In May 1861, as the “Rebellion was heating up, the Burlington Daily Times of Burlington, Vermont, published some instructive information on military smal arms training. The article correc ly asserted that: “Proficiency in the use of the rifle can only be quired by systematic and diligent practice.” The paper went on to correctly note that such proficiency was “not ordinarily found in regiments raised in our great cities, with men who have never handled a gun.” The Daily Times praised recruits from rural areas (like Vermont), who “from the daily use of the rifle, knew its power” And were, therefore, “invincible.” To be kind, the paper overestimated the marksmanship skills of rural folks, but the writer re ized not only that the Union army needed to have marksmanship “schools of practice,” establishe but was well aware of the existence of such “schools of practice” established in the training curriculums of European armies. Cited were the French marksmanship schools at “Vincennes, Toulouse, St. Omer and Grenoble, where officers and men well instructed in the principles of fir are sent out into the army at lar and impart to it the same system and efficiency.” The British army had created a similar program. The writer went on to note the successful use of the rifle musket in various conflicts of the 1850s, including General
Sir Henry Havelock, “whose Enfield armed men mowed down whole columns of insurgents with Minie rifles” during the Sepoy Rebellion in India, and the French and Piedmontese armies that “wreaked dreadful havoc on the Austrians at Magenta and Solferino.” While the writer’s guess that the range of the rifle musket would make artillery obsolete would never prove correct, his encouragement of marksmanship training with the new weapons was correct, and largely ignored. Both armies apparently decided that there were other training priorities. There were exceptions during the conflict, most notably Confederate General Patrick Cleburne’s course of instruction for his men based on his own experience in the British army and the training of the Army of Northern Virginia’s special sharpshooter companies. The Army of the Potomac was less assiduous. Berdan’s Sharpshooter regiments depended on the skills acquired in prewar civilian competition, but in the wake of Gettysburg the army decided to implement marksmanship training, although it did no even begin to approach European standards. In spring 1864, all units were supposed to train thei members in shooting. The course involved bringing a regiment out to shoot at 50, 100, or 200 yards at a large target. Each man fired five to ten rounds. The lack of shooting skills ev idenced among soldiers during
the Civil War resulted in a serious reappraisal in the postwar
army, where marksmanship was stressed in the 1870s and 1880s. .50 caliber Nonsense
It seems that every time there is a mass shooting in some state, laws are proposed in other states particularly my New Jersey, to restrict legal gun ownership by the state’s governor and/or mem-
bers of the legislature. This is pecially true in an election year Of course, today, as always, this automatic response often has included legislation that has been
rejected in the past. This time around, New Jersey Governor Murphy has resurrected a plethora of these proposed laws, even though our current firearms regulations are some of the most restrictive in the United States. Murphy said at the time he endorsed the laws and that they were “perhaps the most sweeping gun violence prevention package in the history of our nation.” Do these laws prevent gun violence? Hardly. Most firearms, more than 80%, are handguns used in crimes and gang feuds in New Jersey. They are smuggled into the Garden State from states with minimal gun laws. Perhaps the most egregious of these proposed laws for black powder shooters and collectors is
The N-SSA is America’s oldest an sports organization. Competitors
original or approved reproductio muskets, carbines and revolvers breakable targets in a timed mat
Some units even compete with can and mortars. Each team represent specific Civil War regiment or u
wears the uniform they wore over years ago. Dedicated to preservi
history, period firearms competi the camaraderie of team sports w
the “50 Caliber Ban,” crafted by people who know next to nothing about firearms history and current historical marksmanship competitions, reenactments, or antique gun collecting. This leg islation was originally proposed back when heavy sniper type rifles were introduced by small manufacturers and chambered for the .50 caliber machine gun cartridge. To my knowledge, none of these bulky, heavy, and expensiv firearms has ever been used in a liquor store holdup, gang feud, lunatic murder rampage, or other crime. Although there may be a few legally purchased ones in our state, and I see no need to nalize law abiding shooters with such a ban. Having said that, the propose law could create a disaster in t historical firearms original and
at which guns might be impacted. Revolutionary War era orig-
are usually .69 or .75 caliber. Civil War and earlier rifles and muskets are .54, .58, and .69 ca iber; Spencer repeating rifles a carbines used in the War are .50 caliber, as are most carbines of the era. Post-Civil War breechloading metallic cartridge rifles and carbines were originall
ons. I have already written the governor’s office on this matter, and I suggest that everyon should do the same.
Joseph G. Bilby received his BA and MA degrees in history from Seton Hall University and served as a lieutenant in the 1 Infantry Division in 1966–1967. is Assistant Curator of the New Jersey National Guard and Milit Museum, a freelance writer and historical consultant and autho or editor of 21 books and over articles on N.J. and military h and firearms. He was also publications editor the N.J. Civil War 150 Committe and edited the award winning New Jersey Goes to War. His latest book, New Jersey: A Military History, was published Westholme Publishing in 2017. He has received an award for co tributions 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.
The world – Abraham by Joe Bordonaro President Lincoln was about the first part, b correct about the secon this famous phrase from nificent “Gettysburg Ad On Nov. 23, 2019, reena members of the general gathered in Gettysburg, to remember the actions soldiers and the Presid Remembrance Day 2019. Stafford County Sci Teacher Don Mullen, por
Members of the 14th Brooklyn ca years ago. The Sons of Union Veterans held their 62nd annual parade, featuring numerous Civi War reenactors. Members of reenacting groups commemorated the actions of various individu
and units by conducting marches and visiting monuments. A “Remembrance Illumination” of Gettysburg National Cemetery graves occurs each year, as wel Although the numbers of reenactors are down from its 2000 pea
when Wikipedia estimated there were about 50,000 Civil War reenactors; a still impressive nu ber showed up this year and kep the traditions alive. The accom
panying photos highlight some activities that took place.
