Month: August 2006
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Today in the Petersburg Campaign: August 20, 1864
August 20, 1864 Skirmish at Berryville, VA, the Shenandoah Valley, VA, Campaign. Skirmish at Opequon Creek, VA, the Shenandoah Valley, VA, Campaign. Note: All “Today In The Petersburg Campaign” blog entries are used with permission from Ronald A. Mosocco’s Chronological Tracking of the American Civil War per the Official Records of the War of the […]
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The Jacob’s Rifle
Brigadier-General John Jacob One of the more unusual sharpshooter rifles was the Jacob’s, the brainchild of John Jacob, one of those brilliant, eccentric British Army officers who spent his career in India. He had spent 25 years improving rifled firearms, carrying on experiments unrivalled even by public bodies. A range of 200 yards sufficed in […]
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Today in the Petersburg Campaign: August 19, 1864
August 19, 1864 Lieut. Gen. A. P. Hill, CSA, attacks the Union forces on the Weldon Railroad, capturing 2,500 and pushing the Federals back, but not away from the railroad, a vital Confederate link. Skirmish at Berryville, VA, with Lieut. Gen. Jubal Early, CSA, the Shenandoah Valley, VA, Campaign. Skirmish near Opequon Creek, on the […]
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Counterfactuals and Alternate Histories
I came across an interesting web site, Uchronia, devoted books on alternative histories and counterfactuals. “Perhaps the most common themes in alternate history are ‘What if the Nazis won World War II?’ and ‘What if the Confederacy won the Civil War?’” For those old enough to remember, McKinley Cantor (best remembered today for his book […]
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Today in the Petersburg Campaign: August 18, 1864
August 18, 1864 Skirmish at Opequon Creek, VA, as Lieut. Gen. Jubal Early, CSA, attempts to head off Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan’, USA, march to Harper’s Ferry, WV. The Battle of the Weldon Railroad (including combats at Globe Tavern, Yellow House, and Blick’s Station), VA, as Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, USA, sends the 5th […]
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The Rifle Archive
During a discussion about the bore diameter of the Jacob’s rifle (about which I will have more to say later), Bill Adams got carried away with his micrometer and checked a number of other rifles, Enfields and Lorenzes, as well. The results, as you can see below, were rather surprising. Keep in mind that quality […]
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Today in the Petersburg Campaign: August 17, 1864
August 17, 1864 Action at Winchester, VA, as Lieut. Gen. Jubal Early, CSA, attacks the rear guard of Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan, USA, whi is withdrawing toward Berryville, VA. Note: All “Today In The Petersburg Campaign” blog entries are used with permission from Ronald A. Mosocco’s Chronological Tracking of the American Civil War per the […]