement in which the 2nd united states sharpshooters fought, with the exceptions of south mountain september 14, 1862 and antietam september 17, 1862. Oct 26, 2016 most historians will find byrds description of confederate sharpshooter battalions to be the most useful part of this book. Ivan goes into the marines while his friends go into different parts of the military. Ive heard quite a few different distances listed as the distance of the shot, none really well documented. Tales of civil war marksmen have long been mythologized in the popular imagination of the conflict.
The 1st united states sharpshooters were an infantry regiment that served in the union army during the american civil war. The first shot was fired by queen victoria, from a whitworth rifle on a machine rest, at 400 yards, and struck the bullseye at 1 14 inches from its centre. The first meeting of the british national rifle association was held at wimbledon in 1860. There are many books on the us sharpshooters during the civil war ranging from very basic to very indepth. Sep 23, 2006 fred is also very interested in civil war sharpshooters, and is the author of shock troops of the confederacy. Major plasters book is the history of these elite sharpshooters during the civil war. These described a sharpshooter who had died a slow death and who had spent his final moments thinking of his family. Ripleys book on vermont riflemen in the civil war is another excellent first hand account. Picketing, skirmishing, and sharpshooting essential. Berdans sharpshooter the introduction of rifled barrels and breechloaded weapons led to another development in the civil war. The regiment consisted of 146 men, 9 of whom were anishnaabek, the indigenous people of the great lakes. Her interest in the subject, she explained, partly resulted from the convergence of several areas of interest. Civil war sharpshooter, the whitworth rifle collectors.
The true story behind the gettysburg sharpshooter pieces of. From 1861 to january 1863 they were members of the first iron brigade also known as the iron brigade of the east. Sep 30, 1996 a gripping and thoughtprovoking work that is unlike any civil war novel previously written, sharpshooter takes us into the mind of one of the war s veterans as he attempts, years after the conflict, to reconstruct his experiences and to find some measure of meaning in them. For more information on civil war reenacting and berdan. Badly cut up at antietam, sharpshooters have striking story. Who was the best sharpshooter in the american civil war.
Rare admissions by civil war soldiers in their private letters reveal that they intentionally shot at individual enemy soldiers or killed them willfully, confirming that such behavior was commonplace on the battlefield, especially after 1863. Generally, debate among scholars of civil war tactics has. A prolific correspondent, his remarkably complete set of letters spans most of the war and provide a unique opportunity for the modern reader to see the conflict in virginia through the eyes of someone who lived it. An active member in the civil war community, he is the author of sharpshooters 17501900. He is the author of over 30 books in the field of american military history, and was named a. This video focuses more on confederate sharpshooters. We would like to thank all for their support whilst we transition to virtual operations. These highly trained marksmen served in a frontline 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. First sergeant, company f 2nd united states sharpshooters. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new.
The sharpshooters new civil war books, this one tells the story of the elite soldiers of the south share article in shock troops of the confederacy author fred ray narrates the development of the army of northern virginias sharpshooter battalions and their tactical use on the battlefield. Feb 06, 2018 most wanted sniper of the civil war jack hinson. The 1st and 2nd united states sharpshooters were the elite of the union army. A montage of several of gardners photos included the sharpshooter photographs, titled a sharpshooter s last sleep. The 1st regiment michigan volunteer sharpshooters was an infantry regiment that served in the union army during the american civil war service. American civil war 186165 combat yee, gary, shumate, johnny on. Company k of the american indians and the civil war.
To qualify each man had to be able to place ten shots with a rifle of his choice in a circle of 10 inches in diameter from 200 yards. Review union sharpshooter versus confederate sharpshooter. Volunteers, is an american civil war living history group based in. This fictional civil war memoir by madden the suicides wife shows how a plain tale, skillfully told, can carry more meaning than ornate plot contrivances and fancy ruminations. Lees army of northern virginia organized sharpshooter battalions. First sergeant wyman white of company f, 2nd united states. The queen of england even used the whitworth rifle with good results.
Eugene blackford was an aristocratic young virginian who served throughout the civil war and wrote about much of what he saw. Berdan of new york, authorized to raise a regiment of sharpshooters for federal service, began recruiting competitions in the summer of 1861. American civil war 1861 65 combat by gary yee and johnny shumate jun 18, 2019 4. Using materials from the national archives, the sta. Sharpshooters of the american civil war 186165 osprey. Other than in museums and choice private collections, not many exist.
Confederate scout and sharpshooter berry greenwood ben. She has long enjoyed the victorian era in the united states, both before and after the civil war. William greens letters from a sharpshooter is valuable for one thing. The whitworth rifle was, arguably, the first longrange sniper rifle in military history. The photographs became two of the most famous of the civil war, but for over 100 years historians did not question the captions gardner wrote for them in his photographic sketch book of the civil war. It has been published and is now called the civil war of wyman white.
These men were much more than just sharpshooters, but in effect, specialized and for the civil war highly trained troops. Join us as we explore sharpshooter weapons used during the war with. The diary and the letters contained herein is a testament to his time as a soldier during the civil war. Though similar in overall pattern, these civil war reports vary remarkably in detail. Soldiers who were able to shoot targets at long distances were considered to be sharpshooters. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
Video contains a varying array of those books for more information on civil war. Many of the sharpshooters were killed in the major battles of the civil war, antietam sharpsburg, fredericksburg, gettysburg, spotsylvania, and vicksburg to name a few. Fred is also very interested in civil war sharpshooters, and is the author of shock troops of the confederacy. The sharpshooter battalions of the army of northern virginia. Nov, 2005 shock troops of the confederacy the sharpshooter battalions of the army of northern virginia book cover sharpshooter badge private james branscomb co. Must have books on sharpshooters in the american civil war. Stephen walsh this book examines the recruitment, training, tactics, and deployment of sharpshooters from both union and confederate forces. American civil war books sharpshooter the selected. Sniping, or sharpshooting, was a recognized psychological weapon at the outset of the civil war. Sharpshooting rifles of the american civil war osprey. A civil war novel paperback november 1, 2007 by david healey author. A modest land and slaveowner of scotchirish descent, hinson voted for secession from the union in both the february and june, 1861 elections. Many people considered sharpshooting, or sniping, to be beneath the dignity of a civilized society.
Naturally, some confederate sharpshooters hid theirs and brought them home instead of surrendering them at the war s end, but the whitworths presence in the civil war was generally slight to begin with. Sharpshooters of the american civil war 186165 book. During battle, the mission of the sharpshooter was to kill enemy targets of importance i. Few realize the impact of the civil war sharpshooter. This edition, with a new foreword by the noted civil war historian herman hattaway, will introduce this compelling story to a new generation of readers. American civil war books the sharpshooter battalions of. Sharpshooters of the american civil war 186165 by philip. Civil war battles and resulted in far more deaths than scholars have previously accounted for. The image of the dead confederate at the barricade also appeared in gardners photographic sketch book of the civil war that was published that same year, 1865. Naturally, some confederate sharpshooters hid theirs and brought them home instead of surrendering them at the wars end, but the whitworths presence in the civil war was generally slight to begin with. Notable sharpshooter units of the civil war included the 1st and 2nd united states volunteer sharpshooter regiment usvsr, composed of companies provided by numerous primarily eastern union states. The 1st regiment michigan volunteer sharpshooters was an infantry regiment that served in the union army during the american civil war. In an effort to overcome the weaknesses of the british infantry rifle the pattern 1853 enfield, whitworth began.
Memoirs of a confederate scout and sharpshooter check price on amazon description. Sharpshooters of the american civil war 186165 osprey publishing. As a freshly minted sharpshooter, simmons participated in the bloody engagements at chancellorsville and gettysburg, the siege of chattanooga, and the failed assault on fort sanders knoxville in november 1863. The most famous indian unit in the union army was company k of the 1st michigan sharpshooters and was the largest allindian regiment in the union army east of the mississippi river. Feb 04, 2018 there are many books on the us sharpshooters during the civil war ranging from very basic to very indepth. American civil war 186165 combat book 41 english edition ebook. The sharpshooters knew that being captured was not an option and they would be shot by the enemy rather than the option of surrendering. I wonder if the civil war general reference in this thread is to major general john sedgewick union.
Jun 20, 20 the photographs became two of the most famous of the civil war, but for over 100 years historians did not question the captions gardner wrote for them in his photographic sketch book of the civil war. The 2nd united states sharpshooters was a sharpshooter regiment that served in the union army during the american civil war. One sharpshooter, having watched with frustration as a group. Mar 30, 2014 fred is also very interested in civil war sharpshooters, and is the author of shock troops of the confederacy. American civil war 186165 combat book 41 english edition. Ivan always wanted to be in the war, but something has changed in him.
During the civil war there were two green uniformed regiments in service of the union army. When the american civil war broke out in 1861 both confederate and union experts decided that specialized sharpshooter units should be formed. In contrast, sam refers to his company h commander, captain feild, using a sevenshooting rifle during the wars first winter, which is highly unlikely. They received advanced instruction in marksmanship, estimating range, skirmish tactics and many other skills. What i came up with was a story about a very personal war. Civil war sniper rifle dealt death to yankees the sniper concealed himself in dense foliage on a bluff high above the tennessee river, waiting for the union patrol below to draw closer. Most wanted sniper of the civil war jack hinson youtube. Sharpshooting in the civil war civil war books civil war shooting mark keefe rifles. Yees book is a wellorganized and informative summary of the ways sharpshooters and snipers in particular impacted the civil war battlefield and developed a combat effectiveness vastly disproportionate to the tiny numbers employed. Whitehall gives an inside look at items typically found in an officers tent and gives advice and suggestions for your impression. The men, their guns, their story, and sharpshooters. Today, examples of civil war used whitworths are exceedingly scarce. The book has the history of the men both union and confederate, the weapons they used often personal rifles that were nongovernment issue, the regiments they composed of, and the targets deadly toll of officers and enlisted during battles, skirmishes, and targets of opportunity. After the war, he returned to marietta where he lived out the rest of his days.
Picketing, skirmishing, and sharpshooting essential civil. Achetez et telechargez ebook union sharpshooter vs confederate sharpshooter. Sharpshooting rifles of the american civil war osprey publishing. Civil war sharpshooters confederate sharpshooter union.
The book has the history of the men both union and confederate, the weapons they used often personal rifles that were nongovernment issue, the regiments they composed of, and the targets deadly toll of officers and enlisted during battles, skirmishes. I have sharpshooter by wiley sword that gives some good information on the usss. Berdans sharpshooters civil war history discussion. American civil war sharpshooters weapons and warfare. A montage of several of gardners photos included the sharpshooter photographs, titled a sharpshooters last sleep. Confederate sharpshooters rifles american civil war forums.
Recent studies of civil war tactics focus their attention on the importance of rifled muskets and the persistence of linear combat. The true story behind the gettysburg sharpshooter pieces. Free pdf sharpshooting rifles of the american civil war. Civil war chief of sharpshooters hiram berdan book. Sedgewick was killed by a sharpshooter at spotsylvania courthouse in 1864 by a sharpshooter.
Ray the blackfords of fredericksburg and lynchburg could make a strong, perhaps unimpeachable, case for deserving designation as the most fertile literary family in the confederate states. He is the son of a wwii war hero, so he has a lot expected of him. Most historians will find byrds description of confederate sharpshooter battalions to be the most useful part of this book. This book is beneficial to ones understanding of the us sharpshooters in the civil war but must also be accompanied by other books on the same subject to give the reader a greater understanding of the men and the dynamics around the best that the army of the potomac had to offer in the civil war. The second united states sharpshooters in the civil war. Although set during the civil war, david maddens latest novel really takes place in the terrain of the mind.