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Sharps Rifle

(1850-1881)

The Sharps Rifle was one of the finest rifles ever built. It marked the beginning of a new trend in the field of rifles and the men who used them. The old-way of loading and firing a rifle was to load it from the muzzle; this weapon however could be loaded at the breach. This made for much faster loading and firing times. This also allowed a soldier to lie down or take cover while reloading.

The rifle was designed in 1848 and entered service in 1850. It held only one shot. It used a falling block action which used a metal breachblock that slides up and down in grooves cut into the breach which is controlled by a lever. Typically a soldier could fire between 8 and 10 shots per minute depending on his skill. Roughly 100,000 of them were built between 1850 and 1881 when it was finally retired from service.

Civil War Rifles

The weapon was popular on both sides. It was not widely used as a standard infantry weapon because the rifled muskets were much more widely available and easier to produce. The carbine was a shorter version of the regular rifle and was used primarily by cavalry troops on both sides. A Union cavarlyman fired the first shot during the battle of Gettysburg with this rifle.

He fired this shot at the very first Confederate troops to arrive in the vicinity of Gettysburg. The shot missed its target, but it was the first of thousands over the next three days of brutal fighting.

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Feb 19, 2010, Advertising Disclosure

Advertising Disclosure. This site is my personal site. It accepts advertising and other forms of compensation.

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Dec 5, 2009, Civil War, American Civil War, Reconstruction

The Civil War was a horrific four years for the nation. When it was over, more than 620,000 Americans had died from battle and war-related causes. American had fought against American and in some cases, brother had literally fought against brother.

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Nov 9, 2009, Brass Band, Civil War Music, Civil War Bands

The brass band of the Civil War played a very important role for both armies. They played at recruitment rallies and their music often helped to encourage young men to enlist.

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Nov 9, 2009, Civil War Ships, Civil War Marines, Hunley, Civil War Ironclad ships, USS Monitor

Civil War ships played an important role during the war, more important than most people think

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Nov 9, 2009, Blockade Runner, Civil War Blockade, Civil War Ships

A Blockade runner was a ship that attempted to get through the Union blockade of Southern waters during the Civil War. One of the main goals of the North against the South was to starve them and cut off supplies and transports to and from the South.

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Nov 9, 2009, Belle Isle Prison, Civil War Prison Camps, Civil War Prisoners

Belle Isle Prison is located west of Richmond Virginia. It is a small island located in the James River that was used as a Civil War Prison for captured Union soldiers.

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Nov 5, 2009, Sherman's March, March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea would set the south ablaze. The sea was the goal, the end result, for the Union leader. General Sherman was a rogue if only for a few months, the general of the Union army stationed in the heart of the Confederacy was on a rampage.

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