Indianapolis --

Civil War Round Table

by

Gerald Jones
ICWRT

As America hurtled toward Civil War in Mid-summer 1861, an unusual recruiting practice was taking place. Recruiters attended long-range shooting matches seeking special men. Posters also called Marksmen to attend shooting trials. They were required to place 10 consecutive shots with less than a 5-inch span firing from a rest at 200 yards.
In a Military world of volley firing from groups of men in line at an enemy also in groups in line usually at short range, came a new idea. Soon to be Col. Hiram Berdan wanted to field a Regiment of Marksmen armed with Breech-loading very accurate rifles and heavy barreled scope mounted target rifles. His plan was to fire at long range with deadly accuracy to demoralize the enemy. This talk will explore this plan and it’s result.