A collection of bedtime stories - or sharpshooter & sniper tales
- Thread starter 4v50 Gary
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Not kidding. There are some new timers whom I've invited over from several other blackpowder forums. Anyhow, here's a piece of advice from the olde days:
“Be not sparing of a little extraordinary shot and powder to make them mark-men, especially your gentlemen, and those you find most capable for shot must be your best weapon; yet this will not do unless you have at least 100, or as many as you can, of expert blooded, approved good soldiers, who dare boldly lead them, not to shoot a ducke, goose or a dead mark but at men, from whom you expect such as to send.”
The advice given is from a period that predates the scope of my work, but as it is highly relevant, it's worthwhile sharing.
To all Veterans and servicemen/women, THANK YOU! Uou and others like you have made the blessings of liberty possible.
“Be not sparing of a little extraordinary shot and powder to make them mark-men, especially your gentlemen, and those you find most capable for shot must be your best weapon; yet this will not do unless you have at least 100, or as many as you can, of expert blooded, approved good soldiers, who dare boldly lead them, not to shoot a ducke, goose or a dead mark but at men, from whom you expect such as to send.”
The advice given is from a period that predates the scope of my work, but as it is highly relevant, it's worthwhile sharing.
To all Veterans and servicemen/women, THANK YOU! Uou and others like you have made the blessings of liberty possible.
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Rifleman Tom Plunket of the British 95th
As American muzzleloaders, we are naturally drawn to our own historical figures. Who amongst us has not heard of Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Lewis Wetzel, Samuel Brady, Tim Murphy, Daniel Morgan or the many others who created our nation and contributed to our frontier lore? However, marksmanship, bravery and deeds worth of retelling are not exclusive to our soil, and if we look across the pond hard enough, we will find worthy men. In examining the early history of the British 95th Regiment, later stylized as the Rifle Brigade, one rifleman, Tom Plunket, stands out.
Tom Plunket was born in Newton County, Ireland and at the age of 20, enlisted at Dublin into the Rifle Brigade on May 10, 1805. Described as a “smart, well-made fellow, about middle height and in the prime of manhood; with clear grey eye and handsome countenance,” he was believed by some to be the “best shot in the regiment.” Kincaid described Plunket as: “...a bold, active, athletic Irishman, and a deadly shot...” Initially sent to South America with Whitelocke, Plunket began his reputation as a rifleman there.
Whitelock’s reinforcements of four companies of the 1/95 were united with the three companies of the 2/95 and placed under the command of Major McLeod as a provisional battalion. Along with the rest of the army, they pushed onto Buenos Aires and quickly stormed the town. However, poor leadership failed to consolidate the victory and the Spaniards rallied, and isolating the scattered British units, forced them to successively surrender. Among the isolated British units was Tom Plunket who was kept very active. “In an action to retake Buenos Aires, he and Fisher, another rifleman, were hoisted onto the roof of a low building to act as sharpshooters. Some years later, when asked by an officer of the 95th how many men he had killed from this position, Plunket replied: ‘Twenty, sir,’ then added: ‘I shot a gentleman with a flag of truce, sir.’ Not understanding the situation, that is exactly what he had done, and the man had died of his wounds.”
Along with the rest of his makeshift battalion, Plunket was captured and returned to England. Rejoining the First Battalion, he was sent to the Peninsular under Sir John Moore where he again distinguished himself. 95th Lt. Johnny Kincaid describes a frequently cited incident:
The regiment was formed in front of Calcabellos covering the rear of the infantry, and on the first appearance of the enemy they had been ordered to withdraw behind the town. Three parts of them had already passed the bridge, and the remainder were upon it, or in the act of filing through the street with the careless confidence which might be expected from their knowledge that the British cavalry still stood between them and the enemy; but in an instant our own cavalry, without the slightest notice, galloped through and over them, and the same instant saw a French sabre flourishing over the head of every man who remained beyond the bridge - many were cut down in the streets, and a great portion of the rear company were taken prisoners.
The remainder of the regiment, seeing the unexpected attack, quickly drew off among the vineyards to the right and left of the road, where they cooly awaited the approaching assaults. The dismounted voltigeurs first swarmed over the river, assailing the riflemen on all sides, but they were met by a galling fire which effectively stopped them. General Colbert next advanced to dislodge them, and passing the river at the head of his dragoons, he charged furiously up the road; but, when within a few yards of our own men, he was received with such a deadly fire, that scarcely a Frenchman remained in the saddle, and the general himself was among the slain. The voltigeurs preservered in their unsuccessful endeavors to force the post, and a furious fight continued to be waged, until darkness put an end to it, both sides having suffered severely...
General Colbert (the enemy’s hero of the day), was, by all accounts, (if I may be permitted the expression,) splendid as a man, and not less so as a soldier. From the commencement of the retreat of our army he had led the advance, and been conspicuous for his daring: his gallant bearing had, in fact, excited the admiration of his enemies; but on this day, the last of his brilliant earthly career, he was mounted on a white charger, and had been a prominent figure in the attack of our men in the street the instant before, and it is not, therefore, to be wondered at if the admiration for the soldier was for a space drowned in the feeling for the fallen comrades which his bravery had consigned to death; a rifleman, therefore, of the name of Plunket, exclaiming, ‘thou too shalt surely die!’ took up an advanced position, for the purpose of singling him out, and by his hand he no doubt fell.
I'll share more about Plunket later.
As American muzzleloaders, we are naturally drawn to our own historical figures. Who amongst us has not heard of Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Lewis Wetzel, Samuel Brady, Tim Murphy, Daniel Morgan or the many others who created our nation and contributed to our frontier lore? However, marksmanship, bravery and deeds worth of retelling are not exclusive to our soil, and if we look across the pond hard enough, we will find worthy men. In examining the early history of the British 95th Regiment, later stylized as the Rifle Brigade, one rifleman, Tom Plunket, stands out.
Tom Plunket was born in Newton County, Ireland and at the age of 20, enlisted at Dublin into the Rifle Brigade on May 10, 1805. Described as a “smart, well-made fellow, about middle height and in the prime of manhood; with clear grey eye and handsome countenance,” he was believed by some to be the “best shot in the regiment.” Kincaid described Plunket as: “...a bold, active, athletic Irishman, and a deadly shot...” Initially sent to South America with Whitelocke, Plunket began his reputation as a rifleman there.
Whitelock’s reinforcements of four companies of the 1/95 were united with the three companies of the 2/95 and placed under the command of Major McLeod as a provisional battalion. Along with the rest of the army, they pushed onto Buenos Aires and quickly stormed the town. However, poor leadership failed to consolidate the victory and the Spaniards rallied, and isolating the scattered British units, forced them to successively surrender. Among the isolated British units was Tom Plunket who was kept very active. “In an action to retake Buenos Aires, he and Fisher, another rifleman, were hoisted onto the roof of a low building to act as sharpshooters. Some years later, when asked by an officer of the 95th how many men he had killed from this position, Plunket replied: ‘Twenty, sir,’ then added: ‘I shot a gentleman with a flag of truce, sir.’ Not understanding the situation, that is exactly what he had done, and the man had died of his wounds.”
Along with the rest of his makeshift battalion, Plunket was captured and returned to England. Rejoining the First Battalion, he was sent to the Peninsular under Sir John Moore where he again distinguished himself. 95th Lt. Johnny Kincaid describes a frequently cited incident:
The regiment was formed in front of Calcabellos covering the rear of the infantry, and on the first appearance of the enemy they had been ordered to withdraw behind the town. Three parts of them had already passed the bridge, and the remainder were upon it, or in the act of filing through the street with the careless confidence which might be expected from their knowledge that the British cavalry still stood between them and the enemy; but in an instant our own cavalry, without the slightest notice, galloped through and over them, and the same instant saw a French sabre flourishing over the head of every man who remained beyond the bridge - many were cut down in the streets, and a great portion of the rear company were taken prisoners.
The remainder of the regiment, seeing the unexpected attack, quickly drew off among the vineyards to the right and left of the road, where they cooly awaited the approaching assaults. The dismounted voltigeurs first swarmed over the river, assailing the riflemen on all sides, but they were met by a galling fire which effectively stopped them. General Colbert next advanced to dislodge them, and passing the river at the head of his dragoons, he charged furiously up the road; but, when within a few yards of our own men, he was received with such a deadly fire, that scarcely a Frenchman remained in the saddle, and the general himself was among the slain. The voltigeurs preservered in their unsuccessful endeavors to force the post, and a furious fight continued to be waged, until darkness put an end to it, both sides having suffered severely...
General Colbert (the enemy’s hero of the day), was, by all accounts, (if I may be permitted the expression,) splendid as a man, and not less so as a soldier. From the commencement of the retreat of our army he had led the advance, and been conspicuous for his daring: his gallant bearing had, in fact, excited the admiration of his enemies; but on this day, the last of his brilliant earthly career, he was mounted on a white charger, and had been a prominent figure in the attack of our men in the street the instant before, and it is not, therefore, to be wondered at if the admiration for the soldier was for a space drowned in the feeling for the fallen comrades which his bravery had consigned to death; a rifleman, therefore, of the name of Plunket, exclaiming, ‘thou too shalt surely die!’ took up an advanced position, for the purpose of singling him out, and by his hand he no doubt fell.
I'll share more about Plunket later.
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Conclusion of the Tom Plunket story
Costello places the battle at Astorga and elaborates:
“[A] French General named Colbert, conspicuous on a grey horse, was remarkably active. Although frequently aimed at by our men, he seemed to bear a charmed life, and invariably escaped. In one of the French charges headed by this daring officer, General Sir Edward Paget rode up to the rifles and offered his purse to any man who would shoot him. Plunket immediately started from his company. He ran about a hundred yards nearer to the enemy, threw himself on his back on the road (which was covered with snow), placed his foot in the sling of his rifle, and taking deliberate aim, shot General Colbert. Colbert’s Trumpet-Major, who rode up to him, shared the same fate from Tom’s unerring rifle. Our men, who had been anxiously watching, cheered, and Tom began running in upon the rearmost sections. He was just in time to escape some dozen troopers who had chased after him.
‘Our General immediately gave Tom the purse he had promised with encomiums upon his gallantry. He promised to recommend him to his Colonel, which he did in high terms to Colonel Beckwith. A few days afterwards, when the French attacked Sir John Moore’s position at Corunna, Plunket was again noted for his cool bravery and daring, especially in making admirable shots, by which they lost many officers.”
(Note: Moorsom credits General Colbert’s death to artillery. “Two British guns, which were posted on the high-road leading to Villafranca, on the slope of the hill, played upon the French column as it advanced; amongst others, the French General Colbert fell, by the well-directed fire of those guns.”)
While the first historian of the Rifle Brigade, Sir William Cope, doubted whether General Paget would order a rifleman to deliberately aim and shoot down an enemy officer, officers being “gentlemen” and their lessers were not supposed to harm them, Marshal Soult complained in one letter (below) that it was British policy to shoot down officers. If Paget had indeed bartered for Colbert’s death, he certainly was not alone among British generals as we shall see. Incentive to shoot officers also arose from desire to gain plunder which came not only from the purse and jewelry worn by the officers but also the lace that adorned their uniforms. Historian Scott Mylerly points out that lace could be used as barter for food. Realizing that fancy uniforms could attract unwelcomed bullets, the British Clothing Board suggested in 1811 that caps and jackets for officers could be adapted after that worn by the men. The practice of removing items from an officer’s uniform items was not limited to the British either. John Malcom of the 42nd Regiment reports that before being driven off by their officers, French soldiers attempted to remove his epaulet. While Mylerly asserts that there was little to distinguish between officers and their men during the Peninsular Campaign, this may be more to the difficulties of campaign than by design. For instance, Kincaid reports that his green jacket had faded to a brown color.
The Retreat to Corunna saw the Rifle Brigade and Tom Plunket return to Hythe, England and for the better. The campaign had been a hard one and many suffered from starvation during the retreat. Weapons were rusted and had to be repaired or replaced. Their lice infested clothes were thrown into a pile and burned. Plunket received recognition during a parade during which Colonel Beckwith promoted him to corporal. Having been depleted, the Regiment went on to recruit and Plunket was among those chosen for this task. One stunt he demonstrated was the ease with which his green uniform could be kept. Unlike the red-coat of most British infantry with its white crossbelts that were difficult to keep spotless, Plunket descended a chimney, brushed himself off and presented himself ready for inspection by his recruits. The Regiment’s recruitment efforts garnered enough men to flush out not only the ranks of the existing two battalions but also to raise a third battalion. All three accompanied Wellington back to the Peninsula.
Plunket rose to Sergeant but falling victim to drink, defied the order of a more senior sergeant. Captain James H. K. Stewart (1st Company, 1st Battalion, 95th), confined Plunket to his quarters under arrest. Angered, Plunket loaded about a dozen rifles and placing himself at a window, waited for Capt. Stewart. Another officer intervened and convinced Plunket to surrender. When sobered, Plunket fully appreciated his actions and expressed regrets. However, the gravity of his crime could not go unpunished and sentencing included demotion and 300 lashes (he received only 35 before Colonel Beckwith ceased the administration). Plunket recovered soon enough and regained his status as a favorite of the officers and became a corporal again. He survived the Peninsular campaign unhurt and fought at Waterloo where he received an injury on the forehead.
Discharged for “bad character” from the 95th on Nov. 10, 1817, he purportedly enlisted into a red coat regiment and came across his old Colonel, now General, Sir Sidney Beckwith. Plunket emigrated to Canada in response to a government offer to settle pensioners there, found it not to his liking, and returned to England where he died in 1850.
Costello places the battle at Astorga and elaborates:
“[A] French General named Colbert, conspicuous on a grey horse, was remarkably active. Although frequently aimed at by our men, he seemed to bear a charmed life, and invariably escaped. In one of the French charges headed by this daring officer, General Sir Edward Paget rode up to the rifles and offered his purse to any man who would shoot him. Plunket immediately started from his company. He ran about a hundred yards nearer to the enemy, threw himself on his back on the road (which was covered with snow), placed his foot in the sling of his rifle, and taking deliberate aim, shot General Colbert. Colbert’s Trumpet-Major, who rode up to him, shared the same fate from Tom’s unerring rifle. Our men, who had been anxiously watching, cheered, and Tom began running in upon the rearmost sections. He was just in time to escape some dozen troopers who had chased after him.
‘Our General immediately gave Tom the purse he had promised with encomiums upon his gallantry. He promised to recommend him to his Colonel, which he did in high terms to Colonel Beckwith. A few days afterwards, when the French attacked Sir John Moore’s position at Corunna, Plunket was again noted for his cool bravery and daring, especially in making admirable shots, by which they lost many officers.”
(Note: Moorsom credits General Colbert’s death to artillery. “Two British guns, which were posted on the high-road leading to Villafranca, on the slope of the hill, played upon the French column as it advanced; amongst others, the French General Colbert fell, by the well-directed fire of those guns.”)
While the first historian of the Rifle Brigade, Sir William Cope, doubted whether General Paget would order a rifleman to deliberately aim and shoot down an enemy officer, officers being “gentlemen” and their lessers were not supposed to harm them, Marshal Soult complained in one letter (below) that it was British policy to shoot down officers. If Paget had indeed bartered for Colbert’s death, he certainly was not alone among British generals as we shall see. Incentive to shoot officers also arose from desire to gain plunder which came not only from the purse and jewelry worn by the officers but also the lace that adorned their uniforms. Historian Scott Mylerly points out that lace could be used as barter for food. Realizing that fancy uniforms could attract unwelcomed bullets, the British Clothing Board suggested in 1811 that caps and jackets for officers could be adapted after that worn by the men. The practice of removing items from an officer’s uniform items was not limited to the British either. John Malcom of the 42nd Regiment reports that before being driven off by their officers, French soldiers attempted to remove his epaulet. While Mylerly asserts that there was little to distinguish between officers and their men during the Peninsular Campaign, this may be more to the difficulties of campaign than by design. For instance, Kincaid reports that his green jacket had faded to a brown color.
The Retreat to Corunna saw the Rifle Brigade and Tom Plunket return to Hythe, England and for the better. The campaign had been a hard one and many suffered from starvation during the retreat. Weapons were rusted and had to be repaired or replaced. Their lice infested clothes were thrown into a pile and burned. Plunket received recognition during a parade during which Colonel Beckwith promoted him to corporal. Having been depleted, the Regiment went on to recruit and Plunket was among those chosen for this task. One stunt he demonstrated was the ease with which his green uniform could be kept. Unlike the red-coat of most British infantry with its white crossbelts that were difficult to keep spotless, Plunket descended a chimney, brushed himself off and presented himself ready for inspection by his recruits. The Regiment’s recruitment efforts garnered enough men to flush out not only the ranks of the existing two battalions but also to raise a third battalion. All three accompanied Wellington back to the Peninsula.
Plunket rose to Sergeant but falling victim to drink, defied the order of a more senior sergeant. Captain James H. K. Stewart (1st Company, 1st Battalion, 95th), confined Plunket to his quarters under arrest. Angered, Plunket loaded about a dozen rifles and placing himself at a window, waited for Capt. Stewart. Another officer intervened and convinced Plunket to surrender. When sobered, Plunket fully appreciated his actions and expressed regrets. However, the gravity of his crime could not go unpunished and sentencing included demotion and 300 lashes (he received only 35 before Colonel Beckwith ceased the administration). Plunket recovered soon enough and regained his status as a favorite of the officers and became a corporal again. He survived the Peninsular campaign unhurt and fought at Waterloo where he received an injury on the forehead.
Discharged for “bad character” from the 95th on Nov. 10, 1817, he purportedly enlisted into a red coat regiment and came across his old Colonel, now General, Sir Sidney Beckwith. Plunket emigrated to Canada in response to a government offer to settle pensioners there, found it not to his liking, and returned to England where he died in 1850.
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During the Civil War, it was written that “[sharpshooters] are not likely often to be taken prisoners, as death is considered their just penalty; for as they very seldom are in a position to show mercy, so, in like manner, is mercy rarely shown to them.” Another soldier explained it more fully: “There was an unwritten code of honor among the infantry that forbade the shooting of men while attending to the imperative calls of nature, and these sharpshooting brutes were constantly violating that rule. I hated sharpshooters, both Confederate and Union, and I was always glad to see them killed.”
I just submitted an article that discusses this esoteric issue more fully to a magazine and the editor is interested.
I just submitted an article that discusses this esoteric issue more fully to a magazine and the editor is interested.
P95Carry
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Probably Gary - very little different fron modern day attitudes toward snipers - they are the guys who for sure do NOT want to be found by enemy forces!!!!
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It took two weeks, but I just finished an article about the French & Indian War that I will submit to Muzzle Blasts magazine. It's the publication of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association and is based out of Friendship, Indiana. It discusses something about aimed fire versus volley fire and mentions the need for riflemen. I'm sending it along with pics on Monday.
Anyhow, here's the bedtime story for the week: "Cain was 17 years old when enlisted. He was made fourth corporal for his gallantry in battle, and was killed by a sharp-shooter at Petersburg, Virginia, June 26, 1864. We were behind breastworks. He made a little fire just in the rear of the line, and was making some coffee in a tin cup. I was looking at him, and saw him fall forward in the fire, before I heard the report of the gun, which was fired from a point at least three-quarters of a mile distant. The bullet passed through poor Frank’s head."
Anyhow, here's the bedtime story for the week: "Cain was 17 years old when enlisted. He was made fourth corporal for his gallantry in battle, and was killed by a sharp-shooter at Petersburg, Virginia, June 26, 1864. We were behind breastworks. He made a little fire just in the rear of the line, and was making some coffee in a tin cup. I was looking at him, and saw him fall forward in the fire, before I heard the report of the gun, which was fired from a point at least three-quarters of a mile distant. The bullet passed through poor Frank’s head."
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And now for the news...
The following is a newspaper report of General McClellan's advance up the Yorktown Peninsula (April, 1862):
"The army, under the immediate command of General McClellan, left camp at daylight, the advance being as far as Cockesyville. Soon after starting, the heavens became black with large, heavy clouds, heavy shower of rain. Very soon it began to rain, flooding the roads - especially those through the woods - so as to be almost impassable. The infantry pushed on, overcoming all obstacles. The cavalry and artillery dashed on pell-mell through, all anxious to get ahead. General McClellan and staff were but a short distance behind the advance.
About 10 o'clock, on the morning of the 5th, the boooming of the first gun was heard. It electrified the whole line. Overcoats, blankets, haversacks, &c., were thrown away by the anxious soldiers, each regiment vying with the other to be first in. The roads became terrible for locomotion the further we advanced; mud holes, ruts, sloughs, &c., seeemed to go far towards making up the road.
The line of battle was formed about 10 o'clock, Berdan's Sharpshooter in the advance. As the various columns arrived on the ground, they at once began to take their respective positions. Gen. Porter's Division had the center, Gen. (John) Sedgwick the extreme right, Gen. (Charles Smith) Hamilton and Gen. ("Baldy") Smith the extreme left.
A heavy pine forest intercepted the troops, except occasional clearings, which gave a distinct view of the enemy's entrenchments. These entrenchments seemed to be of the first-class style, and mounted with heavy guns, supposed to have come from the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Soon after the firing commenced, the enemy recognized Gen. Porter and staff, and at once opened upon him with shell, one of which burst within twenty feet of the General.
The fight was carried on almost entirely with artillery, with the exception of Berdan's Sharpshooters. Weeden's Battery opened first, followed by Martin's on the left. Sooon Griffin's Third Rhode Island and Fifth Massachusetts were in position, and the battle commenced in earnest. The discharges were rapid on the Union side, answered, at intervals, by the enemy.
The first man struck was J. Reyonolds, of the Rhode Island Battery. Poor fellow, he was struck by a piece of shell. Two of Col. Sam Black's men were next hit by a round shot - a thirty-tow (pounder) - tearing the knapsack off one one. One was wounded slightly; while the other was mortally wounded.
The heaviest firing commenced at half-past twelve; Morell's brigade, on the left, advanced with in three-quarters of a mile of the entrenched enemy.
The sharpshooters, with their telescopic rifles, kept the enemy away from their guns. They crept within half a mile of the rebels. For one hour they did not reply, our sharpshooters popping them off as soon as they attempted to load.
At one o'clock Capt. Martin's battery had two men killed, five wounded, and three horses dead. The two men killed were named Lewis and Lord.
Three of Berdan's Sharpshooters were at this time wounded, and one killed - a man from New Hampshire. He was shot through the forehead by a musket ball. Lieut. Colonel Ripley killed the man who shot him, thus avenging his death. Mr. way, of company C (Berdan's) was shot in the arm, a bad flesh wound; Corporal Pech, shot in the leg; Mr. Wilcox, of company C, bruised by a shell.
About seven o'clock Allen's 5th Massachusetts relieved the 4th Rhode Island, the Rebels all day, when opportunity offering, trying to shell out the sharpshooters, without avail. Griffin's Battery received no loss, although batteries at their side lost several.
During the day the Rebels fired a small piece of ordnance, of one-inch bore, rifled, at the Berdans.
After Griffin's battery was brought into action it silenced three guns of the Rebels.
The artillerist acted nobly during the whole engagement. They took their position, and maintained it until ordered to move.
D. H. Phelps, of Company H, Berdan's Sharpshooters, was brought in about dusk, wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell.
Butterfield's and Martindale's brigades acted nobly during the day - both reclining on their arms, within range of the enemy's guns throughout the day.
Heavy firing closed with the day; but during the night the pickets occasionally could be heard banging away, far in advance.
Prof. Lowe at the close of the day, sent his balloon up, for the purpose of a reconnaisance."
(Gary's Commentary: The Berdan sharpshooter fatality was Private John Ide of Company E. Lt. Col. Ripley braved the storm of bullets, walked over to Ide's rifle, picked it up, adjusted the scope, and fired one shot that brought the Rebel down from his tree perch.)
The following is a newspaper report of General McClellan's advance up the Yorktown Peninsula (April, 1862):
"The army, under the immediate command of General McClellan, left camp at daylight, the advance being as far as Cockesyville. Soon after starting, the heavens became black with large, heavy clouds, heavy shower of rain. Very soon it began to rain, flooding the roads - especially those through the woods - so as to be almost impassable. The infantry pushed on, overcoming all obstacles. The cavalry and artillery dashed on pell-mell through, all anxious to get ahead. General McClellan and staff were but a short distance behind the advance.
About 10 o'clock, on the morning of the 5th, the boooming of the first gun was heard. It electrified the whole line. Overcoats, blankets, haversacks, &c., were thrown away by the anxious soldiers, each regiment vying with the other to be first in. The roads became terrible for locomotion the further we advanced; mud holes, ruts, sloughs, &c., seeemed to go far towards making up the road.
The line of battle was formed about 10 o'clock, Berdan's Sharpshooter in the advance. As the various columns arrived on the ground, they at once began to take their respective positions. Gen. Porter's Division had the center, Gen. (John) Sedgwick the extreme right, Gen. (Charles Smith) Hamilton and Gen. ("Baldy") Smith the extreme left.
A heavy pine forest intercepted the troops, except occasional clearings, which gave a distinct view of the enemy's entrenchments. These entrenchments seemed to be of the first-class style, and mounted with heavy guns, supposed to have come from the Norfolk Navy Yard.
Soon after the firing commenced, the enemy recognized Gen. Porter and staff, and at once opened upon him with shell, one of which burst within twenty feet of the General.
The fight was carried on almost entirely with artillery, with the exception of Berdan's Sharpshooters. Weeden's Battery opened first, followed by Martin's on the left. Sooon Griffin's Third Rhode Island and Fifth Massachusetts were in position, and the battle commenced in earnest. The discharges were rapid on the Union side, answered, at intervals, by the enemy.
The first man struck was J. Reyonolds, of the Rhode Island Battery. Poor fellow, he was struck by a piece of shell. Two of Col. Sam Black's men were next hit by a round shot - a thirty-tow (pounder) - tearing the knapsack off one one. One was wounded slightly; while the other was mortally wounded.
The heaviest firing commenced at half-past twelve; Morell's brigade, on the left, advanced with in three-quarters of a mile of the entrenched enemy.
The sharpshooters, with their telescopic rifles, kept the enemy away from their guns. They crept within half a mile of the rebels. For one hour they did not reply, our sharpshooters popping them off as soon as they attempted to load.
At one o'clock Capt. Martin's battery had two men killed, five wounded, and three horses dead. The two men killed were named Lewis and Lord.
Three of Berdan's Sharpshooters were at this time wounded, and one killed - a man from New Hampshire. He was shot through the forehead by a musket ball. Lieut. Colonel Ripley killed the man who shot him, thus avenging his death. Mr. way, of company C (Berdan's) was shot in the arm, a bad flesh wound; Corporal Pech, shot in the leg; Mr. Wilcox, of company C, bruised by a shell.
About seven o'clock Allen's 5th Massachusetts relieved the 4th Rhode Island, the Rebels all day, when opportunity offering, trying to shell out the sharpshooters, without avail. Griffin's Battery received no loss, although batteries at their side lost several.
During the day the Rebels fired a small piece of ordnance, of one-inch bore, rifled, at the Berdans.
After Griffin's battery was brought into action it silenced three guns of the Rebels.
The artillerist acted nobly during the whole engagement. They took their position, and maintained it until ordered to move.
D. H. Phelps, of Company H, Berdan's Sharpshooters, was brought in about dusk, wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell.
Butterfield's and Martindale's brigades acted nobly during the day - both reclining on their arms, within range of the enemy's guns throughout the day.
Heavy firing closed with the day; but during the night the pickets occasionally could be heard banging away, far in advance.
Prof. Lowe at the close of the day, sent his balloon up, for the purpose of a reconnaisance."
(Gary's Commentary: The Berdan sharpshooter fatality was Private John Ide of Company E. Lt. Col. Ripley braved the storm of bullets, walked over to Ide's rifle, picked it up, adjusted the scope, and fired one shot that brought the Rebel down from his tree perch.)
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Merry Christmas to everyone.
This post is dedicated to Jesse & the Dep. Marshal gang at the Federal Building @ 455 Golden Gate.
And now for the (old) news:
"The heavy skirmishing in front of Fort Stevens in the vicinity of the Seventh street road, yesterday afternoon, continued until after dark.
The rebels held a position in the woods, from which they threw out skirmishers, who crept along the ground or fired from behind trees. At one time, they succeeded in getting within range of the fort, and their sharpshooters were enabled to pick off our gunners, two of whom were wounded. The rebels used no artillery, but their movements indicated that they were endeavoring to plant a battery to bear on Fort Stevens, and in order to frustrate their designs the fort threw shells occasionally amongst them...
The house of F. P. Blair has not been burned out as reported yesterday, the rebels appear to be using it as a hospital, as they were seen to carry some of their wounded into it. The houses of Mrs. Reeves and Mrs. Carberry, on either side of the Seventh street road, were occupied by rebel sharpshooters, who annoyed our troops somewhat. During the afternoon they picked off three of our sergeants, shooting them through the head.
It was found necessary to destroy quite a number of houses on either side of the Seventh street road to prevent them being occupied by the rebel sharpshooters."
This post is dedicated to Jesse & the Dep. Marshal gang at the Federal Building @ 455 Golden Gate.
And now for the (old) news:
"The heavy skirmishing in front of Fort Stevens in the vicinity of the Seventh street road, yesterday afternoon, continued until after dark.
The rebels held a position in the woods, from which they threw out skirmishers, who crept along the ground or fired from behind trees. At one time, they succeeded in getting within range of the fort, and their sharpshooters were enabled to pick off our gunners, two of whom were wounded. The rebels used no artillery, but their movements indicated that they were endeavoring to plant a battery to bear on Fort Stevens, and in order to frustrate their designs the fort threw shells occasionally amongst them...
The house of F. P. Blair has not been burned out as reported yesterday, the rebels appear to be using it as a hospital, as they were seen to carry some of their wounded into it. The houses of Mrs. Reeves and Mrs. Carberry, on either side of the Seventh street road, were occupied by rebel sharpshooters, who annoyed our troops somewhat. During the afternoon they picked off three of our sergeants, shooting them through the head.
It was found necessary to destroy quite a number of houses on either side of the Seventh street road to prevent them being occupied by the rebel sharpshooters."
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“On the 9th of May my orders were to march the division from near Chancellorsville to a place named Gate on the map, on the north side of Nye river, and near where the Fredericksburg pike crosses that river toward Spotsylvania Court-House. Finding the enemy in small force at the bridge, I drove his skirmishers across, and Christ’s brigade leading, crossed the division and took position within 1 1/4 miles of Spotsylvania Court-House, where we repulsed repeated assaults of the enemy, and finally entrenched ourselves. I was re-enforced by the First Division about 12 pm, after the fighting was over, except sharpshooting, in which, the next morning [May 10], the gallant Brigadier-General Stevenson, commanding the First Division, was killed.”
Before the war, Thomas G. Stevenson was involved in the state’s militia where he was commissioned as a major and enjoyed a reputation as a drillmaster. At war’s outbreak, he raised the 24th Massachusetts and participated in Burnside’s Carolina Expedition along with other coastal operations. He was involved in the reduction of Battery Wagner on Morris Island. Afterwards, he was sick with malaria (‘63-‘64). Upon recovery, he returned to duty under Burnside as a division commander. Stevenson’s Division was pushing forward when he decided to break for lunch. Seeking shelter beneath the shade of a tree, Stevenson and his staff were eating when one of his officers suggested in jest that they exchange places. Before Stevenson could respond, a bullet struck him in the back of his head and blew out his temple.
Before the war, Thomas G. Stevenson was involved in the state’s militia where he was commissioned as a major and enjoyed a reputation as a drillmaster. At war’s outbreak, he raised the 24th Massachusetts and participated in Burnside’s Carolina Expedition along with other coastal operations. He was involved in the reduction of Battery Wagner on Morris Island. Afterwards, he was sick with malaria (‘63-‘64). Upon recovery, he returned to duty under Burnside as a division commander. Stevenson’s Division was pushing forward when he decided to break for lunch. Seeking shelter beneath the shade of a tree, Stevenson and his staff were eating when one of his officers suggested in jest that they exchange places. Before Stevenson could respond, a bullet struck him in the back of his head and blew out his temple.
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And now for a slightly different type of story - shots that weren't fired...
We all know how many close calls George Washington had during his career. As a young officer serving as an aide to General Edward Braddock, he was shot at numerous times and his clothing pierced, but fortune's hand saved Washington for noble reasons yet unknown to him. A little over 20 years later, he would lead the Continental Army during which time he came under fire but again emerged unscathed to help forge a nation.
Another future president would also enjoy very good fortune. General U. S. Grant was almost an early war casualty when, at the Battle of Belmont (Nov. 7, 1861), he rode within 50 yards of approaching Confederates before realizing it. Confederate General Leonidas Polk spotted him and instructed his men, “There is a Yankee; you may try your marksmanship on him if you wish.” Despite Polk’s suggestion, Grant rode away unmolested.
Unpretentious, Grant learned to disdain the fancier trappings of an officer and often wore a private’s coat with his shoulder straps being the only suggestion of his rank. Resting his elbows on the top of an observation tower, Grant was studying the Confederate lines through his binoculars when one Johnny Reb spotted him. Mistaking Grant for a common line officer, he used obscenities in warning Grant not to expose himself needlessly. A Confederate captain caught Johnny yelling at the “Yankee” officer and instead of ordering him to shoot the “Yankee,” he chastised Johnny for speaking offensively to an officer - albeit an enemy one surveying their lines. His dignity undisturbed, Grant heeded the warning and didn’t expose himself any further.
We all know how many close calls George Washington had during his career. As a young officer serving as an aide to General Edward Braddock, he was shot at numerous times and his clothing pierced, but fortune's hand saved Washington for noble reasons yet unknown to him. A little over 20 years later, he would lead the Continental Army during which time he came under fire but again emerged unscathed to help forge a nation.
Another future president would also enjoy very good fortune. General U. S. Grant was almost an early war casualty when, at the Battle of Belmont (Nov. 7, 1861), he rode within 50 yards of approaching Confederates before realizing it. Confederate General Leonidas Polk spotted him and instructed his men, “There is a Yankee; you may try your marksmanship on him if you wish.” Despite Polk’s suggestion, Grant rode away unmolested.
Unpretentious, Grant learned to disdain the fancier trappings of an officer and often wore a private’s coat with his shoulder straps being the only suggestion of his rank. Resting his elbows on the top of an observation tower, Grant was studying the Confederate lines through his binoculars when one Johnny Reb spotted him. Mistaking Grant for a common line officer, he used obscenities in warning Grant not to expose himself needlessly. A Confederate captain caught Johnny yelling at the “Yankee” officer and instead of ordering him to shoot the “Yankee,” he chastised Johnny for speaking offensively to an officer - albeit an enemy one surveying their lines. His dignity undisturbed, Grant heeded the warning and didn’t expose himself any further.
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The rifleman advantage
Been busy and just learned that an article I wrote has been tentatively scheduled for release in the May, 2006 issue of Muzzle Blasts magazine. It's the third confirmed article for this year and I'm still waiting for word on another five. Anyhow, here's a statement from an allied soldier who served on the side of the Rebels during the American Revolutin: “Our loss is two captains, two lieutenants, ten privates wounded; two lieutenants, one sergeant, six privates killed; one lieutenant, twelve privates, whose fate is not known; one sergeant taken. The enemy had about sixty killed, among whom are several officers, and about one hundred wounded. They acknowledge the action was smart, and Lord Cornwallis was heard to express himself vehemently upon the disproportion between his and our killed, which must be attributed to the great skill of our riflemen.” The outsider who came to America and supported our fight for liberty is Lafayette.
Been busy and just learned that an article I wrote has been tentatively scheduled for release in the May, 2006 issue of Muzzle Blasts magazine. It's the third confirmed article for this year and I'm still waiting for word on another five. Anyhow, here's a statement from an allied soldier who served on the side of the Rebels during the American Revolutin: “Our loss is two captains, two lieutenants, ten privates wounded; two lieutenants, one sergeant, six privates killed; one lieutenant, twelve privates, whose fate is not known; one sergeant taken. The enemy had about sixty killed, among whom are several officers, and about one hundred wounded. They acknowledge the action was smart, and Lord Cornwallis was heard to express himself vehemently upon the disproportion between his and our killed, which must be attributed to the great skill of our riflemen.” The outsider who came to America and supported our fight for liberty is Lafayette.
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Close quarters
Sharpshooters, like snipers, should use their ballistic advantage and engage their opponent from a distance. The possibility of close quarter combat was one reason why some British snipers in WW II also carried a Sten submachinegun. Here's an account of a sharpshooter whose company went out to engage artillery and were suddenly flanked by infantry. Fighting from as close as 50 yards, they would have been better off with shotguns than target rifles. Not surprisingly, they suffered heavy casualties and were overrunned.
“On the morning of the 17th, when going in with the company, I saw a frightful slaughter all about me, I found myself trying to dodge every shot and shell that came in our direction. My nerves were all unstrung under this altogether new and novel excitement; it was different kind of gunning from what I was used to; my hands shook and I was mad with myself that I acted so like a coward, and found it so hard to control my feelings.
“The moment we halted in line, however, the Captain said, ‘Lie down! Every man on his own hook! I was all right, and was just as cool as though shooting at a target, or watching behind a ‘blind’ for a shot at a duck on the rise. I got behind a tree, and kneeling, watched my chances. I had but nineteen cartridges, and that worried me some; but I determined, upon the Captain’s suggestion, to change my rifle and ammunition at the first opportunity, for then I should have plenty.
“The ‘Johnnies’ were behind haystacks. I shot five times deliberately, and dropped a man every time. How do I know? Well, I did not shoot until I saw a body, and a good, fair mark; then I sighted to kill, and saw the man drop after I had fired.
"Just as I expected, though, the rifle heated right up, and fouled. I rammed down a ball; it stuck. I partially rose up, either to draw it or to force it home, when I saw a rebel steadily aim at me from the haystack where I had dropped the others. I dodged down, but wasn’t quick enough; he fired; the ball took me here, through the body, going through a portion of my lung. I fell, with a dull numbness all over me."
Sharpshooters, like snipers, should use their ballistic advantage and engage their opponent from a distance. The possibility of close quarter combat was one reason why some British snipers in WW II also carried a Sten submachinegun. Here's an account of a sharpshooter whose company went out to engage artillery and were suddenly flanked by infantry. Fighting from as close as 50 yards, they would have been better off with shotguns than target rifles. Not surprisingly, they suffered heavy casualties and were overrunned.
“On the morning of the 17th, when going in with the company, I saw a frightful slaughter all about me, I found myself trying to dodge every shot and shell that came in our direction. My nerves were all unstrung under this altogether new and novel excitement; it was different kind of gunning from what I was used to; my hands shook and I was mad with myself that I acted so like a coward, and found it so hard to control my feelings.
“The moment we halted in line, however, the Captain said, ‘Lie down! Every man on his own hook! I was all right, and was just as cool as though shooting at a target, or watching behind a ‘blind’ for a shot at a duck on the rise. I got behind a tree, and kneeling, watched my chances. I had but nineteen cartridges, and that worried me some; but I determined, upon the Captain’s suggestion, to change my rifle and ammunition at the first opportunity, for then I should have plenty.
“The ‘Johnnies’ were behind haystacks. I shot five times deliberately, and dropped a man every time. How do I know? Well, I did not shoot until I saw a body, and a good, fair mark; then I sighted to kill, and saw the man drop after I had fired.
"Just as I expected, though, the rifle heated right up, and fouled. I rammed down a ball; it stuck. I partially rose up, either to draw it or to force it home, when I saw a rebel steadily aim at me from the haystack where I had dropped the others. I dodged down, but wasn’t quick enough; he fired; the ball took me here, through the body, going through a portion of my lung. I fell, with a dull numbness all over me."
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A marksman renders another kind of service.
Concerning the book, I touched based with my editor last week who says that a schedule is being worked out on it. Goodie, but I still don't know when the manuscript will be back.
Anyhow, not everyone who qualified to be a sharpshooter enlisted in a sharpshooting unit. Some marksmen preferred to serve alongside their neighbors and fought in regular units as a common infantryman. There's no dishonour in it and if it gives a unit an edge, all the better. Not all marksmen need place their leaden bullet into an opponent to serve their side. Today's story concerns a marksman who served in another way. In fact, this bedtime story has no real battefield lesson from which an aspiring or experienced sniper could learn anything. Still, it's fun and while this definitely won't be in the book, I thought you might enjoy it.
"Those of my readers who get their rations at Culver's meat shop know 'Billy Bunker,' and know that he can cut a steak or roast in the most approved style. And you may perhaps know that Billy is a dead shot, and can bring down a deer, a duck, or a turkey, every time. But you may not know that Billy was one of the brave boys of the 100th, and once cracked his rifle at the enemies of the Union, as cooly as he would at a turkey; for Billy is a modest man, and unless you have drawn him out, he has not told you. On the march of our army to Chattanooga, he got sick - had a run of fever. When he was convalescing, as the regiment was about to move, Surgeon Heise gave hm his choice, either to go back to a hospital, or to keep up with the regiment riding in an ambulance. Billy is not one of those who like to go back, and so he choose the latter, and kept on to Chattanooga, and out to the front at Gordon's Mills. He was in the divison field hospital when the fight began, and lay there a long time, listening to its grim music, until he could endure it no longer, and seizing his musket, took his place in the ranks, and put in a couple of hours hard work, by which time he was so exhausted that he had to lay down, and when the regiment fell back, he was left. Surgeon Woodruff, coming along with his ambulance, picked up the wounded, saw Billy lying there, and asked him what he was there for, and telling him that the enemy would soon have the ground, it behooved him to be on his travels. When he found that Billy was used up, he told him to creep into the ambulance. He did so, and was taken back to the hospital again. Well, the hospital came within the enemy's lines next day, as we have related, and, after two or three days, a rebel officer came around to parole those who were not disabled, to go to Atlanta, and await further orders. Bill did not want to travel in that direction, and he manged to keep out of sight while the rebel officer was around. A few days after, an arrangement was made by Rosecrans with the rebel authorities, to have the seriously wounded sent into our lines, and accordingly, a rebel officer came around to parole them, and to see that everything was done according to the terms of the agreement. Billy got wind of the matter, and, with the surgeon's consent, he had crawled into a vacant cot, and got covered up. Being still thin and pale, he was supposed to be a wounded man, and was paroled as such. When the ambulance came around for the wounded, he was helped in by two men - his leg and footh swathed with blankets - while another great blanket hung over his shoulders, beneath which he had concealed a half dozen canteens which he had filled with whisky from the hospital stores, and was bound to keep from the rebels; and so he got back to Chattanooga, and escaped the horrors of Andersonville, and save me the necssity of writing his obituary.
"I have only one criticism to make on Billy's conduct. Whatever casuists might say, I think he did perfectly right in humbugging the rebels, but, in my opinion, he ought to have left them the whisky, as the more they had of that commodity, the worse off they would be! I am afraid, too, that Billy never reported it at the commissary's, and can't show Sergt. Garnsey's receipt for it."
Concerning the book, I touched based with my editor last week who says that a schedule is being worked out on it. Goodie, but I still don't know when the manuscript will be back.
Anyhow, not everyone who qualified to be a sharpshooter enlisted in a sharpshooting unit. Some marksmen preferred to serve alongside their neighbors and fought in regular units as a common infantryman. There's no dishonour in it and if it gives a unit an edge, all the better. Not all marksmen need place their leaden bullet into an opponent to serve their side. Today's story concerns a marksman who served in another way. In fact, this bedtime story has no real battefield lesson from which an aspiring or experienced sniper could learn anything. Still, it's fun and while this definitely won't be in the book, I thought you might enjoy it.
"Those of my readers who get their rations at Culver's meat shop know 'Billy Bunker,' and know that he can cut a steak or roast in the most approved style. And you may perhaps know that Billy is a dead shot, and can bring down a deer, a duck, or a turkey, every time. But you may not know that Billy was one of the brave boys of the 100th, and once cracked his rifle at the enemies of the Union, as cooly as he would at a turkey; for Billy is a modest man, and unless you have drawn him out, he has not told you. On the march of our army to Chattanooga, he got sick - had a run of fever. When he was convalescing, as the regiment was about to move, Surgeon Heise gave hm his choice, either to go back to a hospital, or to keep up with the regiment riding in an ambulance. Billy is not one of those who like to go back, and so he choose the latter, and kept on to Chattanooga, and out to the front at Gordon's Mills. He was in the divison field hospital when the fight began, and lay there a long time, listening to its grim music, until he could endure it no longer, and seizing his musket, took his place in the ranks, and put in a couple of hours hard work, by which time he was so exhausted that he had to lay down, and when the regiment fell back, he was left. Surgeon Woodruff, coming along with his ambulance, picked up the wounded, saw Billy lying there, and asked him what he was there for, and telling him that the enemy would soon have the ground, it behooved him to be on his travels. When he found that Billy was used up, he told him to creep into the ambulance. He did so, and was taken back to the hospital again. Well, the hospital came within the enemy's lines next day, as we have related, and, after two or three days, a rebel officer came around to parole those who were not disabled, to go to Atlanta, and await further orders. Bill did not want to travel in that direction, and he manged to keep out of sight while the rebel officer was around. A few days after, an arrangement was made by Rosecrans with the rebel authorities, to have the seriously wounded sent into our lines, and accordingly, a rebel officer came around to parole them, and to see that everything was done according to the terms of the agreement. Billy got wind of the matter, and, with the surgeon's consent, he had crawled into a vacant cot, and got covered up. Being still thin and pale, he was supposed to be a wounded man, and was paroled as such. When the ambulance came around for the wounded, he was helped in by two men - his leg and footh swathed with blankets - while another great blanket hung over his shoulders, beneath which he had concealed a half dozen canteens which he had filled with whisky from the hospital stores, and was bound to keep from the rebels; and so he got back to Chattanooga, and escaped the horrors of Andersonville, and save me the necssity of writing his obituary.
"I have only one criticism to make on Billy's conduct. Whatever casuists might say, I think he did perfectly right in humbugging the rebels, but, in my opinion, he ought to have left them the whisky, as the more they had of that commodity, the worse off they would be! I am afraid, too, that Billy never reported it at the commissary's, and can't show Sergt. Garnsey's receipt for it."
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mystery warriors
Well, one article was rejected but I'll submit to another magazine instead. I've also been working all week to summarize one 40 page chapter into a magazine length article. Talk about tough work.
Here's something to ponder. Can you guess who they're talking about?
“The whole male... had been trained the use of firearms from youth upwards.... Accustomed to exertion and to privation, the[y] possessed all the qualities which form the foundation necessary for success in war...
“Thus was strengthened the self-confidence of the individual rifleman who, in the field, remained always more a hunter than a soldier. The idea was that, in a fight, it was only necessary to defeat the adversary while securing his own safety, and that a hand-to-hand struggle at all costs to be avoided. The tactics was based solely upon the employment of individual and independent riflemen who, owing to the peculiarities of their race, were only unwilling subordinates, unless the objective were immediately plain to all eyes... [T]hey had learned, what a terrible weapon a rifle with sufficient ammunition in the hands of an experienced shot.”
Well, one article was rejected but I'll submit to another magazine instead. I've also been working all week to summarize one 40 page chapter into a magazine length article. Talk about tough work.
Here's something to ponder. Can you guess who they're talking about?
“The whole male... had been trained the use of firearms from youth upwards.... Accustomed to exertion and to privation, the[y] possessed all the qualities which form the foundation necessary for success in war...
“Thus was strengthened the self-confidence of the individual rifleman who, in the field, remained always more a hunter than a soldier. The idea was that, in a fight, it was only necessary to defeat the adversary while securing his own safety, and that a hand-to-hand struggle at all costs to be avoided. The tactics was based solely upon the employment of individual and independent riflemen who, owing to the peculiarities of their race, were only unwilling subordinates, unless the objective were immediately plain to all eyes... [T]hey had learned, what a terrible weapon a rifle with sufficient ammunition in the hands of an experienced shot.”
Preacherman
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Not necessarily sharpshooting, but certainly "sharp shooting" - received this via e-mail from a friend:
Old Dragoon
Member
4V50Gary,
Would they be talking about the Americans in the revolutionary war?
Would they be talking about the Americans in the revolutionary war?
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Since Old Dragoon asked
No, it's not our own riflemen. BTW, the organization of the book is as follows:
Chapter 1 French & Indian War (still trying to get a couple of articles printed)
Chapter 2 American Revolution (excerpts published in Jan. & Oct. 2005 Muzzle Blasts magazine).
Chatper 3 Napoleonic Wars including the War of 1812 (excerpts published in Aug & Nov. 2003 Muzzle Blasts & in May-June (?) 2005 MuzzleLoader magazines).
Chapter 5. Interwar Wars (article to be released in May, 2005) Note: Chapter 5 does has a different title but "Interwar Wars" sounds awfully funny to me at this moment. Maybe "Wars during the years of Peace is better."
Chapters 6-13 Mother of American Family Feuds/Civil War (articles to be released in Fall & Winter's The Military Collector and Historian, publication of The Company of Military Historians.) Still trying to condense one chapter into a magazine length article and from forty pages to six is TOUGH. Of these chapters, Chapter 7 (90 pages), is the most important chapter and is likely the only one that will be interesting to a professional historian. The articles are excerpts drawn from Chapter 7.
There's also a post ACW chapter and a chapter on firearms, three appendices, a 34 page bibliography and index. It's a book written with the shooting community (especially snipers) in mind. It might also be of interest to the blackpowder community and the Civil War enthusiasts. Thanks for asking.
No, it's not our own riflemen. BTW, the organization of the book is as follows:
Chapter 1 French & Indian War (still trying to get a couple of articles printed)
Chapter 2 American Revolution (excerpts published in Jan. & Oct. 2005 Muzzle Blasts magazine).
Chatper 3 Napoleonic Wars including the War of 1812 (excerpts published in Aug & Nov. 2003 Muzzle Blasts & in May-June (?) 2005 MuzzleLoader magazines).
Chapter 5. Interwar Wars (article to be released in May, 2005) Note: Chapter 5 does has a different title but "Interwar Wars" sounds awfully funny to me at this moment. Maybe "Wars during the years of Peace is better."
Chapters 6-13 Mother of American Family Feuds/Civil War (articles to be released in Fall & Winter's The Military Collector and Historian, publication of The Company of Military Historians.) Still trying to condense one chapter into a magazine length article and from forty pages to six is TOUGH. Of these chapters, Chapter 7 (90 pages), is the most important chapter and is likely the only one that will be interesting to a professional historian. The articles are excerpts drawn from Chapter 7.
There's also a post ACW chapter and a chapter on firearms, three appendices, a 34 page bibliography and index. It's a book written with the shooting community (especially snipers) in mind. It might also be of interest to the blackpowder community and the Civil War enthusiasts. Thanks for asking.
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First, a book review and then our feature bedtime story.
I finished reading Fred Ray's book last Saturday and wrote this review which you can also read at Amazon.com. If you're going to buy it, please buy it direct from him at his website (link posted above) rather than through Amazon. More prophets (sp ) to the author.
Not since a century ago when in 1899 Maj. W. S. Dunlop penned, Lee’s Sharp Shooters or the Forefront of Battle, has a book been written on the Confederate Sharpshooter battalions. Until now. Author Fred L. Ray, himself a descendent of a sharpshooter, devoted years of research into the Confederate sharpshooter and the sharpshooter battalions in the Army of Northern Virginia. His book, Shock Troops of the South, begins with a brief discussion linear warfare beginning with the hoplite armies of ancient Greece and moves quickly onto early riflemen both in America and abroad and finally, the European influence on antebellum officers who rose to positions of prominence in the Confederacy.
Mr. Ray discusses how the need for a more professional skirmisher capable of screening the line of battle led to raising of sharpshooter battalions in the Confederacy. He identifies the early proponents of whom Major Eugene Blackford, Fifth Alabama, figures prominently. In describing their battles, the author shows how they influenced battles and in so doing, influenced Lee into raising similar battalions throughout his army. What follows is a exhaustive but highly readable study of the actions of the sharpshooter battalions in the Overland Campaign, Early’s Raid on Washington and the Siege of Petersburg. Shock Troops of the South fills the gaps created Dunlop’s work of a century earlier.
Shock Troops of the South does not neglect their Union counterparts nor the Confederate sharpshooters who fought in other theatres. While not as extensively researched, Mr. Ray does leave the reader with an adequate appreciation of what happened elsewhere. He concludes with a discussion of the open order used by the Confederate sharpshooters and how their tactics came to be used by later armies in World War I. A worthy addition to the shelf of any student of the Civil War, Shock Troops of the South was worth the hundred year wait.
Without further adieu, here's the bedtime story for today. Enjoy. The following is an account of one frontiersman who shot an Indian from 500 yards distance.
“One day my Uncle P. saw an Indian up by the rock on the hill across from the house. He always kept a rifle just inside the door for emergencies, and there were rifles in every corner of every room of the house. My uncle knew just where to aim at the rock, because he often shot at it for target practice and he never missed. He was standing just outside the door at the time, and the door was open. All of a sudden the Indian saw my uncle in the doorway, and jumping up on the rock and turning his back toward Uncle P., he bent over and flipped up his breechclout. By this time my uncle had picked up his rifle, and when the Indian bent over he killed him right where he used to sit down. God rest his soul.”
Now, our hero in this story, P., did something similar to what many modern snipers would do. He would identify a tree or rock or even drive a stake into the ground as a marker so that he would know the hold for various distances. That way, he didn't have to guess and adjust his sights. He'd know the exact distance, adjust and shoot. Who was P? Well, his story is in the book.
I finished reading Fred Ray's book last Saturday and wrote this review which you can also read at Amazon.com. If you're going to buy it, please buy it direct from him at his website (link posted above) rather than through Amazon. More prophets (sp
) to the author. Not since a century ago when in 1899 Maj. W. S. Dunlop penned, Lee’s Sharp Shooters or the Forefront of Battle, has a book been written on the Confederate Sharpshooter battalions. Until now. Author Fred L. Ray, himself a descendent of a sharpshooter, devoted years of research into the Confederate sharpshooter and the sharpshooter battalions in the Army of Northern Virginia. His book, Shock Troops of the South, begins with a brief discussion linear warfare beginning with the hoplite armies of ancient Greece and moves quickly onto early riflemen both in America and abroad and finally, the European influence on antebellum officers who rose to positions of prominence in the Confederacy.
Mr. Ray discusses how the need for a more professional skirmisher capable of screening the line of battle led to raising of sharpshooter battalions in the Confederacy. He identifies the early proponents of whom Major Eugene Blackford, Fifth Alabama, figures prominently. In describing their battles, the author shows how they influenced battles and in so doing, influenced Lee into raising similar battalions throughout his army. What follows is a exhaustive but highly readable study of the actions of the sharpshooter battalions in the Overland Campaign, Early’s Raid on Washington and the Siege of Petersburg. Shock Troops of the South fills the gaps created Dunlop’s work of a century earlier.
Shock Troops of the South does not neglect their Union counterparts nor the Confederate sharpshooters who fought in other theatres. While not as extensively researched, Mr. Ray does leave the reader with an adequate appreciation of what happened elsewhere. He concludes with a discussion of the open order used by the Confederate sharpshooters and how their tactics came to be used by later armies in World War I. A worthy addition to the shelf of any student of the Civil War, Shock Troops of the South was worth the hundred year wait.
Without further adieu, here's the bedtime story for today. Enjoy. The following is an account of one frontiersman who shot an Indian from 500 yards distance.
“One day my Uncle P. saw an Indian up by the rock on the hill across from the house. He always kept a rifle just inside the door for emergencies, and there were rifles in every corner of every room of the house. My uncle knew just where to aim at the rock, because he often shot at it for target practice and he never missed. He was standing just outside the door at the time, and the door was open. All of a sudden the Indian saw my uncle in the doorway, and jumping up on the rock and turning his back toward Uncle P., he bent over and flipped up his breechclout. By this time my uncle had picked up his rifle, and when the Indian bent over he killed him right where he used to sit down. God rest his soul.”
Now, our hero in this story, P., did something similar to what many modern snipers would do. He would identify a tree or rock or even drive a stake into the ground as a marker so that he would know the hold for various distances. That way, he didn't have to guess and adjust his sights. He'd know the exact distance, adjust and shoot. Who was P? Well, his story is in the book.
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Here's some long range shooting with rifle muskets
Bravery does not compel one to expose himself to marksmen. Here's the story of one fellow who was given the order to lay down by a marksman who delivered his message in the form of a lead minie ball.
“We had a little excitement this morning. About half past eleven o’clock a small boat with between 15 & 20 Yankees left the shipping in the sound and was rowed towards the landing where Wright’s legion is camped, near the lookout on the bay tree which I showed you. From the lookout the pickets saw them approaching and permitted them to come within 800 yards. The boat commenced to turn back & the pickets commenced to fire with their Enfield Rifles and scattered their balls all about the boat. As soon as the first shot was fired the Yankees all lay flat in the boat except one fellow who had a glass looking toward the shore. Deliberate aim was taken at him, and at the crack of the rifle he fell forward on his face, quite likely he was killed.”
Bravery does not compel one to expose himself to marksmen. Here's the story of one fellow who was given the order to lay down by a marksman who delivered his message in the form of a lead minie ball.
“We had a little excitement this morning. About half past eleven o’clock a small boat with between 15 & 20 Yankees left the shipping in the sound and was rowed towards the landing where Wright’s legion is camped, near the lookout on the bay tree which I showed you. From the lookout the pickets saw them approaching and permitted them to come within 800 yards. The boat commenced to turn back & the pickets commenced to fire with their Enfield Rifles and scattered their balls all about the boat. As soon as the first shot was fired the Yankees all lay flat in the boat except one fellow who had a glass looking toward the shore. Deliberate aim was taken at him, and at the crack of the rifle he fell forward on his face, quite likely he was killed.”
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Your move
Sieges can be both tedious and dangerous with the slightest careless exposure being rewarded by instant death in the form of a sharpshooter's bullet. While sitting in the trench, men amused themselves by playing cards or somethings even checkers. Two soldiers were engaged in the latter and one became irate when his opponent took an inordinate amount of time to move. Finally, he could not wait any more and prodded his opponent to MOVE. The fellow didn't respond and when the irate player looked at his opponent, he saw why. His opponent was dead, struck by a sharpshooter's bullet.
Sieges can be both tedious and dangerous with the slightest careless exposure being rewarded by instant death in the form of a sharpshooter's bullet. While sitting in the trench, men amused themselves by playing cards or somethings even checkers. Two soldiers were engaged in the latter and one became irate when his opponent took an inordinate amount of time to move. Finally, he could not wait any more and prodded his opponent to MOVE. The fellow didn't respond and when the irate player looked at his opponent, he saw why. His opponent was dead, struck by a sharpshooter's bullet.
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The reason why the book is so long is because it relies extensively on quote from the combatants. It could be shortened if I summarized everything, but hearing it firsthand and allowing the reader to interpret it himself makes for better reading (in my opinion). The following is an incident by an officer who survived being hit by a Federal sharpshooter.
"The afternoon before the battle, our command was ordered to take position in line. A force of dismounted cavalry occupied the field, and were lying behind a low ridge of earth they had hastily thrown up to protect themselves from the enemy's sharpshooters. We were ordered to relieve them, which we did, under a galling fire from concealed riflemen. Again was our position unfortunately chosen, being too far back from the brow of the slight eminence where we were posted, and an angle or salient about the centre of the line occupied by Edgar's battalion was thrown too far forward and exposed our part of the line to a concentrated fire from the enemy. But we now had to make the most of it and stand or fall where we were.
"No sooner had we settled ourselves in our position than our men, who were handy with dirt--being most of them farmers and laboring men--set themselves to strengthening our breastworks, and it was not long before they presented a pretty fair protection against the constant fire from the enemy's pickets and sharp shooters, who were strongly posted in a piece of wood land immediately in our front. So galling did this fire become, that Colonel Edgar determined to dislodge the force of pickets if possible, and ordered out a skirmish line consisting of two companies. But they met such a well-directed fire from the protected enemy, that they could not proceed far, and had to throw themselves flat upon the ground and behind logs and stumps to escape annihilation. One by one they made their way back to the breastworks, many of them wounded and several left dead in the timber; among the wounded were Captain Read and Lieutenant Patton.
"The day wore on, the sun was getting down in the west, and the enemy were evidently massing in our front, while his sharpshooters were so vigilant and expert at their business that a head could hardly show itself above our earthwork without getting a ball through it. A hat put on a ramrod and raised a little would be perforated in a jiffy. It was evident that the enemy was thus endeavoring to prevent his movements from being seen, and I felt sure that he was massing troops under the hill in the woods, with the design of charging our exposed position, and determined to risk a peep at them. I ordered the men to keep low while I cautiously raised my head, and at one quick glance saw a heavy column of men in blue flanking towards our left, though partially concealed by the timber. At the same time I saw a puff of smoke issue from behind a big pine, perhaps four hundred yards in my front. I instantly ducked my head; the next second a minie-ball cut the dirt just behind me. Satisfied that the fellow was far enough away for me to dodge his ball by the flash of his gun, I again raised my head, took a good, long look, and saw more troops moving to the left, but another puff of smoke warned me to duck again, and again a ball cut the earth where my head had been.
"I then dispatched a runner to my commanding officer to tell him what I had seen, and that our line was too weak to withstand the anticipated charge, and subsequently heard that Finnegan with his Floridanians were ordered up within supporting distance in our rear. Then calling the best riflemen in my company to me, I pointed out the place where my enemy stood behind the tree and told him to watch. Soon the man's head moved cautiously around the tree, and my man fired. He disappeared instantly, and thinking he had been settled, I raised and looked in another direction, when instantly I felt a shock, like a red-hot iron had pierced my brain. I experienced a great jar, saw a thousand stars, and then all was blank, and I saw no more of that fight."
"The afternoon before the battle, our command was ordered to take position in line. A force of dismounted cavalry occupied the field, and were lying behind a low ridge of earth they had hastily thrown up to protect themselves from the enemy's sharpshooters. We were ordered to relieve them, which we did, under a galling fire from concealed riflemen. Again was our position unfortunately chosen, being too far back from the brow of the slight eminence where we were posted, and an angle or salient about the centre of the line occupied by Edgar's battalion was thrown too far forward and exposed our part of the line to a concentrated fire from the enemy. But we now had to make the most of it and stand or fall where we were.
"No sooner had we settled ourselves in our position than our men, who were handy with dirt--being most of them farmers and laboring men--set themselves to strengthening our breastworks, and it was not long before they presented a pretty fair protection against the constant fire from the enemy's pickets and sharp shooters, who were strongly posted in a piece of wood land immediately in our front. So galling did this fire become, that Colonel Edgar determined to dislodge the force of pickets if possible, and ordered out a skirmish line consisting of two companies. But they met such a well-directed fire from the protected enemy, that they could not proceed far, and had to throw themselves flat upon the ground and behind logs and stumps to escape annihilation. One by one they made their way back to the breastworks, many of them wounded and several left dead in the timber; among the wounded were Captain Read and Lieutenant Patton.
"The day wore on, the sun was getting down in the west, and the enemy were evidently massing in our front, while his sharpshooters were so vigilant and expert at their business that a head could hardly show itself above our earthwork without getting a ball through it. A hat put on a ramrod and raised a little would be perforated in a jiffy. It was evident that the enemy was thus endeavoring to prevent his movements from being seen, and I felt sure that he was massing troops under the hill in the woods, with the design of charging our exposed position, and determined to risk a peep at them. I ordered the men to keep low while I cautiously raised my head, and at one quick glance saw a heavy column of men in blue flanking towards our left, though partially concealed by the timber. At the same time I saw a puff of smoke issue from behind a big pine, perhaps four hundred yards in my front. I instantly ducked my head; the next second a minie-ball cut the dirt just behind me. Satisfied that the fellow was far enough away for me to dodge his ball by the flash of his gun, I again raised my head, took a good, long look, and saw more troops moving to the left, but another puff of smoke warned me to duck again, and again a ball cut the earth where my head had been.
"I then dispatched a runner to my commanding officer to tell him what I had seen, and that our line was too weak to withstand the anticipated charge, and subsequently heard that Finnegan with his Floridanians were ordered up within supporting distance in our rear. Then calling the best riflemen in my company to me, I pointed out the place where my enemy stood behind the tree and told him to watch. Soon the man's head moved cautiously around the tree, and my man fired. He disappeared instantly, and thinking he had been settled, I raised and looked in another direction, when instantly I felt a shock, like a red-hot iron had pierced my brain. I experienced a great jar, saw a thousand stars, and then all was blank, and I saw no more of that fight."
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Sharpshooting by a cavalryman.
“I rode out one day about a week ago with our wagon after hay, - came to where our pickets were stationed, -they were in full view of the Yankees, a few hundred yards off on the opposite hill. The Yankees were firing at our men with long range guns, but ours could not return it, as they have only old muskets. I have a splendid Sharp’s carbine, which will kill at a thousand yards. I dismounted...and turned loose on them...I had to fire at them most of the time in a thick field of corn, - of course, could not tell the effect, - but once, when a fellow ran out into the road (in which I stood) to shoot at me, it took several to carry him back.”
The writer is quite a famous person and there's a lot of stories and myths told about him to this day. He's identified in Chapter 6.
“I rode out one day about a week ago with our wagon after hay, - came to where our pickets were stationed, -they were in full view of the Yankees, a few hundred yards off on the opposite hill. The Yankees were firing at our men with long range guns, but ours could not return it, as they have only old muskets. I have a splendid Sharp’s carbine, which will kill at a thousand yards. I dismounted...and turned loose on them...I had to fire at them most of the time in a thick field of corn, - of course, could not tell the effect, - but once, when a fellow ran out into the road (in which I stood) to shoot at me, it took several to carry him back.”
The writer is quite a famous person and there's a lot of stories and myths told about him to this day. He's identified in Chapter 6.
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On Friday I received a large box from a museum supply house. I had ordered 250 mylar covers like the type used by libraries to protect dust jackets. So far 50 have been used up and I'll concentrate on covering another 50 today. For those of you who didn't know, protecting a book's dustjacket helps to preserve the value of the book - especially if the book has been autographed by the author. A lot of my modern books have been autographed too by the professors or researchers with whom I've corresponded over these past years. I should get three books back from a former writer of Strategy & Tactics magazine who is editing one of my articles for publication. Enough dry talk. Here's a bedtime story for this week. Enjoy!
“A sergeant discomoded by shot, while cross the bridge, took refuge in a ditch on the other side, but heard a bullet whistle whenever he raised his head: he put his hat on a ram rod just showing it above the edge, moved ten feet to the right and watched. A rebel peeped from the leaves of a tree top, rose up higher and took aim; a good shot for the sergeant, and down came Mr. Rebel with a yell; he was afterwards dragged away by his comrades..."
“A sergeant discomoded by shot, while cross the bridge, took refuge in a ditch on the other side, but heard a bullet whistle whenever he raised his head: he put his hat on a ram rod just showing it above the edge, moved ten feet to the right and watched. A rebel peeped from the leaves of a tree top, rose up higher and took aim; a good shot for the sergeant, and down came Mr. Rebel with a yell; he was afterwards dragged away by his comrades..."
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Gary,
Been awhile since I simply said Thanks!
Thanks!
Steve
Been awhile since I simply said Thanks!
Thanks!
Steve