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Originally Posted by MS Fowler
Don't forget the Whitworths. There were 2 at gettysburg which fired a hexagonal "bolt" from the north end of Seminary Ridge ( by the present Peace Light) to union positions on Cemetery Ridge, a distance of about 2+ miles.
As for the tactics being outdated by the weapons--the soldiers figured it out before the generals. Its amazing what an imprevement the mine' ball was---A conical round that was of a smaller diameter than the bore, so it could be rammed down the barrel, but with a concave back, that expanded and filled the rifling grooves when fired and had tremendous range and accuracy.
They weren't stupid. But I believe that because they were recruited from towns, and placed in regimebnts by towns, soldiers could not run away. Those left would remember that _____ ran and brand him a coward. If that happened you couldn't go home, ever. So you stood in line, and probably peeed your pants and did your " duty".
Its the command and control of troops spread out over miles and miles of field and then commanded by generals who might intentionally mis-interpret your orders that mystifies me.
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When I was a kid I lived in Atlanta, GA. Our neighborhood occupied a steep hill that during the seige was known as "Chatham's Salient". We found all manner of rifle and musket projectiles.
Once I found one that was conical lead and had a tin transverse plate detached from teh base with a peg along the major axis (I wish I could draw it. If the description needs more explanation, I'll try). It looked like gas would push the base plate fowart forcing the peg into a cylindrical void in the projectile base, effectively forcing a gas seal between the projectile and the barrel.
We traded the artifacts like kids traded baseball cards. In the late 1950's you could go downtown in Atlanta to the antique stores and buy buckets of projectiles. Also bits of uniform hardware and various edged weapons. My older brother became suffiently knowledgeable at 14 that he had a job in a store specializing in edged weapons of the War Between the States. Kids, what do they know. huh?
I spent my time in Atlanta exploring the creeks and woods.
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