Marksmanship

[Charles Heath]

Just for fun, here's a nice article from a college student about Civil War era marksmanship. He covers the usual standard works for the subject, and borrows a number of the images in well known books. It isn't the final word on the subject by any means, but it is a fair primer.

http://www.iusb.edu/~journal/2000/stanage.html

Although this isn't an N-SSA or shooting oriented forum, it's important to understand what goes on downrange, and, if possible, perhaps this article could be linked to the A-C Forum for future reference.

Charles Heath

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Marksmanship

Hallo Kameraden!

With all of the standard warnings, caveats, and admonishments about not mixing "reenacting guns" with live fire guns; blanks with hot rounds; personal firearm handling, loading discipline, and range safety; etc.. etc...

I personally encourage all CW reenactors and living historians to make the arrangements necessary to safely live fire their weapon at least once.

Not only is the "feel" of an actual 500-510 grain bullet being fired different from a blank, but the historical or "experimental archeological" experience of trying to load in the CW manner and hit a target at 50, 100, 200, 300 yards, IMHO, a very valuable learning tool and experience.

Having overheard two sharpshooters "educating the public" at Antietam 135 as to how the six (6) inch bullet of the Sharps Rifle in the hands of a sharpshooter could hit selected targets at 1800 yards... I wagered neither "presentor" had ever fired a live round.
Or, a pard sharing with the public that "CW soldiers" were marksmen who could routinely hit targets at 250 and 300 yards...

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt