Sharpshooters of the American Civil War 1861-65
Warrior 59
By Philip Katcher
Colour Plates by Stephen Walsh
Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2002
ISBN 1-84176-463-9
64 pages, softbound
Reviewed by John Prigent
Here’s a good reference for anyone interested in the ACW, the first that I know of to deal exclusively with the sharpshooter units of both sides. These were not "sniper" regiments but trained skirmishers, though of course sniping came into their work when fortified towns were being besieged.
The book starts with a look at the rifle-armed marksmen of the War of Independence and their subsequent history until the 1st US Rifle Regiment fell prey to economies in 1814. When the ACW broke out Hiram Burden proposed a regiment of Sharpshooters, and commanded it after its approval. He doesn’t seem to have been a good commander, frequently finding excuses to go to the rear when under fire, though his recruitment and training methods look to have been effective. These are fully described, as are uniforms, weapons and campaign life, with many quotes from contemporary newspaper reports and soldiers’ letters home. The Confederate Sharpshooter units are just as fully treated, with just as many contemporary quotes.
Good colour plates show the men and their equipment, and illustrate the recruitment, traiiing and fighting. They’re backed up by a well-chosen selection of old photographs, engravings, and photographs of preserved rifles and equipment. The whole book is a mine of information!
Highly recommended.
