http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2008/12/21/review-the-rifle-musket-in-civil-war-combat/ Informed Amateurs Blog the American Civil War Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:41:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2008/12/21/review-the-rifle-musket-in-civil-war-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-6956 Battle Ranges | TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:19:48 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=2283#comment-6956 [...] unchanged since 1815 and therefore Napoleonic warfare was still possible. This view has been adopted and amplified by historians like Earl [...] [...] unchanged since 1815 and therefore Napoleonic warfare was still possible. This view has been adopted and amplified by historians like Earl [...]

]]> http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2008/12/21/review-the-rifle-musket-in-civil-war-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-4928 Michael R. Cunningham, Ph.D. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:57:05 +0000 http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/?p=2283#comment-4928 I appreciate Fred Ray's thoughtful engagement on the topics raised by Earl Hess and Paddy Griffith concerning the impact of the rifle-musket on Civil War tactics and outcomes. This issue could be further illuminated by accurate laser measurements of the actual distances involved on Civil War battlefields. To examinine accuracy in CW fire, it would be helpful if the NPS would conduct historical archeology on selected fighting positions, and report the relative number of inbound minie balls that fall short versus overshoot the position, and how close they fell. I suspect that that there may be fewer overshoots than predicted by Hess' analysis. Finally, on a minor detail, I note that the 64th Illinois (Yates Sharpshooters) definitely functioned as skirmishers during much of their service. They began with Mississippi rifles, and ended the war with privately purchased Henry rifles. Their forward deployment was the reason that the gallant 64th was the first to the top of Kennesaw Mtn., first to Gen. McPherson's body at Atlanta, and first in Johnston's Hqrts at Bentonville. I appreciate Fred Ray’s thoughtful engagement on the topics raised by Earl Hess and Paddy Griffith concerning the impact of the rifle-musket on Civil War tactics and outcomes. This issue could be further illuminated by accurate laser measurements of the actual distances involved on Civil War battlefields. To examinine accuracy in CW fire, it would be helpful if the NPS would conduct historical archeology on selected fighting positions, and report the relative number of inbound minie balls that fall short versus overshoot the position, and how close they fell. I suspect that that there may be fewer overshoots than predicted by Hess’ analysis. Finally, on a minor detail, I note that the 64th Illinois (Yates Sharpshooters) definitely functioned as skirmishers during much of their service.
They began with Mississippi rifles, and ended the war with privately purchased Henry rifles. Their forward deployment was the reason that the gallant 64th was the first to the top of Kennesaw Mtn., first to Gen. McPherson’s body at Atlanta, and first in Johnston’s Hqrts at Bentonville.

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