- Location
- On a sand bar in the Atlantic Ocean.
A few weeks ago, I was researching black powder competition and matches from the time when Bisley was Wimbledon and the Creedmoore matches were still 30 years in the future. It was right around the time when our friends in the south were embroiled in arguably their most defining moment; The American Civil War.
Due to the Naval blockade of the southern ports by the US forces, the Confederate States were finding it difficult to conduct trade. Even when the Captains and crews of ships willing to run the blockade made it through, there was never enough to even come close to matching the industrial output of the northern states. England was more than happy to supply guns and materiel of war to both sides during this conflict and because of the arms shortages experienced by the Confederates, they brought in thousands upon thousands of Enfield muskets. Another little gem of that era was the Whitworth .451 caliber rifle with its hexagonal bore and uncanny accuracy, especially at long ranges.
The Confederate soldiers who given these arms were hand picked from units of Sharp Shooters, who would compete against one another for top shot. These men would then go up against the top shots from their Divisions or States and out of the numerous candidates, only a few individuals would be presented with a Whitworth. Unlike their Sharp Shooter units who operated as flank guards for an army engaged in battle. They would provide harassing fire leading up to the main battle and cover fire during retreats. It should be stressed though that they operated as units on the field of battle and they were selected for their ability to shoot. This distinction also came with perks. The Sharp Shooters would not have to do sentry and picket, or other less desirable duties. Men who carried Whitworth rifles were given an almost unheard of freedom to roam the battlefield and engage targets of their choosing- Officers, Senior NCO's, mounted troops and artillery units. The Whitworth rifles were so effective that entire artillery batteries would turn their guns on the suspected position of a Whitworth soldier; That or die, as the Sharp Shooter would pick off the entire crew of each gun. There is even a painting of a US artilleryman looking over his shoulder while ramming home a ball. His dead comrades sprawled on the ground around him. Presumably the victims of a Whitworth carrying Sharp Shooter.
The most famous act of sniping during the Civil War also involved a Whitworth rifle. It took place on May 9, 1864, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Accounts vary as to the distance from which the shot was taken, with the range being put anywhere from 500 to 1000 yards. The following transcript is copied from the website of American Civil War History.Union General John Sedgwick was directing the placement of his artillery in preparation for the coming battle when his position came under fire from a Confederate sniper. The unique shape of the Whitworth bullets caused them to make a very distinctive whistling sound when they passed through the air; a sound that was, by then, feared in the Union ranks. Following is an account of what happened next, from Sedgwick's Chief-of-Staff:
98
"As the bullets whistled by, some of the men dodged. The general said laughingly, 'What! what! men, dodging this way for single bullets! What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.' A few seconds after, a man who had been separated from his regiment passed directly in front of the general, and at the same moment a sharp-shooter's bullet passed with a long shrill whistle very close, and the soldier, who was then just in front of the general, dodged to the ground. The general touched him gently with his foot, and said, 'Why, my man, I am ashamed of you, dodging that way,' and repeated the remark, 'They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.' The man rose and saluted and said good-naturedly, 'General, I dodged a shell once, and if I hadn't, it would have taken my head off. I believe in dodging.' The general laughed and replied, 'All right, my man; go to your place.'
For a third time the same shrill whistle, closing with a dull, heavy stroke, interrupted our talk; when, as I was about to resume, the general's face turned slowly to me, the blood spurting from his left cheek under the eye in a steady stream. He fell in my direction; I was so close to him that my effort to support him failed, and I fell with him."
Thus, General Sedgwick became the highest ranking Union officer to die in battle (above). When General Ulysses S. Grant received the news, he was so shocked that, in total disbelief, he repeatedly asked those around him, "Is he really dead?"
Deservedly, much has been written on the subject of the Whitworth. My goal is to provide links and information in a comprehensive thread and I encourage others to contribute their own stories, experiences and links to articles on this amazing rifle that was way ahead of it's time and in some aspects, is still superior to today's rifles.
I'm certainly no expert on Whitworth rifles, so if I've written or quoted something which is not fact, rest assured it is not intentional. The intent of this thread is to create a living document to help others in their quest for everything Whitworth.
Here is a list of links on the topic:
http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/whitworth-rifle.html
https://longrangerifles.wordpress.com/reference/equipment/
https://plus.google.com/+ResearchPress
http://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/archive/index.php/t-4822.html
http://gunmakerhistory.########.ca/2015/11/loading-whitworth-patent-rifle.html
Suppliers of parts, accessories et al:
https://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/category.jsp?catid=92728
https://www.peterdyson.co.uk/acatalog/MUZZLE_LOADING_.html
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/
https://www.buffaloarms.com/
https://dixiegunworks.com/
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=8084
Right out of the box- The Pedersoli version of a Whitworth rifled musket. The craftsmanship on this example is excellent! Fit and finish is superb.
Due to the Naval blockade of the southern ports by the US forces, the Confederate States were finding it difficult to conduct trade. Even when the Captains and crews of ships willing to run the blockade made it through, there was never enough to even come close to matching the industrial output of the northern states. England was more than happy to supply guns and materiel of war to both sides during this conflict and because of the arms shortages experienced by the Confederates, they brought in thousands upon thousands of Enfield muskets. Another little gem of that era was the Whitworth .451 caliber rifle with its hexagonal bore and uncanny accuracy, especially at long ranges.
The Confederate soldiers who given these arms were hand picked from units of Sharp Shooters, who would compete against one another for top shot. These men would then go up against the top shots from their Divisions or States and out of the numerous candidates, only a few individuals would be presented with a Whitworth. Unlike their Sharp Shooter units who operated as flank guards for an army engaged in battle. They would provide harassing fire leading up to the main battle and cover fire during retreats. It should be stressed though that they operated as units on the field of battle and they were selected for their ability to shoot. This distinction also came with perks. The Sharp Shooters would not have to do sentry and picket, or other less desirable duties. Men who carried Whitworth rifles were given an almost unheard of freedom to roam the battlefield and engage targets of their choosing- Officers, Senior NCO's, mounted troops and artillery units. The Whitworth rifles were so effective that entire artillery batteries would turn their guns on the suspected position of a Whitworth soldier; That or die, as the Sharp Shooter would pick off the entire crew of each gun. There is even a painting of a US artilleryman looking over his shoulder while ramming home a ball. His dead comrades sprawled on the ground around him. Presumably the victims of a Whitworth carrying Sharp Shooter.
The most famous act of sniping during the Civil War also involved a Whitworth rifle. It took place on May 9, 1864, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Accounts vary as to the distance from which the shot was taken, with the range being put anywhere from 500 to 1000 yards. The following transcript is copied from the website of American Civil War History.Union General John Sedgwick was directing the placement of his artillery in preparation for the coming battle when his position came under fire from a Confederate sniper. The unique shape of the Whitworth bullets caused them to make a very distinctive whistling sound when they passed through the air; a sound that was, by then, feared in the Union ranks. Following is an account of what happened next, from Sedgwick's Chief-of-Staff:
98
"As the bullets whistled by, some of the men dodged. The general said laughingly, 'What! what! men, dodging this way for single bullets! What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.' A few seconds after, a man who had been separated from his regiment passed directly in front of the general, and at the same moment a sharp-shooter's bullet passed with a long shrill whistle very close, and the soldier, who was then just in front of the general, dodged to the ground. The general touched him gently with his foot, and said, 'Why, my man, I am ashamed of you, dodging that way,' and repeated the remark, 'They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.' The man rose and saluted and said good-naturedly, 'General, I dodged a shell once, and if I hadn't, it would have taken my head off. I believe in dodging.' The general laughed and replied, 'All right, my man; go to your place.'
For a third time the same shrill whistle, closing with a dull, heavy stroke, interrupted our talk; when, as I was about to resume, the general's face turned slowly to me, the blood spurting from his left cheek under the eye in a steady stream. He fell in my direction; I was so close to him that my effort to support him failed, and I fell with him."
Thus, General Sedgwick became the highest ranking Union officer to die in battle (above). When General Ulysses S. Grant received the news, he was so shocked that, in total disbelief, he repeatedly asked those around him, "Is he really dead?"
Deservedly, much has been written on the subject of the Whitworth. My goal is to provide links and information in a comprehensive thread and I encourage others to contribute their own stories, experiences and links to articles on this amazing rifle that was way ahead of it's time and in some aspects, is still superior to today's rifles.
I'm certainly no expert on Whitworth rifles, so if I've written or quoted something which is not fact, rest assured it is not intentional. The intent of this thread is to create a living document to help others in their quest for everything Whitworth.
Here is a list of links on the topic:
http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/whitworth-rifle.html
https://longrangerifles.wordpress.com/reference/equipment/
https://plus.google.com/+ResearchPress
http://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/archive/index.php/t-4822.html
http://gunmakerhistory.########.ca/2015/11/loading-whitworth-patent-rifle.html
Suppliers of parts, accessories et al:
https://www.marstar.ca/dynamic/category.jsp?catid=92728
https://www.peterdyson.co.uk/acatalog/MUZZLE_LOADING_.html
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/
https://www.buffaloarms.com/
https://dixiegunworks.com/
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=8084
Right out of the box- The Pedersoli version of a Whitworth rifled musket. The craftsmanship on this example is excellent! Fit and finish is superb.
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