What Civil War books...

[spudee]

G'day all,

Gallipoli - a subject near and dear to all Aussies like myself. Both trench periscopes and periscope/rifle combinations were certainly used during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 by Australian troops. A quick check shows 2 photos at ps.71 & 76 of `Gallipoli - One Long Grave' part of a Time Life `Australians at War' series.

I wrote an article a few years back on Trooper William `Billy' Edward Sing, who served on Gallipoli as a sniper with the 5th Light Horse Regt. who were dismounted. Sing is officially creditted with 150 Turks but the unofficial tally is believed to be over 200. Billy used a standard issue .303 cal. Lee Enfield, with no `scope. He used an observor with a large naval telescope. Quite a man Billy, described as having a goatee beard and `a wicked looking man-killer'. His nickname was `The Murderer'. Many of his `kill's were at ranges of up to 1 mile - not bad without a `scope!

Anyway, not really for this forum but interesting nevertheless.

Regards from down under,

Spudee

[gary]

Shane - I read anywhere from 3-5 books a week so I can't remember titles either. C'est la vie!

Spudee - heard about Billy Sing. Care to trade articles? I did one on E. Brank who fought at New Orleans and dealt out death from afar. My article examines how he was able to do it despite the presence of 3/95 veterans.

Gary

[mfscw]

BRIAN, GARY/CA ARE EITHER OF THESE AVAILABLE FOR READING ONLINE?

[mfscw]

Some Of My Favorites:

Civil War Dictionary/ Marc Boatner 3rd ISBN 0-8129-1726-X
Landscape Turned Red/ Stephen W. Sears ISBN 0-89919-172-X
This Terrible Sound /Peter Cozzens ISBN 0-252-01703-X
Matthew Brady's Illustrated History of The Civil War /Benson J. Lossing
Brother Against Brother/ Time Life ISBN 0-13-921818-1
Battlefields Of The Civil War/ James W. Murfin ISBN0-517-623714
Embrace An Angey Wind/Wiley Sword ISBN 0-06-016301-1
Co. Aytch/Sam Watkins ISBN 1-916107-43-4
Illustrated History Of The Civil War {Echo's of Glory Series} 3 Vol. Set/ Time Life
ISBN 0-7370-3157-3
The Civil War /William C. Davis 3 Vol. Set ISBN1-84065-105-9
Civil War Battle Atlas/Time Life ISBN 0-7835-4895-8
Official Records Of The War Of The Rebellion /Guild Press Cd Rom
{or, The War Of Northern Aggression}

[gary]

Marc - mine isn't. It was published in the Aug. 2003 edition of Muzzle Blasts (National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association magazine) and reexamines an article of theirs that was originally published in 1941. I'd like to find a sniping website (though it may interest the Civil War buff, my book length project is aimed at the sniping/rifle shooting enthusiasts) that will post it but before I do, I'm going to check with the editor to ensure that I still have copyright protection.

[johan_steele]

hehehe Gary you ole dog you. I do believe I read your article this weekend while at my fathers house! Well done!

The book was on Gallipoli was "The Lighthorsemen" it detailed the actions of the Australian Lighthorse Regiments in Gallipoli and the campaigns in Palestine. I don't know the author... sorry about that. THere was something about a movie having been made about the Lighthorse regiments based partly on thye book. I can't say as I've ever seen such a film, it's probably a foreign film not available in the US.

"A rifleman goes to War" though about the First World War is one of the finest books on a marksman at war I have ever read. I wish I could recall the author.

I've added a new book to my reference shelf. "That Body of Brave Men" by Mark Johnson You don't find a much better text on the Regulars out west. It sits between Wiley's Life of Billy Yank & Life of Johhny Reb and Edwards Civil War Guns

[spudee]

G'day All,

For those who are interested, a copy of my article is at http://www.lighthorse.org.au/Pershist/billsing.htm which is in fact on an Aussie Lighthorse site. Would love to read your's Gary. How about adding it as an attachment to your next posting if that's possible.

An Aussie movie `The Lighthorsemen' was released in, I think, about 1990. Quite good and reasonably accurate. The movie climaxed with the mounted `charge' of the Lighthorse against the Turkish positions at Beersheba in what is now Palestine. The Lighthorse were actually mounted infantry and not strictly cavalry. But they charged waving their bayonets like sabres and were succesful in taking the Turkish positions. They galloped over about 3 miles, under fire all the way. Fortunately, the Turks forgot to keep adjusting their sights as the distance decreased and most shots went too high. It is often claimed this was the last mounted charge in history.

I had the honour of escorting to the local movie premier, one of the few survivors of the charge. A fine old man who I saw whince and start many times during the movie which he says was generally an accurate portrayal of the charge apart from the construction of the Turkish trenches. They were shown as being perfectly straight when in fact according to Doug, they were saw-toothed. Quite an experience.

Incidentally, the men who joined the Lighthorse during WW1 and who mostly served in Egypt and Palestine, were perfect for the job. Most were country boys, who had ridden, fired all kinds of firearms and tracked stock and critters, since they could walk! They were marvelous and rarely defeated even when faced with Turkish lancers who invariably turned tail when the LH scouts approached.

[gary]

Shane,

Glad you enjoyed the article. There were some errors that I caught but couldn't get corrected. I think the text is submitted to the printers about 6 months in advance. Got plenty of more stories but I am saving those for later. A very short one is due to come out in Nov. this year in Muzzle Blasts. It concerns the longest range kill with a roundball flintlock rifle.

Rifleman Went to War is by Capt. Herbert McBride. Singularly it's the finest account of sniping during WW I. Both Hesketh-Pritchard & Crum are good, but doesn't approach McBride for war in the trenches.

If you can find a pic of the periscope Springfield rifle used at Petersburg, please let me know. It would prove Wiley's assertion (unless it's a post-war fake).

Brian - The article is a bit long to type here at this forum. It's fills about three pages in the magazine. Got snail mail? We can swap autographed copies.

Gary


(Message edited by Gary on September 23, 2003)

[unionblue]

Brian,

Thank you for the link to the excellent article on Billy Sing. I very much enjoyed reading it, learning a few more facts about history I had no clue of before. Well done, by the way.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

Brian,
Very cool. I loved the movie when it came out but I haven't seen it in years. I liked Breaker Morrant as well. I love the Anzac's and think they were hard used by the UK. Yet even so, they stood up as good as any troops in any army from any country in any war. Hmmmmmmmm yeah...even the Confederates lol...like the south, they made excellent soldiers...high praise indeed.

YMOS
tommy