Berdan's Sharpshooters Artifacts at Gettysburg

[@proffzzix9139]

Interesting choice of colour for the uniform. In the British Army during the Napoleonic wars the Rifles wore Green and eventually led to the formation of the Green Jackets. These were the shock troops and marksmen and had the reputation in that whereas other regiments march at 120 paces/minute the Green Jackets marched at 140 paces/minute

[@77Cardinal]

I can't prove it but there is probably a sort of ironic connection. Worth a conversation anyway. Developing tactics due to weapons technology proved the value of specialized units of riflemen over time. I didn't know what you shared about the royal army but it makes sense. I would be easily convinced that an army which fought irregular troops in asymetrical conditions soon learned that old European customs didn't suit frontier brush wars. Perhaps even the experience of fighting special rifle companies in the American War of Independence brought that insight home. And yet, in the Civil War, America's small professional military were trying to catch up in modern tactics. So perhaps the irony could be that the US Army copied an example that the royal army had made standard after 100 years of colonial wars. My great grandfather served as 1st Sgt. in a rifle company in Wards Brigade. He noted when the sharpshooters went out, feeling certain his company had better be ready. I guess the sharpshooters were sure to stir up the hornets.

[@loupgarou1863]

I'm sorry they didn't mention the backpack that first appeared at 3.27. It's a hard pack made of calfskin with the fur left on. It was issued exclusively to the Sharpshooters and only when they were first formed. The majority of the soldiers lost their packs over time and either went to bedrolls or infantry packs. It's a nice piece of equipment that also had straps to lash the unique mess kit of the sharpshooters (and made by Tiffany's of New York).

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

I would think that the green frock coat would blend in to foliage more effectively than the union blue. If you are a sharpshooter that's a good thing.

[@KermitTheGamer21]

I remember playing the 1st Sharpshooters on Seminary Ridge in the History Channel Civil War game. It's clunky, but it's one of the few video games that can really show people how brutal and frantic Civil War fighting was, at least in smaller engagements.

[@greglaplante7593]

1st And 2nd fought in the civil war . Little round top , devils den , the wheat field, peach orchard at Gettysburg. My great uncle was with the 24th Georgia volunteers, They made it the furthest at picket’s charge.

[@jaysenkov1574]

glad that traitor died (:

[@granvillebarraclough8846]

To go off topic slightly - in WW2 British Officers were originally issued with a map board with a Perspex like cover that folded over the map to keep it dry. Then they realised that German snipers could identify officers by the reflection of the sun from the map cover.

[@Paul1970]

Wow. Really cool story behind that particular rifle!

[@christianpatriot7439]

One of my great-great-great grandfathers was in Battery D of the 10th North Carolina State Troops. This unit was at Gettysburg, although I don't know if my ancestor was with it at the time. The only reference I have ever found to what Battery D did at Gettysburg is that on day 2 the U.S. Sharpshooters use it for target practice.

[@bobseal1566]

Very interesting video with great artifacts! I knew the USSS's used rubber buttons on their uniforms but found it interesting that the buttons on the corporal's uniform included the letter "I" (designating infantry), which I believe were normally reserved for officers.

[@kennethswain6313]

Will you do more videos that feature the arms and materials used at Gettysburg? Oh and turn down the back ground music thanks

[@tomservo5347]

One soldier wrote about how he was always glad too see a sharpshooter killed regardless of which side. The average soldier felt that sharpshooters picking off individuals made no difference to the outcome of the war especially when a soldier was killed while answering a call of nature or simply trying to fill a canteen at a stream. They likened it to murder and often had swift justice for sharpshooters.

[@ginne7268]

Could it be that the difference of the belt of Gen. Ward has to do that in the photo he was a colonel ??????????

[@crippledcrow2384]

My 2X Great Grandfather was with the 11th Alabama, Co.B that was attacked by Berdan Sharpshooters

[@leroypuckett3441]

Wow this is a great video, I love the history, just great

[@slantsix6344]

Both sides had Sharpshooter units, but for the South, they had so few men that the sharpshooters fought as regular infantry regiments.

[@richardhyser666]

A Berdan rifle was very accurate 1 moa at 500 yards (5" groups possible). Manufactured in Britain and only available in the south. I believe that it was a hexagonal barrel with a 1 in 20 twist( one rotation for every20 inches of travel). Vernier sites. Southern Marksman with this weapon were deadly. Look this up it won't disappoint you.

[@timsterrett2417]

Anyone watching this should know what a Wentworth is,you would think,my friend owned one and shot it at the friendship nationals 500 yard target the rifle still beat the custom guns.

[@kanifalam7835]

It's actually a Whitworth rifle used by the south. Good video about it on forgotten weapons. Berdans sharpshooters used the Sharps rifle.

[@johncourtney5052]

Im especially interested in the rifle.

[@localkiwi9988]

Any gun collector would love to get hold of that Sharp's rifle.

[@greglaplante7593]

I have some army figures of the sharp shooters. Very cool . They was good but a lot was killed too.

[@markgatz6127]

That was very interesting and informative, but the background music made it difficult to hear the curators speaking about the Sharps rifle for example.

[@jimclarke1108]

The sharp shooters uniform are clearly dark green to blend in to the woods, (camo)

[@granvillebarraclough8846]

Yes - and the buttons darkened so as not to reflect sunlight .

[@cj_m2477]

I visited Gettysburg National Park in 1975. I’m hoping to get back there again.

[@Synthetic-Rabbit]

He's handling the hat at 6:20 without protective gloves on and in the next clip he has the gloves on. I wonder if he got in trouble for that..

[@domusdebellum3042]

he had gloves on before that scene too though. it was only when he was holding the hat did he not have gloves on.

[@Monkeywrench542]

I thought the whole video was supposed to be about Berdan's sharpshooters, not some other unit or general.

[@uriahjeremiah174]

instablaster

[@Beardblade]

Keep up the great work!

[@bobburro3642]

great programme, subbed

[@drkjk]

Interesting about unit heraldry, the red diamond would become the symbol of the 5th infantry division.

[@sonsofliberty3081]

The war department. That's what my uncle calls my aunt.

[@edlawson6161]

My third great grandfather was a Berdan Sharpshooter , is the number of his gun available ? Emery Munsell

[@charleschapman6810]

Try the Company Military Historiansand Collectors. TheirJournalgoesinto very finedetailwheretheinformation isavailable1

[@griff2712]

Forgive my ignorance but is the term 'sharpshooter' derived from the rifle? I'd always assumed it came from someone with a sharp aim.

[@Brainwashed101]

Indeed - "sharpshooter" was in usage in the English language since the turn of the 19th century (www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sha5.htm)

[@dukeman7595]

It did come from a man with a excellent ability to consecutively hit the center mass of a target at long ranges. So yes you are correct.

[@yowie12]

Great video. The music was distracting and unnecessary though.

[@leeroy4980]

Lose the background music please. Hard to make out what the experts are saying at times. A touch annoying. Good vid though

[@refugeeca]

I agree but I think it's more because the voice audio is a tad low

[@darentaim6763]

You and the ppl who liked your comment must be deaf af haha

[@derekstocker6661]

So very many of these great documentries are totally spoilt by inane ideas that we need to be reminded of military or other background sounds, we don't, this is serious history not an entertainment.

[@jeep146]

Is it a optical illusion or are the chevrons not even on the sleeves?

[@jeep146]

@Howie Felterbush At 8:51 it looks really screwed up. Must of had a blind tailor or wife. Must of gotten a promotion in the field.

[@marymoriarity2555]

Really enjoyed the video a d The information. However the music is annoying

[@SgtMjr]

Gun Jesus needs to do an episode on that Sharps rifle.

[@carlwilson5339]

Are Daniel Morgans sharpshooters the origin of start of these troops? Seems very familiar. Look up Saratoga, Daniel Morgan sniper

[@fhf794]

Why the reupload...?

[@Jay_Hall]

Nice way to drop the pistol on that hard metal surface!!

[@larskunoandersen282]

i am a gun nerd too.

[@JoeOvercoat]

Really need to change the title of this video.

[@philipoday]

I learned very little about what the subject stated is.

[@bntaft5133]

Cool

[@vincentgordon7021]

The Sharps rifle was ordered by Lincoln to be issued through out the army, but the war dept head thought it was to expensive and the ammo would be used so much. that he ignored the order.

[@charleschapman6810]

They also scuppered Lincioln'sideaofequippingthearmyeith thegatling gunshe'd boughtfrom theinventor, slthough inthat casethe problem was whatthearmycalls NDITO:"Not DesigedinThis Office."A concern with soldierswastingsammubition was the laterexcuseforleavingthearmywithout a semi-automatic shoulder weapon in WW1-andnotdevelopinga light automatic weapon until after the doughboy's miserableexperiencewiththe french Cauchat,which leaden timetothe Tommygun9stillmanufacturein Massachusetts)andthe Browning Automatic Riflewhich remained service until after the Korean ar-an automatic weapon that mayhavebeen tooaccurateforitspurpose,as it firedogs roundish a sktraightstream, rather than spreading them outing a cone which is more likelyto lowdown human wave attackers.Anyway, the M-60machinrgun becamethestandard light automatic weapon in each infantry swquadfor vietnam,usuallyat onepersqusd unlessthereweresomeexpert scroungersin thecompanyin which case there mightbemore,themen ofthe recoillessriflesformingnew machinrgun teamsto operstethem-andto staggeraboutundetheweightofthegunm its tripodanfgreat massesof beltammunition!The marines took their "ever Marinearifleman"slogan so seriously that their infantry companies Vietnam didwithouta heavtweaponsquadin each platoon ora heavtweaponsplatoonin esch company,givingthem rather lessfirepowerthantheirarmy equivalents1

[@jerseymike4135]

Rename this “The John Henry Hobart Brigade.” It has virtually nothing to do with Berdan’s sharpshooters.

[@projecttwentytwentyfiveisgreat]

I saw a ghost at Gettysburg.

[@charleschapman6810]

young hundredsofothers.Gettysburgisnotonly haunted, but its ghosts sometimesshowupin battlelineof battlewith colors flying and muffled drums!

[@MothaLuva]

Charles Chapman That are not ghosts. Those are reenactors.

[@fastsetinthewest]

Regards...

[@TheStapleGunKid]

The Sharps rifle should have been the standard issue rifle for the entire Union Army. If it had been, it would have shortened the war significantly.

[@speakdino10]

That rifle was too wildly expensive to be standard issue. In fact, the Springfield 1861 and 1863 model rifles which WERE standard issue gave the infantry more than enough range, and the latter rifles made reloading so fast, enemy charges could be reliably repulsed. However, this was an era when the US army was almost entirely made up of green recruits (unlike today where we maintain a professional military in excess of a million soldiers). These green recruits usually couldn't be counted on to properly aim their rifles, especially in the heat of battle, so emphasis was placed on fast reload times. This squandered the technological advantage of the Union early on in the war and well into the climax.

[@TheStapleGunKid]

@@speakdino10 The Sharps rifle didn't have less range then the muzzle loading Springfield. As for the concern about wasting ammo, the solution to that is to give soldiers better training, not inferior guns. The Sharps rifle didn't waste ammo, the Union's failure to mass produce it wasted lives. If the Sharps rifles had been standard issue it would have shortened the war by years.

[@bertcallais6984]

A little more fife. And a whole lot more cow bell please. I could still faintly hear people talking

[@larskunoandersen282]

Interessting that he didn´t carry a Remington 1858. but usually the officers bought their own gun. I would have chosen the Remington I think it is a better gun

[@Justin.Martyr]

*Just so long as you KiLLed a Lot of Con FEDS with it!!!!*

[@dattebayo10]

it is shaggy of scooby doo?

[@HDSME]

its called set trigger not the trigger then youn pull the hair

[@BaseK59]

The new park service museum at Gettysburg sucks! The old one was 100 times better.

[@matthewhaase2222]

We all know the BUCKTAILS where far superior...even though they took there sharps lol

[@keithfelts7081]

Lose the music and put your hands in your pockets.!!! THUMBS DOWN.

[@thehistoryhotspot7783]

I have never seen so much complaining in the comment section of a history video in my life.

[@Dive-Bar-Casanova]

Loose the music.

[@dokabenmonth]

Nah tighten it.

[@jeansalutz8422]

Too much fife music in the 'background'. I had to stop watching.

[@jpstenino]

Quit trying to be creative ...without the skill to edit properly your audio is horrible with the fife totally too loud.