Hiram Berdan

[tmh10]

The guiding force behind the creation of the two regiments of United States Sharpshooters was New York inventor and crack rifleman Hiram Berdan. For a decade and a half before the war he had been the acknowledged top marksman in the country, and his inventions included a musket ball and a repeating rifle.

In the summer and fall of 1861 he was involved in the recruiting of 18 companies, from eight states, which were formed into two regiments. His assignments included: colonel, 1st United States Sharpshooters (November 30, 1861); commanding 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac (February 19-March 1863); commanding 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac (March 13 - June 20, 1863); and commanding 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac (July 2-7, 1863).

His men, who had to pass rigorous marksmanship tests, were dressed in distinctive green uniforms and equipped with the most advanced longrange rifles equipped with telescopic sights. Even when assigned to a brigade, the regiments were usually detached for special assignments on the field of battle. They were frequently used for skirmish duty.

Berdan fought at the Seven Days and 2nd Bull Run. In 1865 he was awarded the brevets of brigadier and major general for Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, at each of which he led a brigade. He resigned on January 2, 1864. He was considered by many to be a crack marksman but unfit for a command. Berdan subsequently invented numerous engines of war. (Stevens, C.A., Berdan's United States Sharpshooters in the Army of the Potomac, 1861-1865)

Source: "Who Was Who In The Civil War" by Stewart Sifakis

 

[jgoodguy]

The guiding force behind the creation of the two regiments of United States Sharpshooters was New York inventor and crack rifleman Hiram Berdan. For a decade and a half before the war he had been the acknowledged top marksman in the country, and his inventions included a musket ball and a repeating rifle.

In the summer and fall of 1861 he was involved in the recruiting of 18 companies, from eight states, which were formed into two regiments. His assignments included: colonel, 1st United States Sharpshooters (November 30, 1861); commanding 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac (February 19-March 1863); commanding 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac (March 13 - June 20, 1863); and commanding 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac (July 2-7, 1863).

His men, who had to pass rigorous marksmanship tests, were dressed in distinctive green uniforms and equipped with the most advanced longrange rifles equipped with telescopic sights. Even when assigned to a brigade, the regiments were usually detached for special assignments on the field of battle. They were frequently used for skirmish duty.

Berdan fought at the Seven Days and 2nd Bull Run. In 1865 he was awarded the brevets of brigadier and major general for Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, at each of which he led a brigade. He resigned on January 2, 1864. He was considered by many to be a crack marksman but unfit for a command. Berdan subsequently invented numerous engines of war. (Stevens, C.A., Berdan's United States Sharpshooters in the Army of the Potomac, 1861-1865)

Source: "Who Was Who In The Civil War" by Stewart Sifakis

Centerfire primers

• 2.1 Berdan primer

Berdan primer

Berdan primers are named after their American inventor, Hiram Berdan of New York who invented his first variation of the Berdan primer and patented it on March 20, 1866, in U.S. Patent 53,388. A small copper cylinder formed the shell of the cartridge, and the primer cap was pressed into a recess in the outside of the closed end of the cartridge opposite the bullet. In the end of the cartridge beneath the primer cap was a small vent-hole, as well as a small teat-like projection or point (later to be known as an anvil) fashioned from the case, such that the firing pin could crush the primer against the anvil and ignite the propellant. This system worked well, allowing the option of installing a cap just before use of the propellant-loaded cartridge as well as permitting reloading the cartridge for reuse.

Difficulties arose in practice because pressing in the cap from the outside tended to cause a swelling of the copper cartridge shell, preventing reliable seating of the cartridge in the chamber of the firearm. Berdan's solution was to change to brass shells, and to further modify the process of installing the primer cap into the cartridge, as noted in his second Berdan Primer patent of September 29, 1869, in U.S. Patent 82,587. Berdan primers have remained essentially the same functionally to the present day.

Berdan primers are similar to the caps used in the caplock system, being small metal cups with pressure-sensitive explosive in them. Modern Berdan primers are pressed into the "primer pocket" of a Berdan-type cartridge case, where they fit slightly below flush with the base of the case. Inside the primer pocket is a small bump, the "anvil", that rests against the center of the cup, and two small holes (one on either side of the anvil) that allow flash from the primer to reach the interior of the case. Berdan cases are reusable, although the process is rather involved. The used primer must be removed, usually by hydraulic pressure or a pincer or lever that pulls the primer out of the bottom. A new primer is carefully seated against the anvil, and then powder and a bullet are added.

 

[Toccoa101506]

Thanks for sharing, Ted! I always enjoy reading about the USSS.

 

[Bob Owen]

 

[Bob Owen]

I have two sacred rifles in my collection. One is an actual Wilder Spencer and the other is an actual Berdan Sharps!