Book Review - Sharpshooting Rifles of the The American Civil War
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- Last updated: 07/02/2018
The American Civil War was the first conflict where sharpshooters were specifically deployed, to act as snipers to target officers and messengers and this work contains all the weapons used for that role. It contains many incidents involving snipers and the effect they had on the battlefield, such as the shooting of the Union officer Major General John Sedgewick at the battle of Spotsylvania, whose last words before being killed were reported as being: ‘They couldn’t hit and elephant at this distance’! The list of high-ranking officers shot by sharpshooters on both sides is impressive.
For anyone interesting in the history of sniping, this is an absolute ‘must have’ book and a terrific read. It is also a title for enthusiasts of the American Civil War because of the sharpshooters’ contribution to a battle.
Martin Pegler Publisher: Osprey Publishing, Oxford
9781472815210 Price: £12.99