- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
In April of 1862 the Confederate Congress passed an act to establish battalions of sharpshooters.
Section 1. the Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, that the Secretary of War may secure to be organized a battalion of sharpshooter for each brigade, consisting of not less that three nor more than six companies, to be composed of men selected from the brigade or otherwise, and armed with long range-range muskets or rifles, said companies to be organized and the commissioned officers therefore appointed by the President. by and with the advice , and consent of the Senate.
The Union seemed to prefer sharpshooter regiments or independent sharpshooter battalions. It would appear to me that the Confederates wanted the sharpshooter battalions to be controlled at brigade level. It would appear that this would have limited the training and tactical use of these sharpshooter battalions. Basically this act seems to be little more that allowing brigades to arm their best shots with long-range muskets or rifles. I have doubts that proper training would ever be given to these Confederate sharpshooter battalions and they would end up being little more than infantry battalions that were good shots.
Would anyone care to compare the Union sharpshooters and the Confederate sharpshooters in regard to training, tactics and employment?
Section 1. the Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, that the Secretary of War may secure to be organized a battalion of sharpshooter for each brigade, consisting of not less that three nor more than six companies, to be composed of men selected from the brigade or otherwise, and armed with long range-range muskets or rifles, said companies to be organized and the commissioned officers therefore appointed by the President. by and with the advice , and consent of the Senate.
The Union seemed to prefer sharpshooter regiments or independent sharpshooter battalions. It would appear to me that the Confederates wanted the sharpshooter battalions to be controlled at brigade level. It would appear that this would have limited the training and tactical use of these sharpshooter battalions. Basically this act seems to be little more that allowing brigades to arm their best shots with long-range muskets or rifles. I have doubts that proper training would ever be given to these Confederate sharpshooter battalions and they would end up being little more than infantry battalions that were good shots.
Would anyone care to compare the Union sharpshooters and the Confederate sharpshooters in regard to training, tactics and employment?