Use of sporting rifles by sharpshooters in the civil war

I agree with you there, what im looking for is any books or sources of reference about this subject. Most of what I can find is speculation that it probably happened.

Im more or less wondering if a german percussion jaeger rifle would be acceptable for an impression of a confederate sharpshooter.

You might be interested in reading or obtaining this book :





 
That book is one of three from the series called Arms, Equipment and Atlas Of The Civil War, put out by Tally Hall Press. Another very good book is called Civil War Guns by William B. Edwards published in 1962. There is a very interesting chapter regarding Sharpshooters with photos of a Remington Sporting Rifle that was in the Fred Elliott Collection which is claimed to have downed 50 men by the Sharpshooter that used it.
 
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I imagine that didn't encourage his men to leave their cover.
 
TOTW has several books on the arms of the Confederacy, including "Arming the Glorious Cause" for about $40. Having visited Gettysburg, my impression was that they used the best target rifles/false muzzle slug guns they could get their hands on and salvaged Union rifles such as Sharps and Whitworths off the battlefield every chance they got. At Gettysburg it is well documented that Reb snipers killed several high ranking Union officers who were on the Union's Little Round Top defensive position - from a distance of slightly more than 400 yds. I doubt patched round ball guns were used much at all for sniping except possibly right at the start of the war.
 
"...in the civil war..." Which one? The U.S. Civil War isn't the only one there's ever been. The Brits, for example, have had several.
 
I bought this book years ago thinking that I might need the reference in case I might trip over a Sharps rifle that may have been associated with his sharpshooters.

That never happened----but I did end up with a nice New Model 1863 carbine that was converted to 50/70 center-fire after the CW.

Not necessarily in the sniper catagory Berdan put together troops that were sharpshooters.

David

Published in 1989.










Chapter 19 of William B. Edward's book 'Civil War Guns' first published in October 1962 deals with the Sharpshooters of the Civil War.



The first of 16 pages in Edward's book dealing with the sharpshooters.



Colonel Hiram Berdan commanding the United States Sharpshooters with 42 year old Truman Head, -5'-7'' tall -the most colorful Berdan sharpshooter , better known as 'California Joe'. Note that California Joe is holding a New Model 1859 Military Rifle equipped with saber bayonet and double set triggers.



Possibly some of the arms used by Berdan's sharpshooters.

Sharps NM 1859.



Colt revolving rifle.






The only Sharps that I own....'definitely not a Berdan gun'.
It is serial numbered during the CW period (C 9371) with CW cartouches and DFC conversion cartouche on the stock.






.52 caliber Sharps linen cartridge used during the Civil War.




50-70 Sharps metallic cartridge developed just after the Civil War. (Used during the Indian War period.)
The Sharps center-fire cartridge is shown on top....various Spencer rim-fire cartridges are shown below.

 
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Britain definitely had a Civil War between the Cavaliers & the RoundHeads
For more info Google War of The Roses.

We're actually referring to the same Civil War. Britain as we know it did not exist prior to the Act of Union in 1707 (English Parliament) and a Treaty of Union which was passed in 1706 (Scottish Parliament). These laws in effect saw the birth of Great Britain, merging the two independent Kingdoms of Scotland and England.

As the English Civil War was from 1642-1651...it was an English Civil War and not a "British" one as it occurred well prior to union.

In this context, Britain has never had a Civil War. I would not {neither do historians} count the Jackobite revolutions{there were 2, 1715 and 1745} as a Civil War although they did occur shortly after Union.

I'm not sure how any of these truths relate to sniping tools in the 1860's though {apologies for straying OP};)
 
Britain definitely had a Civil War between the Cavaliers & the RoundHeads
For more info Google War of The Roses.

That was called the English Civil War. The concept of Britain had not, at that time, entered the collective consciousness - see the post above for elucidation. It has not now, nor has it ever been, referred to as anything but the English Civil War, since it took place in England, among the English.

The War of the Roses was also an English civil war, taking part between the Houses of York and Lancaster - no furriners were involved - with the exception of Welsh Archers.

tac
 
Scottish Jacobite Rising (1689–92)

None of the Jacobite revolts were sanctioned by King or Parliament, therefore one could take exception to referring to them as "Scottish". Clearly the "Old Religion" Clan Chiefs of the Highlands and many of the Heberdian Islands supported and rallied around the Pretenders' Standards, but that is a far cry from a government sanctioned event.
Romanticism, blurs historical fact often and these revolts are no different. Factually these Highlanders/Islanders were ill equipped, poorly trained and relied heavily on French promises that either were never realized or occurred far too late to be of any assistance. Perhaps a little known fact is that the Black Watch was present during the battle of Culloden(1745/6) under command of the Duke of Cumberland. Scots fighting Scots is nothing new, surprising or notable but Scots "fighting" their Highland gaelic speaking cousins while being paid by the British Government was new (sort of;)). I put quotations around "fighting" because although brought to the field, General Wolf wisely had the Black Watch stationed with the baggage for the fight (for two main reasons I'll leave to your imaginations).

Once the few guns they had were disabled by accurate British emplacements, the Jacobites had little option but to charge the British line (previously successful and apparently a main battle tactic) which was currently moving on both flanks to encircle and cut off any retreat. Squabbling between Highland and Irish (yea, they were there too) leadership prevented a coordinated attack{history is unclear as to (Bonnie) Prince Charles' orders or leadership at this time and it would appear though he was there, it was his Generals who were busy "F"ing things up} and while the Scots left flank swept into British lines with initially some success, the right flank faultered being harassed by fire from their right flank and the forward British line. Wolfe gave them no quarter, none of them. After the Battle, Jacobites and their sympathizers were hunted like dogs and treated worse than if caught. Their Lords/Chiefs had lands removed from their care and several were executed in London via the executioners axe. Rebellion Quelled as they say.

Incidentally; Wolfe/Duke of Cumberland had a fence constructed around his personal residence from the broken blades of the Highlanders broadswords (Claymore) sometime after the battle as a war trophy, and before he left to the St. Lawrence to take up his Majesties quarrel with the French (yea, Highland regiments in tow). His luck ran out on the Plains of Abraham (Quebec), :) after what can only be characterized as genius naval and infantry movements and some luck. On one occasion a French sentry was alerted by Wolfe's movements and inquired (in French of course) something to the effect of "who goes there?" It was a Highlander who replied in French with a perfect accent telling the sentry he was out for a piss (or whatever calmed the Frenchman from alarm). During the battle on the Plains of Abraham, it was a sniper of sorts that dropped Wolfe with a ball to his right side, but with nothing more accurate than the French smoothbore of the day...and again well before 1860.:)
 
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