While browsing for information on early air guns, I came across some CWT posts from 2014 and earlier regarding the use of air rifles. I can't now find it, but one post included a quote from a Union(?) commander who remarked that the enemy's sharpshooters were using air rifles. I'm wondering if there might be any newer information available about the use of air rifles in the Civil War since those earlier threads/posts:
I'm also wondering if there were documented uses of other unusual and/or outdated weapons such as crossbows. Maybe another thread...
- If the use of air guns has bee verified, do we know if these were Girandoni rifles or something else?
- For how long were the Girandoni's manufactured? Wikipedia says that they were in service in Austria until about 1815, but it's not clear if they were manufactured all at one time, circa 1780, or if there was a prolonged production period. (Alliteration unintended.)
- How many were in use and by whom?
I'm also wondering if there were documented uses of other unusual and/or outdated weapons such as crossbows. Maybe another thread...