A collection of bedtime stories - or sharpshooter tales

[4v50 Gary]

At Cold Harbor, one Indian from the First Michigan Sharpshooters, Co. K, was sent to General Wilcox's H.Q. to dispatch a rebel sharpshooter who had made things uncomfortable for them. Old "One Eye" had use of only his left eye and would normally be disqualfied from serving as a soldier. This did not stop him from enlisting and furthermore, he was one of the best shots in the regiment.

"One Eye arrived at General Wilcox's headquarter and asking no questions and speaking to no one, sat down and observed. After half an hour, he got up, and walked away, his silence never broken. Later in the afternoon, pickets reported seeing a rebel sharpshooter in a tree being hit and falling through the branches onto the ground. Later in the evening, One Eye returned to his camp and laconically reported to his commanding officer, 'Me got im.'"

Elsewhere in the book it is learned that the Indians of Co. K were not only the best shots in the regiment, but that they also taught the rest of the regiment how to camouflage themselves (applied mud and allowed it to dry or rolled in dry dirt until the blue uniform blended with the ground).

[ojibweindian]

Gary

That was a great story!

more than likely ole "One Eye" was a Chippewa Indian, or Ojibwe, to use my native tongue. If he was from the northern part of Michigan, he may have been a part of my tribe! Or, possibly, the Bay Mills tribe.

[4v50 Gary]

You're welcome Ojibweindian. It was my pleasure as you are an old time member of TFL.

BTW, "One Eye" was the name given to him by the whites of the regiment. The Indians of Co. K were recruited from the reservation in Oceana County, Little Traverse Bay, Bear River, Little Traverse, La Croix and the Mackinac region. Others came from Isabella Reservation & the Saginaw area. I'm not familar with the state (only been to Kalamazoo and I know where Fort Michilimakinac even though I've never been there). See Herek at pages 35-36.

Here's another story that involves a Berdan Sharpshooter: "I was sent to the Ninth Corps and had a long hard day sharpshooting... My orders were to annoy the enemy artillery which was keeping up a tearing fire on our troops... In front of me was a field of standing corn which was about two feet high making me a good screen but the shells came too close and I wanted to go over the summit and get down below the cornfield... I was sure that if I tried to cross the opening that the rebel pickets would get a bullet into me. While on the ridge I met a Michigan soldier and he was under the same orders I was. He was a full blooded Indian. I told him that I wished that I could get down to the cover of brush but the corn was not large or thick enough to cover us from the view of the rebels. The Indian said, 'Make self corn. Do as I do.' He then cut off the stocks of corn and began to stick them into his clothes and equipment. I did as he did and then we worked our way to the fence and cover of bushes without even drawing rebel fire.

The Indian and I had a very fine chance on the rebels. The Indian was good shot and enjoyed his duty, only when the shells came too close, then he would cringe and his eyes would look as wild as a panther's. In front of us was a battery and the earth at the muzzle was too high, so high that they did not try to fire the guns but were digging it down as we came into our new position. They dropped out of sight at our first shot and we kept them from using the guns all afternoon. After dark, the Indian and I returned to our respective commands, never to meet again. To me he was pleasant company although he had little to say." Taken from Wyman White's "The Civil War Diary of Wyman S. White," pages 249-250.

The First Michigan Sharpshooters was also in the area and it is possible the Indian mentioned by White was from Co. K.

*************************************************************

Thanks for the follow up ajacobs! We were posting concurrently with one another. Those details are exactly the "little stories" that we "outsiders" love to hear. If I think of anything more, I'll post.

[ojibweindian]

Gary

All those places are in the Lower Peninsula, but still a part of Chippewa territory.

Thanks for posting those excerpts!

[4v50 Gary]

Here's something I found that you blackpowder buffs or Civil War fans may enjoy. I got it from Richard Wheeler's Sword Over Richmond, page 183.

The story is told by Lt. Davis Constable aboard the U.S.S. Naugatuck. The Naugatuck was part of Commander Roger's Squadron that was sailing up the James River (May 15, 1862) to bombard the Confederate Capital, Richmond. Before they could though, they had to pass by Drewy's Bluff. Stationed at the bluff were soldiers and sailors (from the scuttled Virginia). Lt Constable tells of coming under fire:

"A rifle ball passed through my clothing and lodged in a hammock near me... At least three well-directed shots had been fired at me from one spot before I discovered where they came from. I then saw that they had been fired from a thick green bush about eighty yards from me. Once I even caught sight of the muzzle of a rifle as it protruded through the bush to aim at me, and twice I raised a rifle to my shoulder to aim at him, but he dropped out of sight in a twinkling. Finding that I must either shoot him or get shot myself, I tried another plan. I aimed one of our 12-pounders, loaded with canister, at the bush, and directed the captain of the gun to fire at the moment I raised my signal. I then took my former position and watched the bush closely. Sure enough, when the fellow saw me standing without a rifle in my hand he again thrust the muzzle of his gun through the bush, but before he could pull the trigger I raised my hand. 'Bang!' went the 12 pounder, and when the smoke cleared away, rebel, gun, and all had been destroyed."

What can we learn from this? Well, it's a reiteration of the old rules governing gunfights. Rule 1: Bring a gun (he did). Rule 2: Bring a bigger gun (he did). Rule 3: Bring all your friends with guns ([b]he did).

Oh, by the way, the Confederates repulsed Commander Roger's attempt to sail up the James.

[scotjute]

There is another lesson here : the sniper who fires repeatedly from the same spot invites return fire.

[Poodleshooter]

Drewry's Bluff is an excellent spot to vist for those visiting Petersburg (see the Crater and siege works) or the Richmond area (too many to list).
It's sort of tough to find the small park there, but the selection of old Columbiads (?) is awesome. You don't NEED rifled cannon when dealing with ships at those distances, just a big fat shell firing smoothbore.

[4v50 Gary]

Sometimes it's fun to read these old books because of some of the basic lessons that you can get from them. I just read Theodore Upson's With Sherman to the Sea which is Upson's story of the 100th Indiana Volunteer Regiment in the Sibil War. Instead of being issued with the anticipated Springfield rifled musket, they received the Austrian Lorenz instead (see p 27-28). From page 34 we learn of their first use of these imported arms:

"We reached Cairio (Cairo) and took boat down the Miss[iss]ippi River. There was nothing worth noting on our trip except that we landed once in the woods and stretched our legs by the hardest four mile march over the worst road I ever saw or imagined. We were glad to get on the boat again. We can look across the Reiver here and see the Arkansas shore a mile away. Yesterday about 20 mounted men rode down to the landing. We were told to fire at them as they had a Rebel flag. Our officers could see through their field glasses. We put up the sights on our rifles and began firing. They kept waving their flag. Some of the boys put a double charge of powder in their guns but it was no use; they still waved their flag and put their thumbs to thier noses and other insulting gestures. Just then our men ran a 10 lb rifled gun out of the works and fired a shell at them, and they scampered away quick. We are a little disappointed in our new rifles."

(note: Upson uses "thier" in lieu of "their"). In fairness to the Lorenz, even a Springfield or Enfield would be hard pressed to hit a mile away. A heavy barrel muzzle loading target rifle of the era could reach, but not with certainty of hits. Can't beat Ma-Duece for those mile long shots. However, lesson of the day is in a gunfight: Bring a bigger gun.

Upson finally gets an Enfield (captured from the Corn-feds) which is an improvement. His unit later exchanges the Enfields for Springfields but again they are disappointed since they wanted the Henry lever action. Upson himself manages to get a Henry for $35 from a wounded Union soldier who is going to the rear (and probably out of the war).

[Jim Keenan]

And therein hangs another problem. Upson got a Henry, but when whatever ammo he got with it ran out the gun was not much good, likely being too short for a tent pole and having no bayonet for roasting chickens.

A friend, now gone, was in the Polish Home Army (underground) in WWII. They ran into* a German motorcycle courier who had a Thompson SMG in the scabbard. I asked him what they did with it and he said they threw it in a lake because there was no ammo supply for it.

*Actually, he ran into the piano wire they had stretched across the road; the bike and the body went one way, the head, helmet still in place, went another.

Jim

[4v50 Gary]

If the troops weren't issued Henrys, they could buy them anywhere from $45 to $50. Upton bought it from a wounded Union soldier going to the hospital (at the rear). While many soldiers bought their own (more were purchased privately than issued), the ammunition was free from Uncle Sam.

I recall reading Berry Benson's memoirs where he states he had a Spencer Repeater. When he ran out of ammo, he discarded it for a single shot rifled musket. The Confederacy could not produce the ammo required by the Spencer.

[Mike Irwin]

Cairo...

What a nifty, historic, and completely dead little town.

You REALLY get the feeling that time has passed that place by...

[4v50 Gary]

Thanks for the tip. In my journeys I'll make sure I don't get anywhere near that place.

BTW Mike, probably going back to VA this year. Want to spend a few more days in the Museum of the Confederacy, the VA State Library and also the VA Historical Society.

[Mike Irwin]

On the contrary, Gary, I HIGHLY recommend a trip to Cairo, if for no other reason than to stand at the point where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers come together.

The town has some very interesting old architecture, as well, and it's neat to watch the river traffic go by.

I've read some of the contemporary descriptions of Cairo back when it was a very busy river port. It must have been something else.

Let me know when you'll be in town and I'll try to arrange my schedule this time.

[4v50 Gary]

Back in the Sibil War when Berdan's Sharpshooters were raised, one man to rally to the Union was Truman Head, aka California Joe. Not to be confused with another California Joe who scouted for the calvary in the 1870s, Truman Head was an easterner who, upon being rejected as a suitor by his fiance's father, left for California where he made a name for himself as a hunter and as a merchant.

"Old Californny" was perhaps the most famous of all sharpshooters in the two regiments of sharpshooters (1st & 2nd U.S.S.S.). The denizen of the press, he was a mild soft spoken man. 52 years old at the time of enlistment (he lied about his age and looked about 10 years younger), he gained fame during the Siege of Yorktown.

I've got about 3 pages of text on Old Californny, but am saving it for later. Here's an excerpt from a soldier who met him:

I met California Joe in a dry ditch near the chimneys and admired his six foot rifle with telescopic sights on it. It was very heavy in weight, had an octagon shaped barrel and silver mounted ornaments. Two weeks ago, before we had advanced our line of pickets to the chimney, a Rebel sharpshooter had climbed the inside flue of it at night, and by a stick of crosswire had fixed himself near the top from whence he had shot several of our fellows rom his covered perch. Joe came along and at the fourth shot broght the enemy down at 500 yards' distance. The other bullets had struck the bricks which were seen to chip off. The sharpshooter tumbled down the chimeny before it had been burnt. Some days afterwards when our picket line was pushed forward the body was taken down and proved to be an Indian. he had been shot between the eyes and the back of his skull was all blown out! He was buried near the ruins. Joe was a dead shot and had often kept the enemy from firing a gun for half an hour at a time by shooting five, six, and seven one after another... through the embrasure." (That's one heckuva subject to write home about).

Failing eyesight resulted in Joe's discharge late in 1862. No other member of Berdan's Sharpshooters would ever achieve the level of fame that Joe enjoyed. After receiving his discharge, Joe returned to San Francisco where he died in 1875.

[Kaylee]

50 yards? :confused:

perhaps 500?

[4v50 Gary]

Thanks Kaylee. It is 500 yards and it's a typo on my part.

I visited Truman Head's grave earlier this week and took a few photos for the book. It's a simple gubumint tombstone and is quite invisible in the sea of like gubumint tombstones.

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

I wonder if he had a Gemmer Sharps, basically a Sharps with a Hawken front end. Neat guns. Pics I've seen had REALLY thick barrels, with a fore-end secured by wedges and very nice furniture.

That's presuming he had a cartridge gun at all, mind you. I don't think the percussion Sharps' ever saw Gemmer conversion.

Neat info tidbit.

[4v50 Gary]

Sorry about the delay but I just returned from the Midwest & East Coast.

California Joe carried a single trigger Sharps. It may be seen when he posed while holding Hiram Berdan's horse. This gun was damaged while engaged in sharpshooting at Yorktown and was replaced with a target trigger Sharps.

BTW, finally found his gravesite and in the Presidio, San Francisco. It's a simple grave and unlike I had thought, had no Masonic emblems. The Masons' records were destroyed with the '06 fire (unlike the probate records the Bellesiles purported to have examined ;) ).

[4v50 Gary]

"On the 14th of May, 1864, a soldier was directed to climb a tree standing in front of the breastworks which overlooked the surrounding pines and report his observations of the enemy's line. The sharpshooters discovered him at once, and the firs shot aimed at him struck and installed killed Marshall O. Creekmore of Norfolk county, a member of Company 'A,' while asleep in his tent. Isiah Hodges, a new member of the same company, rushed to him and while stooping to raise the head of the dead soldier, was pierced by another bullet and fell dead across the body of his comrade... It was an appalling tragedy, occuring while we were lying around in the shade of the trees... The man in the tree escaped untouched, but he descended from it with lightening speed."

Thus concludes our talke of a lucky scout, a hapless sleeper and his unlucky comrade.

[mbott]

Billy Dixon, for those who haven’t heard the story, was among other things in his life, a buffalo hunter during the heyday of the hide hunting business. It is said that he could keep ten hide skinners employed just to keep up with him. In addition to hunting, he was also well known as a target shooter. While later working for the Army as a civilian scout, he would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroics at the battle of Buffalo Wallow, but the event that propelled him to fame happened at the second battle of Adobe Walls. Adobe Walls was the remains of an old Spanish mission, that had been occupied for the purpose of supplying the hide hunters in the Texas panhandle. The day of June 27, 1874 found Billy Dixon, 26 other men, and one woman fighting for their lives against a party of Kiowa and Comanche warriors, the number of which is reported to be between 250 and 500 strong, depending upon the account. As the war party was forming for an attack on the people holed up at Adobe Walls, Billy Dixon took a shot at a mounted Kiowa warrior, knocking him off of his horse at a distance that was later confirmed by a surveyor to be 1538 yards, or a full nine-tenths of a mile! Billy never attributed the feat to anything but good luck, but it saved him and his associates from certain death at the hands of the war party. The Indians were so surprised at the power and accuracy of the white man’s rifles that they retreated.

[Ed. Note: the June 2003 issue of the NRA's magazine America's 1st Freedom features an article on Billy Dixon's remarkable shot. Entitled "Gun Smoke Over Adobe Walls", the excellent article was written by Gary Lantz. - Boge Quinn]

The above from: http://www.gunblast.com/BillyDixon_Sharps.htm

[4v50 Gary]

The Eleventh NJ was at Petersburg where it, along with other regiments, had to endure the foulness of trench warfare. One bored soldier found a means to amuse himself:

"But one afternoon, being a little tired of the fort and bomb-proof, he thought he would like to pay a visit to the boys on the outer line. He, in company with Corporal Leonard Gillen, reached the line without drawing the enemy's fire, and passed the exposed part leading down to the stream. Some men from his own company were posted south of the stream, and among them Sharp, who had constructed a miniature mortar out of a section of rifle-barrel, and was amusing himself by shelling the enemy, using minie-balls for bombs..."

The Confederates home made larger ones by burning out tree trunks to take a full size mortar shell. With some powder and real mortar bombs given to them by their friends in the artillery, they'd use it to flush out the Yankees.

In reading Grant's memoirs, I learned that the Union forces at Vicksburg didn't have mortars so they also resorted to trees that were burnt out and reinforced with iron hoops.

[4v50 Gary]

At the Battle of Drewy's Bluff (May 14-15, 1864), the Thirteenth New Hampshire Infantry ran short of ammunition and was compelled to fall back before the advancing Rebel Army. They became so pressed that they even abandoned their camp, leaving behind much of their personal possessions.

"Pretty soon the colors of four rebel regiments are planted on the part of the works where the Tenth and Thirteenth fought in the morning; while still other rebel regiments hurry along and past their rear and form, one after another, on their right, until the whole works are manned by them as far as the eye can see. Now the enemy begins to examine the Thirteenth's baggage, to roll up our blankets, to eat our breakfast, to drink our coffee, to put on our clothes, to handle sundry papers and fling them away; one fellow cooly sits down, throws off his shoes, and hauls on a pair of our boots - and last, to rob our dead. [Gary's note: both sides are guilty of this] One of them having just appropriated Capt. Julian's overcoat, proceeds to rifle the pockets, and to strip the clothing from the body of John H. Harvey of E, which we were obliged to abandon lying near the lone apple-tree, at the second angle, near where the right of the 13th rested in the morning. This is a little too much for Sergeant Charles F. Chapman, who puts the powder of two cartridges into his gun, rams home a bullet, runs forward a rod or two to the edge of the brush, rests his gun in the fork of a little tree, and fires; the pilfering rebel lies down and never once moves again - dead or badly wounded. The range is a full 500 yards."

About one and a half year earlier, the Thirteenth Regiment actually had some target practice - with dismal results. "Nov. 7 [1863] Sat. Fair. Rifle practice by the Regiment. Most of the bullets hit the ground - in the course of time; a new newspaper covered target will be required about once in three months." In Dec., they practice again: "Dec. 5. Sat. PLeasant, quite cool. Reg. marches out about a mile and practices at target-shooting, at the usual place, on the right hand of the road, west of camp, just beyond the stockade gateway. There are 250 guns, and the men fire 20 rounds per gun - 5,000 shots - and the irreverent affirm that the vicinity of the target is the safetst place to be found within a circuit of half a mile. The Sub and cockney, Reed of E. wants to show the Regiment 'Ow they fire hin the Hold Hinglish Harmy.' He steps to the front, holds his gun at arm's length, fires - and doubles up like an old jackknife, a rod back in the brush. The boys have given him a kicking gun. He takes his place in the rear rank again, andat the next fire singes his file leader's hair and whiskers, and nearly breaks his head. Col. Stevens sends him off to camp; and we turn him into a mess-cook, a good one too, the best in camp."

John Reed transferred to the navy and as for the men, well, they got real practice in battle and with the experience of trench warfare (fixed distances), actually became proficient shots as demonstrated by Sgt. Chapman.

Let me know if you guys want more stories like this. I may link some other threads together.

[scotjute]

You have my vote to keep them coming!

[4v50 Gary]

Now, I've read a lot of books on the Sibil War and have come up with all sorts of nonsense that I'll share in my own. In today's mail I got a package containing two books and I've read one already (it's a small paperback of 180 pages). Anyway, it talks about the 17th Virginia Infantry which was composed of many militia units.

One unit was originally called the Alexandria Sharp Shooters. Sounds impressive enough and certainly the men who formed this proud body of men believed so. At the first meeting, it was agreed that their knapsacks and cartridge boxes be embossed with the unit's initials, so as to readily distinguish them from lesser units. The meeting was adjourned and the men dispersed into small groups.

One small group suddenly realized the significance of their initials: A.S.S. While it probably befitted some egotistical and asinine members, it would be of no service to draw such attention to them or to the others of the group. The banter they would be subjected to by the street urchins would be unbearable and besides, it certainly would not impress any group of young ladies they may wish to meet. :o

The meeting was quickly reconvened by their captain and the Alexandria Sharp Shooter were renamed the Alexandria Riflemen.

[Old Fuff]

Neat! And thanks.

[4v50 Gary]

Hystery can be so embellished that we are led to believe that all our forbears were nobly endowed with courage, strength, wisdom and determination. At the Battle of Chancellorsville, it was said that General Whipple was killed by a sharpshooter while writing instructions to his men on how to dispose of said sharpshooter who was pinning them down. Certainly sounds gallant enough, doesn't it? Here he is, mounted atop a horse, calm in the face of enemy fire, bent over scrawling with a pencil on a piece of paper calming writing instructions. Baloney!

In my readings, I found a first hand account that tells something that most hysterians overlook or just don't think worthy enough to share to we unlearned mortals. Enjoy.

"About one P. M. General Whipple, General Hooker's Engineer officer, came out to where we were and leisurely walked his horse along our breastworks. He was at once cautioned by the officers and advised at least to dismount, but being so much under the influence of liquor as to be scarcely able to sit on his horse, he did not heed nor reply but walked along to the right of our regiment, where, halting his horse and facing the enemy, he swayed backwards and forwards in his saddle. Capt. Crocker had just remarked that the General was very drunk, when we saw the dust fly from his clothes and himself fall off his horse. Running to where he lay we found that he had been shot through the stomach and bowels, the bullet coming out at the small of the back."

I suppose it's bad juju to laugh at another's misfortune. As a point of order, Whipple was the Division Commander of the Third Division, Third Corps (Sickle's) in the Army of the Potomac.

[Daniel Flory]

Wow! Interesting tidbit!

[4v50 Gary]

Here's one for Preacherman. It's not the type of blessing any of us would want. After all, while many of us want to meet Big J, we'd rather not do so before our ticket is punched. The following is an account I dug up in my reseach and I think it is worthy to share here (I'll probably merge it with the sharpshooter thread in the Blackpowder Forum later). So, without further blah blah, here's the inspirational message for the day:

"In one of the Indiana regiments (at Carrick's Ford, West Virginia, July 13, 1861) was a Methodist preacher, said to be one of the very best shots in the regiment. During the battle, he was particularly conspicuous for the zeal with which he kept up a constant fire. The 14th Ohio Regiment, in the thick of the fight, fired an average of eleven rounds to every man, but this parson managed to get in a great deal more than that average. He fired carefully, with perfect coolness, and always after a steady aim, and the boys declare that every time, as he took down his gun, after he fired, he added, "And may the Lord have mercy on your soul."

[Preacherman]

Hmmm... his aim was good, and he aimed good too! :D

[JShirley]

ain't got to hate anybody, even the enemy. Reckon they may think they're doing their job, too.

John

[4v50 Gary]

The following story is from General John B. Gordon who penned his memoirs, Reminiscences of the Civil War, after the war and during the period of reconcilation between North & South. It's interesting but strikes me as dubious as to authenticity. The scene is Appomttaox where Sheridan's Cavalry and the Union V Corps cuts Lee's Army of Northern Virginia off from further retreat. Famished, supplies low, there is but little choice for Lee than to surrender. General Gordon:

"In a short time thereafter a white flag was seen approaching. Under it was Philip Sheridan, accompanied by a mounted escort almost as large as one of Fitz Lee's regiments. Sheridan was mounted on an enormous horse, a handsome animal. He rode in front of the escort, an ordely carrying the flag rode beside him. Around me at that time were my faithful sharpshooters, and as General Sheridan and his escort came within easy range of the rifles, a half-witted fellow raised his gun as if to fire. I ordered him to lower his gun, and explained that he must not fire on a flag of truce. He did not obey my order cheerfully, but held his rifle in position to be quickly thrown to his shoulder. In fact, he was again in the act of raising his gun to fire at Sheridan, when I caught the gun and said to him, with emphasis, that he must not shoot men under the flag of truce. He at once protested: 'Well, general, let him stay on his own side.'

"I did not tell General Sheridan of his narrow escape. Had he known the facts, - that this weak-minded but strong hearted Confederate priveate was one of the deadliest of marksmen, - he probably would have realized that I had saved his life."

O.K. Today I finished reading Vol. II of Sheridan's Memoirs. Guess what? On April 9th he says he was riding up to meet the Confederates when he saw some men @ 150 yards distance level their guns at him. He stopped immediately and their officers caused them to desist from firing. He sent his aide up to confer with them and the aide returns and identifies the officers as General Wilcox and General Gordon. My apologies for my skepticism but what Gordon said was true after all. :o

[4v50 Gary]

At Fredericksburg, the Washington Artillery of New Orleans originally defended Marye's Heights against the Federal assault. When their ammunition was low, Col. E. Porter Alexander's battalion was called up by Longstreet to relieve them.

Before he was called to action though, Alexander was subjected to sharpshooter fire from the brick tanyard that was right across the creek that separated Mayre's Heights from Fredericksburg proper. We hear from Col. Alexander:

"I remember the day as a very disagreeable one, for I had to move about a great deal, having guns at som many different places; & the sharpshooting & shelling everywhere made me quite unhappy. There was a particularly bad nest of sharpshooters in a brick tanyard, on the east side of the Plank Road, where it crossed the little canal. They cut regular loop-holes through the brick walls & from them they had a very annoying fire on certain parts of our line. And the loop hole in the corner on the Plank Road could see up the road some 300 yadrs to where our line crossed the road, & as we had built no breast-work, or obstruction, across it the fellow at the loophole had a fair shot at every man who crossed. To be sure a man could run across, but the sharpshooter kept his gun already sighted at the spot, & his finger on the trigger, & he only had to pull & the well aimed bullet was on its way. He had several shots at me during the day, & though he missed me every time, I acquired a special animosity to him...

"I visited Longstreet's headquarters, & having told how they had had us under hack all day in sharpshooting & shelling, becuase we were saving ammunition, Gen. Longstreet gave me permission to use a few score shell the next day to get even with them...

"...Monday morning was again thick and hazy, but when the sun was about an hour high the nest of sharpshooters in the tanyard announced their ability to see by opening a very lively fusillade. I happened to be nearby, & I at once determined to try & rout them... I got the line of the obnoxious corner loophole on the roof & sighted in on that line, & then fixed an elevation which I thought would just carry the shell over the low hill, aiming myself, & taking several minutes to get all exact. Then I ordered fire. Standing behind we could see the shell almost brush the grass, as it curved over the hill, & then we heard her strike & explode. At once there came a cheer from our picket line in front of the hill, & presently there came running up an excited fellow to tell us. He called out as he came - 'That got 'em! That got 'em! You can hear them just a hollering & a groaning in there.'

"I examined the place the next day, after the enemy had left. I made a perfect shot. The shell struck within a foot of the corner loop hole, making a clean hole over a foot in diameter, & exploding as it went in. It knocked off most of the head of a sharp shooter, & the walls of the room on all sides were scarred by fragments of shell & brick. They left his body in the room, & doubtless others were wounded by fragments, from the account of the groaning, but were carried off. But not another shot was fired from the tanyard that day, & in a very little while orders were evidently extended over their whole line to cease sharpshooting."

If you saw Gods & Generals (I'm sorry), Alexander is the fellow who says to Lee "a chicken couldn't live in that field when we open on it." More accurately it was said by Alexander to Longstreet but that's the magic of movies.:rolleyes: Alexander was also featured in Gettysburg and he was the artillery colonel who bombarded the Union center before Pickett's charge.

[Old Fuff]

Gary;

Just wanted to drop a post and say that I've really enjoyed these stories. It's nice to make the historical association between the guns and the men that used them.

Thanks again.

The Old Fuff.

[4v50 Gary]

Remember reading some of those early stories on recruiting snipers? Units in 'Nam would be called upon to send recruits for sniper training. Typically, rather than send the soldier who shot Expert and was skilled in hunting, target shooting and good in woodcraft, they took the opportunity to send the ****birds. Well, that's traditional folks and here's something from the Civil War.

On Aug. 2, 1863, Brig. General Terry, commanding the U.S. Forces on Morris Island issued an order: "[T]he commanding officer of each regiment at this post will select from his command, to the extent of 2 per cent of the number reported 'present for duty,' those enlisted men who have proved themselves the best marksmen, and from the company officers that one who is most skillful in this respect, forwarding the names of such officers and men to Maj. Joshian L. Plimpton, Third New Hampshire Volunteers, assistant inspector-general. The officers so selected will report with the best rifle he can procure and its corresponding ammunition to Major Plimpton, at his office near these headquarters, at 2 p.m. to-morrow."

Well, the regimental commanders sent their "best" and were probably very very happy for it. Unfortunately for their, the charade was soon discovered as is evidenced by this letter two days later from an Aug. 4, 1863 letter from Capt. T. B. Brooks, Aide-de-Camp & Assistant Engineer to General Terry, Commander of Union Forces on Morris Island, S.C.:

"General: I have the honor to submit the following concerning sharpshooters, for offensive and defensive operations, in the advanced works under my charge: The present so-called sharpshooters are inefficient. First, they are not good shots; second, their arms are not in good condition; third, they are not in sufficient numbers, even if they were efficient; fourth they are not properly officered..."

In case you didn't already know, a lot of Confederate units did the same thing in 1862. Human nature hasn't changed. :D

[4v50 Gary]

When Napoleon invaded Spain and installed his brother Joseph as King, the Spaniards weren't all that delighted. Ungrateful at the substitution of a Buonaparte for a Hapsburg, they took up arms and Napoleon found it necessary to crush the "upstarts."

The Spaniards at Rodrigo were audacious enough to shut themselves up within their city - necessitating a siege. One young soldier recorded their fun with a Spanish marksman. I share it with you now:

"As long as the Spaniards kept possession of the suburb, upon which the left flank of our battery rested, they did us great mischief, as they well understood the use of the rifle. A few marksmen, posted in a small steeple, particularly distinguished themselves by their dexterity; one above all the others, named Manuel, was an unerring shot, and the greatest caution was necessary when he was at this post. The garrison were incessantly calling out to him: 'Manuel tira!' (fire, Manuel.) We by way of joke, used often to call out to him ourselves. Aftewards, some batteries being erected close to the suburb, the Spaniards withdrew into the fortress, and we were no longer annoyed from this quarter."

[4v50 Gary]

Since she asked about the Lawrence Pellet Priming system for the 1859 Sharps rifle. Here's an account from a Berdan Sharpshooter:

"I was watching for the smoke of a Rebel, when I discovered a mound of earth some little ways out in front of me. I noticed something that looked like a rifle sticking up from the other side of the earth. I soon discovered that the rifle moved and I sent a bullet at the rifle. It struck the earth just at the top, very close to the rifle barrel. The effects of the shot stirred up a commotion. I saw a second rifle and I knew there were two rebels in the hole and I thought they were about to run away. I then gave them, or their earth protection, another bullet. There was more commotion and I was puzzled and somewhat doubtful what to do. Finally, I put several bullets into their bank of earth, so they thought there must be several Yankees on them, thanks to my breech loading-rifle.

"They did not dare to run or fire for they saw that I could hit them sure if I got sight of them. After I had given them several shots in quick succesion, they made signs that they wanted to surrender. Then I called to them to come in and judge my surprise when five big Rebels came out of the den, one after the other."

[4v50 Gary]

During the Civil War, it was not unusual for the belligerents to cease fire, allow men to climb out of their rifle pits, stretch, answer to the calls of nature, cook their food, and perhaps even exchange tobacco & coffee or newspapers. These impromptu cease-fires were generally honored by both sides. Here's one time it wasn't at Petersburg:

"Late this evening, some man of Davis' Brigade, which is just on our left, perpetrated a cowardly act unworthy of a white man. Since sharpshooting has recommenced, it has been customary for both sides to cease operations just after sunset for about an hour, of which both sides took advantage to relieve their pickets. It also allowed the men in the works a short respite at least during which to walk about without being constantly reminded of broken heads and shattered limbs by the whistling of 'Minies.' But this evening after the firing had ceased, and while all the pickets were out of their holes in the fancied security of each of the others honor, this man of Davis' Brigade deliberately took aim and shot one of the enemy, the ball striking him in the forehead, no doubt killing him instantly. Now while I believe in the abstract principle of killing a Yankee where ever one is found on our soil, yet in such a case as this, it was not only brutal, but dishonorable in the extreme."

The next day a Union sharpshooter exacted revenge:

"The enemy have taken revenge for the affair of last evening. This evening some fifteen or twenty minutes after the usual cessation, and while our men were walking about, a single shot was fired from the Yankee line which struck a poor fellow from Perry's Brigade in the left side below the ribs and passed entirely through him. He died in about five minutes. I have no doubt but that this was done in retaliation, and as it is usual in such cases, the innonent suffer for the guilty."

[4v50 Gary]

Sorry, no story tonight. However, if you guys got any historic stories to share, please do. Must be something besides Billy Dixon & Jack Bean in the post-Civil War westward expansion.

[S_O_Laban]

Thanks Gary, I had forgot about this thread. Some interesting stuff.

[4v50 Gary]

When you're entrenched and the other guy, like yourself, is patiently waiting for a careless move so he can send a leaden missile to relieve you of your wordly concerns, sometimes it helps to have friends who inspire him to "jump" first. From a book (which I'll decline to identify) written by a Confederate:

"Some fellows in the second pit on my right thought up a plan to flush the Yanks out of their pits and give us a shot at them. They made a mortar by burning out the end of a log; using the process common in the South to make a mortar to hull rice. The batteries gave them some shells, cannon powder and fuse. When ready, word passed along the line to 'Stand to your guns and look out while we flush 'em.' Then they fired off the mortar. The shell did not go very high, but sailed along over the rifle pits of the Yanks as if it was looking for a good place to land. Every pit that it passed over turned out two men who thought theirs was the selected target. And in the excitement we got in some telling shots."

A counter was found, but I'll save that for another day.

[4v50 Gary]

From one soldier serving with Sherman's Army during the Atlanta Campaign:

"Skirmishing was an everday business with us. At no time were we out of earshot of guns. The popping of rifles was incessant and hourly some poor fellow received a shot which ended his career as a solider.

"An erroneous idea prevailed that the enemy had superior rifles, superior ammunition and, with the hands of expert riflemen, were doing this shooting. The fact was their arms, as a general rule, were but the ordinary smoothbore muskets. I took special pains to determine an answer to the question, searching the field after the battle, examining captured arms, and only in one instance saw anything different. On the field after the battle of Peachtree Creek, I found in one cartridge box cartridges of superior make. The paper wrappers were white and strong and the powder of better quality than ours. I at once pronounced them to be of English manufacture. The enemy had a similar idea concerning us, that we had marksmen armed with rifles having telescopic sights. Our Eastern army had a few such weapons, but I only saw one man so armed in our Western army."

The Confederates did have men equipped with superior rifles and ammunition. These were the Whitworth sharpshooter who operated apart from the normal brigade sharpshooter. The Whitworth sharpshooters selected their own ground where they felt they could be most effective. With the Union naval blockade, very few of these guns ever reached the Confederacy and their capture was virtually unheard of.

[4v50 Gary]

We're aware of the periscope rifle during WW I. Those are the rifles with the modified stocks and periscopes that allowed the shooter to shoot from the safety of the trench and without exposing himself to counterfire. Examples are displayed at Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Well, credit for the first such rifles must go to the Civil War Americans who attached mirrors to their buttstocks at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. The better shooters even learned to deflect their bullets by hitting at the bottom of the headlogs and deflecting them into the Confederate trenches. Needless to say, this did little to endear the "damned Yankees" to their Confederate brethen.

[4v50 Gary]

"We marched several miles and drove in their pickets, which were nearly a mile in front of their breastworks, and saw a Reb that one of the Company F Indians had taken prisoner. He was the most disgusted Reb I ever saw. He was behind some rails they had pile up to protect them, and out in front was an open field with big stones, some higher than a man, and near the woods, which were big trees and no underbrush. He said he saw the Indian go behind the stone, and was waiting for him to come out to get a shot at him, when the first thing he knew the Indian's gun came over the end of the rails and there was nothing to do but to surrender. He asked the Indian if he was the one that went behind the stone. The Indian said he was, but wouldn't tell the Reb how he go out without being seen. The Reb said he had read of the Indians doing such things, but didn't believe such yarns, but had to believe it this time. He said he didn't care so much about being taken prisoner, but hated to have such a game as that played on him. The Indian just laughed at him as did the rest of us."

Good woodcraft made it possible. Are you camouflaged, moving slowly to avoid detection and taking every advantage of the terrain for cover and concealment?

[ojibweindian]

LOVE IT!:D

You know, when out in the woods squirrel hunting, I am absolutely amazed at the noise my hunting buddies make, and I have a bad case of tinitus!

When I was a kid, I would practice sneaking up on cats, dogs, rabbits, squirrels, and birds while at home or in the woods. Got pretty good at it; it was a fun game. My daughter is pretty good at it, too. I once saw her sneak up to within 10 yards of a cotton tail rabbit before it noticed her, and she was 7 at the time.

You can sneak up on pretty much anything with enough patience and a little luck:D

[4v50 Gary]

One Rebel officer's view of Berdan's Sharsphooters:

"Did you ever see any of those globe or telescopic-sighted rifles, exclusively used by Berdan's battalions of sharpshooters in the Federal army? They are a very accurate weapon, but expensive, I am told; yet the Federals have not done much mischief with them. The men are trained to climb trees, lie on their back, crawl rapidly through the grass, have grass-green pantaloons to prevent detection, etc.; but with all the usual systematic boasting regarding them, out Texans and others are more than a match for them. We have picked off a greater number of them than we have ourselves lost by their wonderful shooting; but as our men do not waste much time in skirmishing, but hasten to 'close quarters, " I have not heard much of them for some time, although a few months since nothing was talked of, North, but the extraordinary achievements of 'Berdan's Sharpshooters.' To believe their reports, nearly every general in our army has fallen under their 'unerring aim.' The best sharpshooters with us are to be found among the Missourians, Texans, Arkansans, Mississippians, and Alabamians - men accusotmed to woods and swamps and to Indian warfare."

note: Probably written sometime in 1862.

[4v50 Gary]

"A little before dawn Birge's sharp-shooters were astir. Theirs was a peculiar service. Each was a preferred marksman, and carried a long-range Henry rifle, with sights delicately arranged as for target practice. In action each was perfectly independent. They never maneuvered as a corps. When the time came they were asked, "Canteens full?" "Biscuits for all day?" Then their only order, "All right; hunt your holes, boys." Thereupon they disperesed, and, like Indians, sought cover to please themselves behind rocks and stumps, or in hllows. Sometimes they dug holes; sometimes they climbed into trees. Once in a good location, they remained there all day. At night they would crawl out and report in camp."

Birge's Western Sharpshooters, later renamed the 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was authorized by Gen. John Charles Fremont. The author of the statement, Gen. Lew Wallace (author of "Ben Hur") is not entirely accurate in that they carried sporting guns and about 450 Dimick rifles (think Plains rifles in appearance) were procured by them. The Henry rifles came later and each sharpshooter bought his own (gubmint provided the fodder). As it was a siege, the Sharpshooters made life miserable for the defending Confederates. Mind you, sometimes the Confederates gave as good as they got during the siege. One sharpshooter (unit unknown) was spotted in a tree so applying Rule 2 & Rule 3 of gunfighting (bring a bigger gun and bring all your friends with guns), a 12 pdr cannon was found and using solid shot, they blasted the tree from 3/4 of a mile away. Needless to say, the Federal sharpshooter tumbled from his roost.

[4v50 Gary]

Nifty little snippet about why not to kill one another.

"It was comparatively quiet on his part of the line, but another man in the company got behind a tree, a little in advance of the line, and was exchanging shots with a blue-coated sharp-shooter, when Smith said, "Tom, what in the Devil do you mean?" Tom replied, "Why, I want to kill that Yankee sharp-shooter." Smith said, "You are a fool! Don't you know that if you kill him that you will make some of them fellows over there mad, and they wil disturb our rest over here all the time?" It never pays to do wrong to sptie some one for having acted likewise. This is true of armies as well as individuals.

[ojibweindian]

Gary

A 12 pdr to kill a sharpshooter? :what:

[4v50 Gary]

Objibweindian: The ability of riflemen to harass artillery predates the American Civil War. We saw it at Saratoga when Morgan's riflemen decimated the British artillery crews there. The British riflemen did the same in Spain during the Peninsular War.

By the time of the American Civil War, the rifled musket increased the "potential" of the common infantryman. In the hands of a sharpshooter, a battery could be silenced. Thus, it was not unusual for a gun to engage a singular sharpshooter to remove the annoyance. One general knew this and sent his sharpshooters out to determine the capability of his opponent's artillery. He then fought his battle accordingly. It is not that artillery development lagged behind that of small arms. Rifled cannons were around in plenty of numbers but so was the smoothbore 12 pdr Napoleon. If an artillery piece came within range of the infantryman (500 yards or less), the crew could easily be shot down. Thus, if a gun crew wanted to survive and didn't have to engage in an artillery fight, it would remove its most immediate threat: the sharpshooter.

The book will discuss this more fully and there is no shortage of examples in it.

[ojibweindian]

Gary

Very fascinating. I was thinking, after reading the post describing the use of a 12pdr to kill a sharpshooter, that was some serious over-kill.

I had no idea sharpshooters were such a threat to artillery.

[4v50 Gary]

Using artillery to plaster a sharpshooter is a fine tradition that the British maintained during WW II. A sniper's post was identified and instead of sending Tommy and his mates out to catch the sniper, they called up the 25 pdrs and looked for bits of uniform of flesh afterwards.

The lesson of the week: Don't taunt a rifleman.

On Rich Mountain, Virginia, the Confederates were being chased by a larger Union force. One Confederate had been fired upon numerous times by the Enfield armed Union "sharpshooters." Thinking himself safe, he stooped over and offered the Union squad of sharpshooters a most undignified insult. This angered the Union men who fired again. One bullet went all the way through the body and out the throat. OUCH!

[4v50 Gary]

After the battle of Chickamauga, Rosecran's army was bottled up in Chattanooga and relied on a very tenuous line of supply that ran along the river. It was dubbed the "cracker line" by the Union troops who relied on it for their sustenance, hardtack. :barf:

The Confederates sent out sharpshooter to interdict food coming along the "cracker line." "We brought our Whitworth rifles from Virginia with us. These were placed down the River on our extreme left to shoot down the front teams, which after being done, the road was entirely blocked and we then proceeded in a leisurely manner to use our English rifles. The road was too narrow between the bluff and the Riuver for the teams to turn around or to escape in any manner, and were compelled to sand until all were shot down."

Another Confederate elaborates: "Two companies of our regiment have been sent out and are now actively engaged in firing into their wagon trains. The companies on picket have done considerable execution - stopped the wagon trained and killed a number of mules. The drivers left their teams and took to the woods as soon as the firing commenced."

The cracker line was reopened when the Union floated some men at night past the Confederate position. They attacked the Confederates who were caught off guard. At the same time, a bridge was built at Brown's Ferry and Union troops crossed in support of their comrades.

[4v50 Gary]

While a large part of my work concentrates on the American family feud of 1861-65, about 1/3rd concerns the flintlock era. Back then the majority of soldiers (1700-1850s) carried smoothbore muskets and riflemen were far and few between. Still, some pretty accomplished shots were made with the old musket. Here's a tale from the Immortal Wolfe's capture of St. Louisberg (Seven Years' War or French-Indian War as we call it here):

"During the landing at Louisberg there was a rascal of a savage on top of a high rock that kept firing at the Boats as they came within his reach, and he kill'd a volunteer Fraser of our Regiment who, in order to get his one shilling instead of six pence a day, was acting, like myself as a Sergeant, he was a very genteel young man and was to have been commission'd the first vacancy. There sat next to Fraser in the boat, a silly fellow of a Highlander, but who was a good marksman for all that, and not withstanding that there was a positive order not to fire a shot during the landing, he couldn't resist this temptation of having a slap at the Savage. So the silly fellow levels his fuzee at him and in spite of the unsteadiness of the boat, for it was blowing hard at the time, 'afaith he brought him tumbling down like a sack into the water. As the matter turned out, there was not a word said about it, but had it been otherwise he would have had his back scratch'd if not something worse.

This shot was the best I have ever seen."

"Fuzee" was another term for "fusil" or a shorter smoothbore musket. It was generally carried by officers, light infantry or fusiliers (honorific title to soldiers who guarded the artillery).

The British Army was very harsh in those days (never mind those movies where it looks easy). Men were considered by officers as brutes and drunkards and had to be tightly controlled. Lashing, or the "scratch'd" was a popular form of punishment in those days (the Germans use to punish folks by having them run the gauntlet) and the "bloody lobsterback" that our Patriots would taunt the British soliders with before the revolution was in reference to the whippings. :(

[4v50 Gary]

During the Siege of Boston when that motley collection of rebels who called themselves patriots ;) bottled up the British Army in Boston, a regiment of riflemen from Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland marched to Boston and began practicing their marksmanship on the British. There is one account of a sentry who showed only half his head and was shot at two hundred and fifty yards distance for his troubles. That's not a difficult shot by modern standards but to perform this feat with a patched round ball rifle takes some skill. Enough of me running at the mouth. Here's one militia lieutenant's first hand account:

"The out Centinals are only at forty Yards distance from each other, and some time past it was a practice for the Centinals to go as far as a pol[e] which was fixed between them and converse but now Genl. Worshington has forbid it. One of [their] Captains who went t Relieve g[u]ard was shot at by three of our Riffle men at 250 yards distance & tumbled from his Horse, this is a practice which General Worshington now discountenences."

Note: One thing about reading old texts, you get use to the inaccurate spelling. Some British officers spelled things phonetically and some writers spelled the same word differently within the same letter. In reading original documents, sometimes the word is difficult to decipher and it requires the reader to look at the word in context with the sentence around it.

[4v50 Gary]

Any student of sniping will recall Hesketh Pritchard's Sniping in France in which Maj. Pritchard describes the use of dummies to draw German sniper fire and to locate the same. Well, dummies have played a life saving role in warfare for centuries.

On our own continent, The Wetzel boys made a false face out of a soft block of wood, and painted it a human color and fixed it in the human shape, and some of them would frequently go and see to the domestic concerns of their farm. Jacob taking the false man and his sister, Susannah by name and staying all night, was apprehensive that there were Indians near, by the alarm of the dog at night. He told his sister he had every reason to believe there were Indians near.

As soon as it was fairly light, he opened the door, taking his post on the left side of the door, and Susannah on the right side. As the door opened to the right, she stood rather back of the door, holding up the false man with her left hand in full view of the open door. Two Indians were concealed some distance in front of the two house[s]. One of them fired at the false man, thinking it was the man of the house. The Indians rose from behind their concealment and made toward the house, but as soon as the report of the Indian's gun was heard, Susan let the false man fall in the house. Jacob shot one dead on his approach, and Susan quickly shut and bolted the door. Jacob soon had powder in his gun, and ramming two naked bullets down, fired out of a port hole just as the Indian was in the act of making off, the two balls taking effect in the Indian's back and soon brought him to the ground."

There are other instances of dummies being used to draw fire and WW I sniping hadn't really changed from the frontier days.

[Shanghai McCoy]

Gary,I must say that I have enjoyed these stories ever since I found this site.Pity that you "Hide" them here.Rgds,Paul

[4v50 Gary]

Wait 'til you guys see the book. I'm almost ready to send it to an editor and am spending more time cleaning up the text now than gathering more material. Also waiting to get a DVD back from a museum with plenty of firearm images. Guns, pictures of guns and the men and plenty of stories all woven into the tale of the blackpowder sharpshooter.

BTW, two Shawnee under Blackfish also used a "dummy" to draw fire from the defenders of Boonesboro. It took a while before the defenders caught on and they then waited until the Braves grew careless. The "dummy" bearer was shot and seeing it, the shooter ran off. When the dummy was recovered, it was found to have been pierced several times.

I've more dummy stories in the book.

[4v50 Gary]

The Lone Marksman Revisited (http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/LoneMarksmanRevisited.asp)

Here's something you guys will enjoy. It's an excerpt from my chapter on the Napoleonic Era rifleman that was published in a blackpowder magazine last year. While most of the chapter discusses the British Rifleman (after all, we only fought them briefly), there are marksmanship examples from the French, Swiss & Austro-Hungarians.

[4v50 Gary]

When the American Revolution first broke out in 1775, the British tried to hold Boston but couldn't. So, they evacuated and later took New York to separate the rebellious New England colonies from the others. However, there was unrest elsewhere including Charlestown, South Carolina.

A southern strategy was devised and Sir Peter Parker was dispatched with a fleet to capture Charlestown. Guarding the approach against any seaborne force was Fort Moultrie (now a National Park Service site specializing in coastal defense) on Sullivan Island. The fort was half finished and unprepared for a siege when the Sir Parker's fleet appear.

To the surprise of everyone, including the rebels, cannon balls bounced harmless off the palmetto logs used to construct the fort. A landing force was sent to capture the unfinished fort from the rear. Anticipating this, riflemen were deployed to give any invader a warm reception.

One American rifleman described the fight: "Our rifles were in prime order, well proved and well charged; every man took deliberate aim at his object... The fire taught the enemy to lie closer behind their bank of oyster shells, and only show themselves when they rose to fire." The British and their Tory allies were repulsed and Fort Moultrie remained in American hands. "It was impossible for any set of men to sustain so destructive a fire as the Americans poured in... on this occasion," wrote one Tory who landed on Sullivan Island. The accurate fire of the riflemen ensured that Fort Moultrie remained in American hands.

With several of his ships grounded, Sir Peter Parker withdrew. The British would not return until 1780. This time, they would approach Charleston (as it was renamed) from the land.

[4v50 Gary]

But ye of Scottish descent will appreciate it.

During the French-Indian War, one Highlander was captured by the Indians. Knowing that captives were generally tortured to death, he bragged (through an interpreter) about his prowess as a medicine man skilled in the making of potions. He told them he knew of one potion that would make his skin invincible to the blade and that he could teach them its preparation. The Indians were skeptical but agreed to release him to gather his herbs and secret ingredients. They escorted him through the woods and watched while he gathered plants. He returned to the village and ground them, chanting unintelligible words (probably Gaelic) and finally applied the magic potion around his neck. He then layed his head upon a tree trunk and invited them to try to chop his head off. Well, down came the axe and off came his head. The Indians were initially angry but soon lavish in their praise for this cunning Scotsman who evaded torture.

[4v50 Gary]

When the sluaghter in the Secundrabah was almost over, many of the soldiers lay down under a large peepul tree with a very bush top, to enjoy its shade and quench their thirst from the jars of cool water set around the foot of the tree. An exceptional number of dead and wounded also lay under the tree, and this attracted the notice of an officer. Carefully examining the wounds, he found that in every case the men had evidently been shot from above. The officer called to a solider to look if he could see anyone in the tree-top. The soldier had his rifle loaded, and stepping back, he carefully scanned the top of the tree. He almost immediately called out: "I see him, sir!" Cocking his rifle, he immediately fired, and down fell a body dressed in a tight-fitting red jacket and tight-fitting rose-coloured silk trousers; and the breat of the jacket bursting open with the fall, showed that the wearer was a woman. She was armed with a pair of heavy old-pattern cavalry pistols, one of which was in her belt still loaded, and her pouch was still half filled with ammunition. From her perch in the tree, which had been carefully prepared before the attack, she had killed more than a dozen men.

Trees make lousy hides and even in the Civil War, soldiers from both sides used trees as sharpshooters posts. Once detected (thanks to the smoke), they were generally quickly brought down.

[Thefumegator]

Gary, this thread is great. It makes work go much faster.

Wes

[4v50 Gary]

In the days of the olde, the lessers were not suppose to shoot their betters. Of course, the English longbowmen rudely ignored this bit of sage wisdom at Agincourt and Crecy and the "flower" of French chivalry died under a shower of arrows (d**n peasant archers). Somehow, the Scots didn't know any better either and they were either unschooled in the niceties :confused: of warfare or just didn't give a d**n. Here's something from a Scotsman who fought against Boney:

As we approached the enemy their skirmishers retired, followed by ours and the Portugese to within a few yards of their lines for seeing the British advancing through the tempest of balls, they kept advancing in like manner to within a few yards of the enemy's pieces, crying out 'Fogo ma felias" or 'away my sons'. At this moment a French officer mounted on a white horse seemed to be very busy endeavouring to keep his men to their work, when a Corporal by the name of Joffrey and I got leave to try if he was ball proof; and running out a few yards in front kneeled down and fired together, but which of us struck him must still remain a myster, but down he went. Poor Joffrey, while in the act of rising off his knee, received a ball in the breast which numbered him with the dead also.

There's a story about 1/95 (Rifle Brigade) Tom Plunket who was accepted General Paget's offer to shoot General (Colbert) who was leading the French vanguard. Plunket ran out from among the ranks, threw himself down upon the ground and slew the Frenchman. He then shot the bugler who attempted to assist 'mon general.' Plunket ran back to the safety of his ranks before a dozen angry French troopers could cut him down. He received in gratitude General Paget's purse. One Victorian era historian found it hard to believe that one General would wager to have another officer brought down. There's enough evidence to show that it was "policy" to bring down the leaders. Our Scotsman in the above example quoted above didn't need encouragement. Furthermore, there is a letter from one French Marshal complaining about the 5/60 (Royal Americans) who were responsible for bringing down many French officers.

Well, the lesson is if you ride white horses and wave silly swords, you'll not only draw the attention of your own men but also inspire the enemy to fill your chest with metals (not medals). There are plenty of examples in the American Sybil War of officers being mettled with by sharpshooters. Perhaps the best known example is Uncle John Sedgwick at Spotsylvania who is remembered for his encouraging statement, "Why are you dodging man? Why, they could hit an elephant at this distance.":o In inspiring his men, poor Uncle John received a bullet in his face.

[M67]

Hey Gary. Is this a private thread, or can others play too? Even if it isn't British colonial history...

In the days of the olde, the lessers were not suppose to shoot their betters. Depends on how olde the days and who you are referring to. A Norwegian king made a speech before a battle in 1179 where he told his men that "he who kills a nobleman shall himself become one." (Nobleman is a very loose translation, I just don't know an English word for what he actually said.)

Somehow, the Scots didn't know any better either and they were either unschooled in the niceties of warfare or just didn't give a d**n. Well, based on my impression of Scots, my guess would be the last alternative. I kinda like the Scots. :)
Not giving a d**n probably discribes the king mentioned above as well. By the 1190s his disagreements with the church led to the king getting himself excommunicated by pope Celestin III. This was no mean feat, considering the fact that the king also happened to be an ordained priest...

[4v50 Gary]

Yes M67, anyone can play. Regarding the Scots, I think they were pragmatic about shooting officers. I've seen another account during the Napoleonic Wars where one Highland regiment was about to be overwhelmed if a particular officer continued encouraging his men. The Scots tried to bring him down but all failed. Finally, one Scotsman left the ranks and ran a bit forward to get a better aim. He fired one well placed shot and flattened the French officer on the ground.

The Germans of the 5/60 Royal Americans were noted for killing officers.

If anyone has any interesting stories, please feel free to share.

[4v50 Gary]

American Revolutionary War seaman Ebenezer Fox was captured aboard the Protector during the ill fated Penobscot Expedition. He was imprisoned aboard the Jersey in New York Harbor. Starved into submission, he and a few others decided to enlist into the British Army in the West Indies where they were promised that they would not have to take up arms against their countrymen. True to their word, Fox is sent to Jamaica where he is enlisted in the 88th Regiment.

While serving the King, Fox's skill as a barber (he was an apprentice barber and wig maker prior to enlisting) is soon discovered and he was relieved of all dutys save but shaving the officers. Still, Fox was not happy about his situation and joined with five others to escape. They steal two pistols and some cutlasses and obtaining a pass, leave their camp with no intent to return.

"In a few moments, we saw coming over the hill three stout negroes, armed with muskets, which they immediately presented to us, and ordered us to stop.

Our arms, as I have formerly obsreved, consisted of two pistols and three swords: upon the pistols we could place but little dependence, as they were not in good order; and the swords were concealed under our clothes: to attempt to draw them out would have caused the negroes to instantly fire upon us.

They were about ten rods before us, and stood in the attitude of taking a deliberate aim at us. To run would be certain death to some of us; we therefore saw no alternative but to advance. One of our numbers, a man named Jones, a tall, powerful fellow, took a paper from his pocket, and, holding it up before him, advanced with great apparent confidence in his manner, and the rest of us imitated his example. As we approached, Jones held out the paper to one of them, telling him that it was our pass, giving us authority to travel across the island. The negroes, as we very well knew, were unable to read; it was therefore immaterial what was written upon the paper, - I believe it was an old letter, - as manuscript or print was entirely beyond their comprehension. While we were advancing, we had time to confer with each other; and the circumstances of the moment, the critical situation, in which we were placed, naturally led our minds to one conclusion, to obtain the consent of the negroes that we might pursue our journey; but that if they opposed our progress, to resort to violence, if we perished in the attempt.

There was something very exciting to our feelings in marching up to the muzzles of these fellows' guns; to have our progress interrupted when we were, as we supposed, so near the end of our journey. Our sufferings had made us somewhat savage in our feelings; and we marched up to them with that determination of purpose which desperate men have resolved upon, when life, liberty, and everything they value is at stake: - all depended upon prompt and decisivie action.

This was a fearful moment. The negroes stood in a row, their muskets still presented, but their attention ws principally directed to the paper which Jones held before them; meanwhile our eyes were constantly fixed upon them, anxiously watching their motions, and designing to disarm them as soon as a favorable opportunity should be offered.

The negroes were large and powerful men, while we, though we outnumbered them, were worn down by our long march, and enfeebled by hunger. In physical power we were greatly their inferiors. But the desperate circumstances in which we were placed inspired us with uncommon courage, and gave us an unnatural degree of strength.

We advanced steadily forward, shoulder to shoulder, till the breasts of three of us were within a few inches of the muzzles of their guns. Jones reached forward and handed the paper to one of the negroes. He took it, and, turning it round several times and examing both sides, and finding himself not much the wiser for it, shook his head and said, "We must stop you." The expression of his coutnenance, the doubts which were manifested in his manner of receiving tha pepar, convinced us, that all hope of deceiving or conciliating them was at an end.

Their muskets were still presented, their fingers upon the triggers. An awful pause of a moment ensued, when we made a sudden and desperate spring forward, and seized their muskets: out attack was so unexpected, that we wrenched them from their hands before they were aware of our intention. The negro, whom I attacked, fired just as I seized his gun, but I had fortunately turned the direction of it, and the ball inflicted a slight wound upon my side, the scar of which remains to this day. This was the only gun that was discharged during this dreadful encounter.

As soon as it was in my possession, I exercised all my strength, more than I thought I possessed, and gave him a tremdous blow over the head with the breech, which brought him to the ground, from which he never rose.

I had no sooner accomplished my work, when I found my companions had been equally active, and had despatched the other two negroes in the same space of time. None of our party received any injury but myself, and my wound I considered as trifling.

The report of the gun we were fearing would alarm some of our enemies' comrades, who might be in the vicinity, and bring them to the spot. We accordingly dragged the bodies to a considerable distance into the woods, where we buried them under a quantity of leaves and brush. In their pockets we found a few biscuit, whcih were very acceptable to us in our famished condition.

The best gun ws selected, as we did not think it necessary to burden oursleves with the others, as they had been injured in the conflict. We took what ammunition we though necessary, and then sought a place to rest for the reaminder of the day."

In part II, we'll learn how marksmanship played a key role for them. Note: one rod = 5.5 yards.

[4v50 Gary]

We continue our narrative of Fox's escape from Jamaica.

"Dejected and melancholy, we again sought our place of concealment, to reflect upon our situation, and form some determination respecting future operations. To remain where we were long, without straving or being detected, was impossible, but how to get away was the problem to be solved. Undetermined what to do, we left our retreat again, and the first object that met our view upon the water was a sail-boat directing her course to the shore near where we were.

Here was a means of escape that Providence had thrown in our way. Our previous despair was now changed into hope, and, with our spirits suddenly elated, we retreated to the bushes to come to some immediate decision.

We resolved ourselves into a committtee, appointed a moderator, and proceeded to business. The question wto be discussed was, whether we should attempt to make a prize of the boat, and escape to Cuba.

Without spending much time, as we had none to spare, to discuss the question, or to hear speeches for, much less against it, we put it to vote, and carried it unanimously.

The wind was blowing from the shore, and the boat was consequently beating in against the wind. This was a favorable circumstance for us, if we could get possession of the boat. The undertaking was fraught with difficulty and danger, but it was our only chance for escape.

We left our council place, and crept cautiously down to the shroe, keeping concealed as much as possible between the bushes, till we arrived near to the point, at which we thought the boat was steering. As she was beating against the wind, we concluded, if the man at the helm could be brought down, the boat would luff, which would bring her near the shore, when we were immediately to spring on board. Jones, being the best marksman, took the musket, and seeing that it was well loaded and primed, crept as close to the edge of the shore as he could without being discovered by the crew, and lay down, to wait for a good opportunity to fire at the man at the helm. The rest of us kept as near to him as possible.

Every circumstance seemed to favor our design. The negroes were all in their huts, and every thing around was quiet and still.

The boat soon approached near enough for Jones to take a sure aim; and we scarcely breathed as we lay extended on the ground, waiting for him to perfrom the duty assigned him.

In a few moments, bang went the gun, and down went the negro from the helm into the bottom of the boat; and, as we hand anticipated, the helm being abandoned, the boat luffed up in the wind and was brought close to the shore, which was bold, and the water deep enough to float her. The instant the gun was fired, we were upon our feet, and in the next moment up to our waists in the water alongside the boat.

No time was lost in shoving her about, and getting her bows from the land. There was a fresh breeze from the shore; the sails filled; and the boat was soon under a brisk head way."

Fox and his comrades released the crew and allowed them to swim for land while they made their way to Spanish Cuba (30 leagues away). The Spaniards treated them courteously and placed them aboard an American frigate which carried them home.

[4v50 Gary]

The 1800s saw a period of rapid firearms development. The roundball's reign as the premier "missile" used in firearms came to an end when the French developed the "minie" bullet. It was actually the third and final best effort of the French who found that long range fire was necessary to counter that of the Arabs who were unappreciative of French inroads and "blessings of French culture" in their country. Mon Dieu! Those darn Arabs were shooting and killing the French from distances beyond 500 yards.

The Minie was an undersized conical shape bullet that was hollow in the back. An iron cup was placed into the back and when the gun was fired, it would drive into the lead and expand it such that the bullet fitted the lands of the rifle. While retaining the musket's rapidity of loading, the minie had the rifle's advantage of long range. In fact, the range was greater than that of the normal round ball rifle and it was deadlier too.

In the American War of the Rebellion (Sybil Wa-oh), a surgeon for the Union Army was half a mile behind the front lines when he had a very unpleasant experience: "I was loading my ambulance one day at Cold Harbor with wounded men to send to the Corps Hospital, when a bullet struck the near horse just back of the shoulder, and passed through the horse, which instantly fell dead, then entered the off horse in a like manner and lodged under the skin of the off side; this off horse stood a moment, then fell dead on the near horse."

[M67]

Biathlon, 18th century style.

I recently came across a reference to the rules for skiing contests arranged by Norwegian ski-companies, dated 1766. These ski troops were "special forces" 200 years before the invention of "cool capslock acronyms". They would dress in light colours to blend with the snow, move rapidly cross country, do recon, harass the enemy rear etc., in addtition to fighting as skirmishers in regular engangements. They were not very popular among the traditional enemy, the Swedes, who I think preferred a more continental style of fighting.

Anyway, the regulations for these skiing contests said that although they were arranged by the army, anyone "without exception" was allowed to participate. There were four categories, two involved downhill stunts, one was a regular race to see who could run the fastest quarter mile (just under two of your miles) in full gear with a slung rifle/musket.

The interesting category in this context is the one for the top prize.

First prize was for "the person who could, while skiing at full speed down a moderately steep hill, fire his gun and most accurately hit a target 40 to 50 paces distant".

40 to 50 paces isn't very long range to a modern sharpshooter, but to hit anything at all while on the move with 18th century skis and shooting a flintlock, I think you would have to be a quite good shot as well as a good skier.

I use the word "gun" in my translation above because the Norwegian word used in the original would include both rifle and smoothbore musket. The ski-troopers and other special forces did use rifles, but because the rifles were expensive to replace if damaged or worn out, each soldier was also issued a musket for training purposes, and those may have been used in this type of competition. I imagine participating civilians used whatever they had.

[4v50 Gary]

Here's an account of the Civil War sharpshooter's life:

"The position of the sharp-shooter was one of constant privation and jeopardy. Creeping out at night on all fours to within six or eight hundred yards of the opposite lines, he selected a tree, stone, pit, or chimney, which to secrete himself. At daylight, every part of him must be invisible, and remain so till sundown. At the same time, he must be able to draw a bead upon some rebel angle, embrasure, or other position of importance. Whatever the weather, - warm, cold, wet, or dry; whatever his condition, sick or well, wounded, or evy dying, - there he must remain til nightfall, or, exposing himself, run the risk of instant death."

Smokeless powder was not invented yet in the Civil War so after the first shot, the sharpshooter had to be extremely careful as his position was known to the enemy's sharpshooters. They would lay in wait until he fired and then fired their presighted gun in hopes of killing him.

[4v50 Gary]

Earlier I introduced California Joe. Here's an incident of his fine work:

"I had an opportunity to examine 'California Joe's' rifle this morning, as he is behind earth-works where I am now writing, laying for a chance to pick off a rebel gunner. The rifle weighs 32 pounds, and has a small telescope running the whole length of the barrel, which he uses to sight his target by. The telescope will make a man who is a mile away look as if he was only 200 or 300 yards off... There! The scout has just shot a secesh! And he was a good half mile away from where we are!!! It looked as if the rebels have been trying all morning for a chancce to load the 64 pounder which was pointing directly towards us, and a few minutes ago one of their officers jumped up to the top of the parapet and waved his sword, as if to encourage the men to come up and load the gun. It seemed for a minute or two that he was going to succeed, but the scout had his rifle sighted on the officer who was making such a fine target of himself, and when he fired down came the rebel, heels over head, outside his own fort towrd us, evidently stone dead. It was a fine shot for the man must have been a full half mile away."

[4v50 Gary]

During the fighting along the North Anna River (Grant was again trying to slip past Lee's right and get between Lee and Richmond), one Confederate came under long range fire from an unseen Union sharpshooter:

"I was surprised by the accuracy of some of the enemy's sharpshooters... seats had been fixed around a shady tree some distance in rear of our line, where I was sitting with some officers of the Brigade, my head against the tree. The well known whistle of a bullet was heard... another ball passed still cloer, and broke up the party, a thrid ball passed between my neck and the tree, cutting some hairs off my head and some bark of the tree. I did, of course, not wait for another ball."

The distance to the nearest Union picket line was about a mile. While the sharpshooter was probably closer, that he remained unseen, undetected after several shots and was driving his shots pretty close was pyschologically unnerving.

[Shanghai McCoy]

Sure do enjoy these stories Gary.Looking forward to that book you've been talking about.

[4v50 Gary]

It was mentioned in an earlier post (Drewy or Drury's Bluff in the American War of the Rebellion) that the modern rules of gunfighting apply to sniping and sharpshooting. During the French-Indian War, Gen. Jeffrey Amherst wanted to capture Fort Niagara and convinced Commodore Loring to sail his ships within 100 yards of the fort. Besides filling his decks, each fighting top was filled with marksmen. The plan was for the marksmen to suppress the fort's defenders so that Amherst's batteaux (boats) could approach and storm the fort.

Well, the French captain in charge decided he wasn't playing by the rules and actually anticipated the tactic. He hid his cannon and his own musketmen and when the ships were within range of pistol shot, "had each ship bombarded one after the other with five guns... using ball & grapeshot." He forced two ships to run aground and a third to strike her colors which he accepted. Remember, in a gunfight, bring a bigger gun and bring all your buddies with guns.

[4v50 Gary]

While the book definitely has an American bias, we should acknowledge that other nations also produced sharpshooters of their own who were equally skilled as our own. In the following vignette, we learn how one Russian bested two Englishmen.

"In most of the parapets of the trenches, at the top of the gabions, were double rows of sand-bags, and these again were covered with earth; at intervals, in order to permit more secure observation and to allow our marksmen to be usefully employed, small loop-holes were formed, and, according to the taste or discretion of the field-officer commanding, a fire might be kept up on the embrasures if any activity prevailed, or on the clever skirmishers or on the diggers of the ambuscades, isolated in the first instances in couples, or singly, to work an ambush.

Through one of the sand-bag loop-holes a British private had been firing with, as he fancied, indifferent success, and therefore took a sergeant into consultation; the latter was judging the distance and looking through the loop-hole, whilst the private, much interested, looked over the sergeant's shoulder. Nothing could be seen of these two men above the parapets, except perhaps the moving of their forage caps, but so judicious was the judgment and so excellent the aim of a Russian rifleman, that a shot entered the loop-hole, passed through the head of the sergeant and the throat of the private, killing them both.

"As the small loop-hole was scarcely visible such a shot could only have been made by the marksman calculating where the face was from the slight circumstance of a cap being observed an inch or two over the parapet, breaking the regularity of the line of defence. The two poor victims to such deadly aimed were buried on the spot where they fell, and their arms and accoutrements carried back to camp."

Clearly the solution was to conceal one's loophole or deceive the opposition as to which loophole was being used. Here, a higher parapet would have made the aligning of two men unknown to the enemy.

Now, my apologies. I'm leaving for Kentucky (May 28th) to build an iron mounted southern rifle and will be offline for three weeks. If anyone has any vignettes, please share them with the guys. Behave yourselves ;) and shoot straight.

[Old Fuff]

Have a good trip. It sounds like fun. Hopefully we'll see pictures when the project is done.

[pinblaster]

Keep 'em coming !

[4v50 Gary]

Just to let you know, a few salty tales do creep into the book. Here's a lesser action that is amusing:

In an action mimicked by the German hilfskreuzers (auxiliary cruisers or converted merchantships that served as raiders)of WW I & WW II fame, the fishing smack Yankee used deception to lure the British sloop-of-war Eagle to close quarters. A calf, sheep and a goose along with three innocent appearing "fishermen" were conspicuously displayed on the Yankee's deck. When the Eagle approached and ordered her to stop to be boarded, forty hidden musketmen arose and fired a volley that killed three sailors and drove the remainder below deck. Stunned, the Eagle struck her colours wihtout returning a shot.

[4v50 Gary]

or 13th Pennsylvania Reserves (alternatively numbered as the 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry).

I had the opportunity after dinner to inspect the camp of the "Bucktails," a regiment of Pennsylvania backwoodsmen, whose efficiency as skirmishers has been adverted to by all chroniclers of the Civil War. They wore the common blue blouse and breeches, but were distinguished by squirrel tails fastened to their caps. (Gary's note: it was bucktails or portions of the deer hide that resembled a buck tail) They were reputed to be the best marksmen in the service, and were generally allowed, in action, to take their own positions and fire at will. Crawling through thick woods, or trailing serpentlike through the tangled grass, these mountaineers were for a time the terror of the Confederates; but when their mode of fighting had been understood, their adversaries improved upon it to such a degree that at the date of this writing(Gary's note: circa 1862) there is scarcely a corporal's guard of the original Bucktail regiment remaining. Slaughtered on the field, perishing in prison, disabled or paroled, they have lost both their prstige and their strength. I remarked among these worthies a partiality for fisticuffs, and a dislike for the manual of arms. They drilled badly, and were reported to be adepts at thieving and unlicensed foraging.

Two men were sent to guard the farm of a Miss Priscilla.

They deposited their muskets in a corner, and balanced their boots on the fender. Nothing was said for a time.

"Did you lose yer poultry?" said the tall man, at length.

"All," said Miss Priscilla.

"Fellers loves poultry!" said the same man, after a little silence.

"Did you lose yer sheep?" said the same man, smacking his lips.

"The Bucktails cut their throats the first day that they encamped at the mill," said Miss Priscilla.

"Them Bucktails great fellers," said the tall man; "them Bucktails awful on sheep: they loves 'em so!"

He relapsed again for a few minutes, when he continued: "You don't like fellers to bag yer poultry and sheep, do you?"

Miss Priscilla replied that it was both dishonest and cruel. Miss Bell initimated that none buy Yankees would do it.

[4v50 Gary]

When it comes to dibs or more appropriately bragging rights, there's quite a bit of controversy and unfortunately the heat of battle is not conducive for one to cease fire just to write notes. In the smoke, noise, confusion of battle, it becomes difficult to concentrate on anything other than staying alive. Verification becomes an extremely difficult matter and many stories must be approached cautiously. For instance, the famous General Sedgwick ("Why, they couldn't hit an elephant...") is but one example. While there are several claimants, we really don't know who shot Papa John. Same with Admiral Nelson (yes, a post war Frenchman stepped forward and claimed responsibility but British swabbies said that they potted Nelson's killer). With that in mind, here's an example of one where the troops fired a volley (and therefore had bragging rights), they were silenced by one claimant:

At Shiloh, the Twenty-third Tennessee, in resisting a charge, poured a volley into the enemy. At this time there was a Major on horseback in hot pursuit, some distance ahead, although the whole of Captain J. A. Ridley's Company fired on him, yet one of the soldiers of said Company alone claimed to have killed him. The Company challenged his right. The soldier said, "If you find that the ball entered under the right arm pit, he's mine, if not, I'll give it up. On investigation, the shot was found there."

[OF]

Great stuff, Gary!

Please sir, can we have some more? :D

- Gabe

[4v50 Gary]

Not to knock the Brits (and I have plenty of British friends and this is just hystery for the fun of it anyway), but this being the 4th of July, I'd thought I share an incident from our little family feud with the Brits. It goes like this (in the best bed time story tradition)....

Well, one night the Brits sneak out of Boston to do a raid on the militia stores. Well, word goes out and they shoot some minute men and are chased back to Boston by an angry militia. Among the militiamen was one old hunter who rode a pale horse. Here's his tale:

Through their whole retreat the British had notice one man in particular, whom they learned especially to dread. He was an old, gray-haired hunter, and he rode a fine white horse. He struck the trail as they left Concord, and would ride up within gunshot, then turning the horse to throw himself off, aim his long gun resting on the saddle, and that aim was death. They would say, 'Look out, there is the man on the white horse.' He followed them the whole distance.... [J.R.] saw him gallop across the brook and up a hill, pursued by a party of the flank guard who kept the plains midway between Charlestown and Main street. He turned, aimed and the boy saw one of the British fall. He rode on, and soon the same gun was heard again, this time also with deadly effect."

Happy Birthday America!

[sm]

Gary, these are Great!

Please keep this up.

Thanks again for the info you provided and the suggestions - including this thread!

Steve

[Old Fuff]

I second the motion ....

[sm]

Tell me a "buck and ball story" please . :D

[4v50 Gary]

Mistakenly called Battle of Bunker Hill. After the militia chased Gate's army back to Boston and bottled them up there, they began entrenching on Breed's Hill from which they could bombard the harbor and the ships therein. If the Royal Navy was to sustain the Army at Boston, the Army must first eject the "Damned Rebels" from Breed's Hill. So on June 17 they sent a large force to capture Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill.

One problem though. Those cowardly rebels had entrenched themselves and wouldn't come out from behind their wall. As the Redcoats marched up the hill, a sheet of flame erupted from the wall, bringing many Redcoats to the ground, either dead or writhing in pain. Falling back, they regrouped and marched up again - with the same results.

Now, story is that we had a lot of Riflemen there but riflemen were few and far between in the New England states. The celebrated riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia didn't arrive until after that battle. Most likely the rebels were armed with muskets and fowlers - all smooth bores capable of shooting buck 'n ball. The damned rebels were also very unsporting and cheated by aiming - especially at officers. Apparently they didn't know that they weren't suppose to hurt their betters. Pure American ignorance in the ways of warfare.

There was one fellow who was higher than his fellows so as to have a better view. Remember we're talking black powder with white clouds of sulphorous smoke obscuring what was once a nice, clear view. We now hear from a British Lieutenant (pronounced "left-tenant")who explains the high officer casualties:

As it is very uncommon that such a great number of officers should be killed and wounded more than is proportion to the number of private men: the following discovery seems to account for it.

Before the entrenchments were forced, a man, whom the Americans called a marksman, or rifleman, was seen standing upon something near three feet higher than the rest of the troops, as their hats were not visible. This man had no sooner discharged one musket, than another was handed to him, and continued firing in that manner for ten or twelve minutes. And in that small space of time, by their handing to him fresh loaded muskets, it is supposeded that he could not kill or wound less than twenty officers; for it was at them particularly that he directed his aim, as was afterwards confirmed by the prisoners. But he soon paid his tribute, for, upon being noticed, he was killed by the grenadiers of the Royal Welch Fusileers."

Of the 2,500 British officers and men who joined in the assault on Breed's Hill, 40% or 1,150 became casualties. The officers suffered 19 killed and 70 wounded.

Note: the intonation of the book will reflect less bias than what I type here on THR. Remember, this is for fun learning and learning is cool. :cool:
My own preference is to heavily rely on quotes and allow you the reader to interpret it. It's more fun that way. The 23rd Regiment, Royal Welch Fusiliers sacked our capital during the War of 1812 and ate President Madison's dinner.

[sm]

:cool:
Thank You Sir!

"I ain't ever had nuttin' dedicated to me before" I am humbled.

"Damned Rebels" shooting at officers like that, entrenched and all...:D

[4v50 Gary]

Concerning the blurb on Breed's Hill, the British Commander-in-Chief in 1775 was Thomas Gage, not Gates. Gates served on the American side & was the Victor of Saratoga (with a lot of help from Benedict Arnold). My apologies for the mistake. Well, onto the bedtime story for the day.

Part of the effectiveness of the modern sniper is the fear he generates when he strikes out from his hidden lair to dispatch his foe. Unlike today with our thermal imaging and radar, an enemy who isn't seen, can't be fought. It was almost as bad during the blackpowder era (where the tell tale white smoke that followed every discharge would reveal a sharpshooter's location). Still, the deadly annoyance of the sharpshooter was unneverving.

"Quite a number of officers were sitting together just before dark eating their supper.... when the bugler of the regiment, who was sitting near, was shot through the heart and killed instantly. No one could tell where the shot came from. He was just raising his spoon to his mounth when he fell over dead."

It is little wonder why one soldier wrote: "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."

That misunderstanding and hatred of sharpshooters was the legacy of the sniper. American Snipers in 'Nam were called "Murder Incorporated" and in an earlier war, a British sniping officer was called, "The Professional Assassin."

[M67]

a man, whom the Americans called a marksman, or rifleman, was seen standing upon something near three feet higher than the rest of the troops, as their hats were not visible. This man had no sooner discharged one musket, than another was handed to him, This reminded me of an episode from my neighbourhood, during the 1807-14 war between Sweden and Denmark-Norway, which was a "branch-war" of the Napoleonic wars.

In february 1808 a Norwegian battalion of grenadiers and sharpshooters was mobilized in Trondheim and marched south with 630 men. For some reason they marched on their feet along the "roads", not on skis even though it was winter. 14 days later they reached their destination, after an average of 46 km (sorry, "clicks") per day. That's not bad considering the terrain - prime musk ox habitat - and weather. The impressive part is that they arrived with 630 men, not one single man failed to complete the march.

Anyway, to the point. One of the grenadier company commanders was a captain named Dreyer. On April 25th two companies of this battalion held a larger Swedish force at a road pass, the Swedes had to use the road because of the deep snow. After some time, the rest of Dreyer's battalion attacked the Swedes from the rear, along with two companies of skiers that attacked from the forest on both sides of the road. At one point during this battle, capt. Dreyer was reported to have been lying on the roof of a house, shooting at the enemy while his men handed him loaded rifles. Later, as the battle developed into close quarter fighting, the captain climbed a tall tree stump, from which he could direct his soldiers better. He continued to shoot at the enemy from this vantage point, as the men closest to him handed him loaded rifles. The downside to having an unobstructed view of the enemy is of course that the enemy can see you as well. The surviving Swedes surrendered after three hours.

Towards the end of the battle the captain fell off his tree stump, wounded. According to legend he had been hit seven times, although the exact number of hits is a bit hazy. He died of his wounds four days later.

The good captain was apparantly quite a character. He was commisioned 16 years old, after serving six months as an NCO. He had a reputation for speaking his mind, something that made him unpopular among his superiors. He got a written reprimand from no less than the commanding general of the Norwegian army, who expressed his displeasure with the captain's conduct. But he was known among his soldiers as a very good shot.

[4v50 Gary]

Thank you M67 for your contribution.
[Rod Sterling Twilight Zone Voice on]

And now for the most famous sharpshooter regiments of the Civil War, Berdan's Sharp Shooters. The following excerpt took place at Kelly Ford (Nov. 7, 1863) well after the major campaign season was over. Meade was busying following Lee and probing for weaknesses. He came across the Confederates guarding Kelly's Ford. From their encounter there, we have a tale of two good marksmen and with only one unfortunate target between them:

"A remarkable instance of fine shooting occurred at this time. Corp. Johnson, of Company G, upon being urged to give the retreating Rebs a shot, although he considered the chances poor hitting his man at that distance, running off as he was, finally exclaimed: 'By great! I'll try him,' and allowing two feet for windage, drew up his rifle at 700 yards raised the sight and fired. At the same time Lieut. Thorp of the adjoining company, K, asked George J. Fisher if he could 'down that fellow.' Answering: 'I guess I can," Fisher shot just as Johnson did, and the man threw up his hands and went down. The fallen rebel was afterwards found wounded in two places, he stating that both shots came from the same instant, one through the right thigh, the other the left hip."

Sometimes it doesn't pay to get out of bed.:uhoh:
[/Rod Sterling Twilight Zone voice off] Come back for more Bedtime Stories or Sharpshooter Tales here only at THR.

[Commerical Break]
***** Deleted by Oleg Volk ******

[Penman]

An intersting comment on the battle for Breed's Hill was that after the colonists retreated and the British took over the hill, one of the colonial leaders said: "I'd gladly sell them another hill for that price."

[4v50 Gary]

Penman - where did you get that quote?

And now for a tale from the American Civil War.

We camped about a mile back from the Rebels' works in a piece of timber. The ground in front was a little higher, so we couldn't see the works, but could hear the firing. There was a nice creek a few rods behind the camp in a deep gulch, with a fine white sand bottom, and water about two inches deep. One day I went down there to scour my rifle barrel. (Note: some units were required to brighten their barrels to keep the rust off. ) I went by where one of the Company D boys was shaving one of the other boys. I was gone about an hour, and when I got back the one that was doing the shaving was buried. A ball had come from the front and killed him instantly. He never spoke, but fell backwards on his back and held the razor in his hand until told to let go. I couldn't believer or realize it when they told me. That was the only bullet that came in this camp, and he, like Turner, didn't know he was hit.

[4v50 Gary]

How did the average soldier feel about the opposing sharpshooters? In some cases there was a genuine hatred and some men felt that they should all be killed. In the following example, one Federal soldier actually meets one and describes his feeling. Enjoy.

"A most complete entente cordiale had just been established between Company D and the Alabama and Arkansas men who have just been posted opposite to us. It was rather embarassing, at first, to come face to face with the chaps, who, for a month back, have been shooting at you night and day; but I wanted to study the live 'reb,' and determine the category in natural history under which he should come, - whether 'gorillia,' as some claim; or 'chivalry,' as others; or sometines betweeen... A group of rebels were gathered in the hollow, and over the parapet others came jumping, coming in a straggling line down the slope. I am bound to say, they seemed like pleasant men. All were good-natured, and met our advances cordially. They straightened up as we did. 'It was good to be able to stretch up once more to the full height; they had not been able to do it for a month.' Several were free-mason; and there was mysterious clasping and mighty fraternizing with the brethren on our side. Some had been in Northern colleges, and were gentlemen; and even the 'white trash' and 'border ruffians,' who made up the mass of them, were a less inhuman set that I should have believed...

"'Here comes Old Thous'n Yards!' said they, as a broad, tall Arkansian, with a beard heavy as Spanish moss on an oak, and a quick dark eye, came swinging down from the parapet. They all made way for him with some deference. He was 'Old Thous'n Yards' with every one, and turned out to be the great sharp-shooter of that part of the works. I inquired about him, and found he was a famous backwoodsman and hunter, who, with a proper rifle, was really sure of a bear or buffalo at the distance of a thousand yards. He came forward rather bashfully. On both sides, the rifles were left behind; and 'Old Thousand Yards' seemed to be as much troubled to dispose of his hands as a college freshman at his first party. His left arm would half bend into a hollow as if to receive the rifle barrel, and the right fingers work as if they wanted to feel the touch of the lock. I borrowed a chew of tobacco, and won the perennial friendship of 'Old Thousand Yards' by bestowing it upon him. Then I bought his cedar canteen to preserve as a souvenir... I fear more than one of our poor fellows has felt his skill; but, for all that, he was a good-natured fellow, with a fine frame and noble countenance, - a physique to whose vigor and masculine beauty, prairies and mountainpaths and wild chases had contributed."

[Shanghai McCoy]

Now that is "good reading".It sometimes amazes me how well written these old stories can be.

[4v50 Gary]

Now, our Southern members don't need reminding as to who Benjamin Butler was. For those who don't know, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler was a Massachussetts politician who adeptness at politics ensured his Colonel's commission and his brigadier's star. He commanded the Union land forces that marched into New Orleans after it was captured by the Navy (Farragut gets the credit for capturing that city).

Well, the Southern ladies didn't take too kindly to having Yankees in their town and they would turn about and show their backsides whenever a Union officer approached. This along with other offenses (including emptying of chamber pots) resulted in Butler issuing an order pn May 15, 1862, that any woman who disrespected his men would be treated as ladies of the street - prostitutes. "General Order No. 28: As the officers and soldiers of the United States have been subject ot repeated insults from the women (calling themselves ladies) of New Orleans, in return for the most scrupulous non-interference and courtesy on our part, it is ordered hereafter when any female shall, by word, gesture, or movement, insult or show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United States, she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated as a woman of the town plying her avocation. By command of Major General Butler."

Butler drew upon an ancient London ordinance for the wording. The outraged Gentlemen of the South placed a bounty of $1,000 on the head of the Beast. Concern also grew in England and when Secretary of State Seward was questioned by the British Ambassador about it, he quipped, "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense," the motto on the Royal Ciper (Evil to he who thinks it).

One thing about Butler, while he was hated, he was a pretty able administrator. The yellow fever or malaria (whatever) that was hoped for by the South to wipe out the Yankees never struck them. Butler anticipated it and ordered the canals to be cleaned. He also had the streets swept (scraped would be more accurate) of the centuries of dirt a buildup. He brought in food to feed the poor. However, the South grew increasingly furious about Butler (he also brought his brother along who did some profiteering) and Butler was removed and given other responsibilities.

Well, one thing Butler wasn't and it was a military man. Don't ask him to lead a squad, division or even a Corps. He was well over his head. He could organize it, but he wasn't a Hancock, Reynolds, Thomas, Sheridan by any stretch of the imagination. So, what does this have to do with sharpshooting?

Well, when Butler's command was bottled up in the Bermuda One Hundred (during the Petersburg Campaign), one Confederate who was anxious to collect the bounty ascended a tree to lay in wait for Beast Butler. He was going to sharpshoot the Beast when he inspected his line. He never fired a shot. A party of Union woodcutters came along and began chopping down his perch. He meekly surrendered to them and when questioned, admitted his scheme. Thus, the camp woodcutters played a role in saving Butler's life. Had Butler been killed, more Union lives may have been lost later when Butler commanded the expedition to capture Fort Fisher in North Carolina. Butler was discouraged when his scheme to float a blackpowder laden boat and explode it near Fort Fisher failed. Had a more competent leader been selected and the attack gone forward, Union casualties could have been much higher than what they were.

As a sidenote, one of General Grant's fear was being killed and then Butler, being the senior Major General, replacing him as the General of the Armies. Perhaps Grant should have ordered that no trees be chopped for wood. :p

BTW gang, if you have any stories you'd like to contribute, please feel free to do so. I'm leaving on Saturday AM to visit some historical sites on the East Coast including Gettysburg, Norfolk, etc. Won't be back until the end of August.:cool:

[Shanghai McCoy]

Great stuff Gary.Have a good trip,we'll miss your new "chapters" while you are gone s