Gettysburg Section Inside Civil Pages: 1 Gettysburg to 40 Gettysburg
42nd Annual Ohio Civil Continues MANSFIELD, Ohio—Guests were very pleased and commented about the many rare displays and memorabilia on display; “ I’ve never seen so many rifles and weapons at one show.” “It takes two days to see the entire show and I never want to miss any of the demonstrations and educational presentations.” “A quality show of this kind will entertain and educate interested history buffs about their passio and stimulate youngsters to lear more about our history and what happened during such difficult times.” The Annual Ohio Civil War and WWI & II Show is held at the Richland County Fairgrounds in Mansfield, Ohio, each year in May. Almost 4,000 visitors attended over the two days this year. Exhibitors were very happy to see so many guests; diehard history buffs were excited see rare memorabilia, weapons, books, prints, jewelry, and sutl materials, many of them unique
America’s Monthly New Show eep History Alive items in the educational displays The added outdoor attractions are definitely crowd pleasers and get lots of attention fro young and old. The Ohio Civil War Show offers these outdoor features to educate and entertain the visitors. Guests enjoyed period music by the Camp Chase Fife & Drum Corps, Abraham Lincoln presented the Gettysburg Address, members of the Society of Civil War Surgeons preformed a limb amputation on a wounded soldier, and the Brigade of th American Revolution, along with Confederate and Union Infantry, fired weapons and marched in line as the cannon roared. Specia Civil War and World War II Living History Encampments showed visitors how the soldiers lived and survived. A dream came to life 27 years ago when the show’s founder, Don Williams, decided to add the Artillery Show. The only show of its kind in the United States, it showcases artillery fi
pieces from the Revolutionary War through World War II. Visitors enjoyed seeing full-sca cannon, limbers, caissons, and a tillery shells along with an eig cannon firing line. Reenactors in full dress gave an impressive educational and entertaining pre sentation of artillery firing on line. The cannon fire could be heard miles away as the guns sen out flames and smoke billowed across the grounds with that unique burnt powder smell. In addition to celebrating th Civil War, the World War I & World War II exhibitors were added to the Show due to the greater interest in our history. German soldiers walked through the crowd answering questions from guests who wanted to learn and understand more about the “other side.” A rare encampment set-up within the large barn in conjunction with a separate WWII tent exhibit on the grounds showed complete living quarters, uniforms, weapons,
and ammunition. WWII GI’s and German soldiers blank fired various military weapons in demonstrations. The organization and personal attention to the Show comes from the Williams family who manage the many details. The Show is thriving after 42 years, all due to the family’s passion and dedication for keeping history alive. Donald B. Williams of Ashland, Ohio, started the Show with just 60 tables in 1978. Don had the passion to share his love of the Civil War and give history buffs and the interested gener al public an opportunity to learn more about wars the U.S. has fought. Today, his three children and their dedicated committee of family and close friends continue their Don’s tradition. They ar proud to say that respecting our history is simply how they were raised. The family hopes to continue the Show for many, many years to come.” Exhibitors were invite to participate in a display competition, in which 25 dealers showcased unique items with Inside this 2 – Black Powder, White Smoke 14 – Critic’s Corner 12 – Emerging Civil War 8 – Inspection, ARMS! 15 – Small Talk-Trivia 6 – The Source
their historical facts in disp We are excited to note that th award winners this year were women. The ladies definitely seized the opportunity to shar their knowledge in creatively displayed exhibits. Award winners this year included Elizabeth Topping for Best Educational with her photographic display “Mystic of Death.” James Brenner received Best Arms or Equipment for his display “Changing Of The Guard – Ohio Volunteer Militia and National Guard 1830– 1874.” Ken Knoll received Best Artillery for his display of a “Macon 10-Pounder Parrott #8.” Matt Switlik received Best Wor Wars for a great display entitled the “French 75 In America Service 1918.” Three different Judges Awards were presented; one went to Cathy Spencer for her presentation on the wrecke USS Shenandoah Rigid Airship “Lighter Than Air.” A second Judges Award went to Ingrid
H Ohio Show . . . . . . . . . . . see page ue: 4 – The Unfinished Fight 10 – This And That Gettysburg Section 26 – Through The Lens 34 – The Graphic War 38 – Book Reviews
Sharpshooters in the war’s final years, perhap While there are serious and le- the best known such units were gitimate disputed interpretations Colonel Hiram Berdan’s 1st and and reinterpretations of history, 2nd US Sharpshooter Regiments. the past, especially in the popular Initial admission into the regiview, has produced an overabun- ments involved competitive tardance of myths and near myths get shooting with heavy specialover the years, some based in du- ized rifles but, once in service plicity, but most in a simple lack Berdan’s men were largely reof understanding, There are prob- equipped with, initially, Colt r ably more of these errors in the volving rifles, and then Sharps field of firearms development and rifles, with a few telescopic si tactical use, usually disregarded ed target rifles in reserve for as being of less importance by in static situations. The famous academic historians, than other Winslow Homer painting and the topics. The Civil War concept of widely circulated print it gave what constituted a “sharpshoot- rise to tended to make the soldi er” is one for sure. portrayed a typical “sharpshootAlthough many people to- er.’ I always wondered how he day seem to view “sharpshoot- could reload that gun in the tre er” as a synonym for “sniper,” but then again that sort of thin that was not the case in 1861. my “thing.” Unfortunately, the term was often Although the US Sharpshooters randomly used by units hoping performed well, both regiments to elevate their military credibil- were mustered out of service ity. In truth, trained sharpshooters when their original enlistments could be considered the ultimate expired in August 1864 and the Civil War infantrymen, screen- following February. Recruits ing advances and withdrawals as with service time remaining were skirmishers. transferred to line outfits from Although the Army of Northern their respective states, taking Virginia developed some very ef- Sharps rifles with them. Sharps fective sharpshooter battalions rifles were scattered throughout
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the army in other units, usually for use in skirmishing. Berdan’s regiments were not the only Union units bearing the “Sharpshooter” title. The 66th Illinois, which performed so wel at Atlanta, began as “Birge’s Western Sharpshooters,” armed with civilian target rifles. By Atlanta their initial armament h been largely replaced by Henry repeating rifles, short range ra id fire arms. Most “Sharpshooter units found their target rifles largely unsuitable for combat. Several companies of Ohio sharpshooters recruited in 1862 were initially issued rifle-muskets, later replaced by Spencer rifles, which like the Henry, we more suited to skirmishing than long range work. The 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, recruited in 1862 and 1863, did not enter combat until 1864, when they were armed with standard rifle-muskets. The 1st suffered heavy casualties in Virginia fighting as line infant during 1864, but there is eviden that some Native Americans from the regiment would camouflage themselves with cut corn stalks and roam the lines seeking targe of opportunity. Although effectiveness varied arguably the best sharpshooter units by 1864 were those in the Army of Northern Virginia, where brigades were authorized to form three to five company sharpshooter battalions. After
testing all available arms, these battalions adopted the two-band .577 caliber muzzleloading Enfield rifle, as its five-groove fast twist rifling provided better long-range accuracy, and were also issued high quality British manufactured ammunition. They also received extensive marksmanship training and drill in small unit skirmish tactics, based on Confederate General Henry Heth’s manual, plagiarized from the British one. These sharpshooter battalions had specific tactical assignments whenever their brigades were in action—to aggressively lead in th advance and provide an effective rear guard in withdrawal. Each company in a sharpshooter battalion was issued one or two .451 caliber hexagonally bored fast twist Whitworth rifles. The British Whitworths, some of equipped with side mounted Davidson telescopic sights, weighed about the same as rifle muskets, and were far more portable than the heavy target rifles usually deployed by Federal snipers. Perhaps the most famous long- range kill of 1864 was credited to a Whitworth. On May 9, at Spotsylvania, Va., seconds after proclaiming “they couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance,” Union Major General John Sedgwick fell to a bullet fired from more than 600 yards away. That Sedgwick was singled out by the shooter is unlikely in the smoke and confusion of the battlefield as well as the distance o the shot. He had dismounted to assist an artillery battery positioning its guns, and the battery itself was the likely target. Stil his death graphically demonstrated the long-range effectiveness of the Whitworth. In the west, Confederate sharpshooter units, the best of them in General Patrick Cleburne’s Division, were armed with a mix of rifle muskets, Whitworths, and British-made .451 caliber Kerr rifles, as well as some heavy
Maj. Gen. John Sedgwick. (Library of Congress) barreled target rifles converted by the Atlanta arsenal to fire st dard rifle musket ammunition. Perhaps influenced by Cleburne’s interest in long range shooting, western Confederate sharpshooters seem to have concentrated on sniping more than skirmishing. Sharpshooters from Kentucky’s Orphan Brigade were instructed to never approach within 400 yards when engaging Federal artillery batteries with their Kerr rifles. The batteries were the ta gets, not individual soldiers.
Joseph G. Bilby received his BA and MA degrees in history from Seton Hall University and served as a lieutenant in the 1st Infantry Division in 1966–1967. H is Assistant Curator of the New Jersey National Guard and Militia Museum, a freelance writer and historical consultant and author or editor of 21 books and over 400 articles on N.J. and military history and firearms. He is also publications editor for the N.J. War 150 Committee and edited the award winning New Jersey Goes to War. His latest book, New Jersey: A Military History, was published by Westholme Publishing in 2017. He has received an award for contributions to Monmouth County (N.J.) history and an Award of Merit from the N.J. Historical Commission for contributions to the state’s military history. He can be contacted by email at
