During the American Civil War, the Union and the Confederacy both fielded units of sharpshooters. Most were equipped with firearms no better than those of their infantry brethren and fought in a manner reminiscent of Napoleonic-era light infantry.
During sieges, sharpshooters could drive enemy signalmen from their towers, hampering communication. Siege warfare placed a premium on marksmanship and the sharpshooter became indispensable. Sharpshooters also became experts at raiding, especially for the Confederacy, and in one spectacular raid netted almost 250 prisoners. Union marksmen initially did not fare as well as their opponents, but when they became armed with more impressive weapons such as the Berdan Sharps rifle, they began to take the fight to the Confederates.
In this study, Gary Yee, an expert in firearms of the period, assesses the role played by sharpshooters in three bloody clashes at the height of the American Civil War – the battle of Fredericksburg, the siege of Vicksburg and the siege of Battery Wagner.
| Published | 27 Jun 2019 |
|---|---|
| Format | Paperback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 80 |
| ISBN | 9781472831859 |
| Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
| Dimensions | 248 x 184 mm |
| Series | Combat |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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