Stopsign32v
Cadet
- Joined
- May 16, 2018
I had exactly Wednesday and Thursday morning only to dedicate to Gettysburg, my first ever trip here. I have watched a lot of Gettysburg videos in the past and I really enjoy Garry Adelman's videos. He's gone into The Horse Soldier many times and holy cow...As a firearms enthusiast, sword admirer, and history admirer, it was definitely a must stop. I looked it up once I got into town to only realize they were closed! I made sure I visited them Thursday once they opened at 11am and that place definitely did not disappoint. I will say that I quickly got overwhelmed by everything and all I could hear in my mind was a clock ticking down the time that I had to get on the road to driving the 9 hours home.
It wasn't the owner but it was an extremely nice knowledgeable man that was helping people as much as he could (They were busy!). While I was waiting to talk to him a random man just walked in with an old holster and a 1860 Colt
. I just laughed at myself in wow as this isn't something that happens down where I live.
So to wrap this thread up prior to going to Gettysburg I started researching a reproduction rifle that I really need to own. I do not own any muzzle loading rifles. I have a Sharps in 50/70 but that isn't really Civil War. Being from the South I feel obligated to represent my heritage and thus with my hastily research lead me to the "Enfield 2 band" which ended up being the Confederate Sharpshooter's choice of firearm. (I honestly didn't know there were Confederate Sharpshooters) Say no more, that is what I will end up with.
While in Gettysburg I came across a plaque that said at this spot Confederate Sharpshooters were firing onto the enemy.
At this point I'm really getting myself hyped up because I'm no longer just imagining it in my mind, I can see with my eyes what they were looking at. Now I had no idea what they were firing at but it was a start...
I knew before I left Gettysburg I had to have a spent bullet from a rifle as a souvenir. The Horse Soldier had a whole wall to choose from. I saw some that to me were extremely interesting as they had no lube grooves. Puzzled with how this worked, I really had no time to educate myself then. However they were rounds from a "Confederate Enfield" and they were found at Picket's Charge. "That's cool, I was there earlier and saw it". So I purchased the best example I could find. And here it is...
Driving home through Pennsylvania I researched the bullet style and how it worked. I learned what the Pritchett round was and how the paper was it's lube. I thought that was strange but apparently it worked. Next was locating a replicated mold so I could make my own bullets for my soon to have Enfield 2 band repro rifle. Houston we have a problem......They don't exist. Luckily by the time I was out of Virginia I had located someone that has made them and will make me a custom mold (NOT CHEAP).
After getting home I came across more information regarding Confederate Sharpshooters. I specifically came across this video here...
I had learned that the Confederates while a lot used the Enfield the English made Pritchett round was really saved for the Sharpshooters.
Light bulbs started going off for me! The Sharpshooters at the original red circle were shooting up at Cemetery Hill! That's where my bullet was found! The English made Pritchett round was saved for use by the Sharpshooters! That's what my bullet is!
So my theory is this bullet that I picked out, was fired by a Confederate Sharpshooter down by the Shriver house up on the Union Artillery sitting on top of Cemetery Hill and his bullet hit low and lodged into the soft ground, thus it's good condition.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, it really was a fun trip!
***If you don't agree with my theory and know more than me, please let me have my day and enjoy my theory***
It wasn't the owner but it was an extremely nice knowledgeable man that was helping people as much as he could (They were busy!). While I was waiting to talk to him a random man just walked in with an old holster and a 1860 Colt
. I just laughed at myself in wow as this isn't something that happens down where I live.So to wrap this thread up prior to going to Gettysburg I started researching a reproduction rifle that I really need to own. I do not own any muzzle loading rifles. I have a Sharps in 50/70 but that isn't really Civil War. Being from the South I feel obligated to represent my heritage and thus with my hastily research lead me to the "Enfield 2 band" which ended up being the Confederate Sharpshooter's choice of firearm. (I honestly didn't know there were Confederate Sharpshooters) Say no more, that is what I will end up with.
While in Gettysburg I came across a plaque that said at this spot Confederate Sharpshooters were firing onto the enemy.
At this point I'm really getting myself hyped up because I'm no longer just imagining it in my mind, I can see with my eyes what they were looking at. Now I had no idea what they were firing at but it was a start...
I knew before I left Gettysburg I had to have a spent bullet from a rifle as a souvenir. The Horse Soldier had a whole wall to choose from. I saw some that to me were extremely interesting as they had no lube grooves. Puzzled with how this worked, I really had no time to educate myself then. However they were rounds from a "Confederate Enfield" and they were found at Picket's Charge. "That's cool, I was there earlier and saw it". So I purchased the best example I could find. And here it is...
Driving home through Pennsylvania I researched the bullet style and how it worked. I learned what the Pritchett round was and how the paper was it's lube. I thought that was strange but apparently it worked. Next was locating a replicated mold so I could make my own bullets for my soon to have Enfield 2 band repro rifle. Houston we have a problem......They don't exist. Luckily by the time I was out of Virginia I had located someone that has made them and will make me a custom mold (NOT CHEAP).
After getting home I came across more information regarding Confederate Sharpshooters. I specifically came across this video here...
I had learned that the Confederates while a lot used the Enfield the English made Pritchett round was really saved for the Sharpshooters.
Light bulbs started going off for me! The Sharpshooters at the original red circle were shooting up at Cemetery Hill! That's where my bullet was found! The English made Pritchett round was saved for use by the Sharpshooters! That's what my bullet is!So my theory is this bullet that I picked out, was fired by a Confederate Sharpshooter down by the Shriver house up on the Union Artillery sitting on top of Cemetery Hill and his bullet hit low and lodged into the soft ground, thus it's good condition.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, it really was a fun trip!
***If you don't agree with my theory and know more than me, please let me have my day and enjoy my theory***
Bringing the