Handguns Pistol training for cavalrymen?

[Dan Kohli]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry That sounds interesting, what are your sources of this information?

 

[Story]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry That sounds interesting, what are your sources of this information?

He cited the 'Cavalry Journal' 1861 - perhaps an article reprinted post-war? I, too, would like to see scans of the original text. Pretty neat.

Journal of the U S Cavalry Association, sometimes called the "Cavalry Journal" and "Armored Cavalry Journal." Published quarterly it provides longer articles and reports on activities of the Cavalry and its equipment. 1888-1906 microfilm.

1812-1865 Service Records - Military Records - Genealogy - Archives - State Historical Society of North Dakota

Found this while noodling -

Originally titled "Cavalry Tactics", the first official manual written specifically for mounted troops (cavalry and dragoons) was approved by the Secretary of War, Joel R. Poinsett, in 1841 and published by the U.S. War Department, the forerunner of today's Department of Defense. In spite of the official title, the soldiers knew the manual as "Poinsett's Tactics." Modern Reenactors most often simply use the term "Poinsett's" when referring to the manual.

Today, Joel Roberts Poinsett is most remembered for his work as an accomplished amateur botanist. While serving as U.S. minister to Mexico in the late 1820s, Poinsett introduced the U.S. to a flower native to Mexico and Central America. The flower was later renamed the Poinsettia in his honor.

In November of 1861 the War Department approved a new cavalry tactics manual, written by then Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke (commander of the 2nd Dragoons/Cavalry and father-in-law of J.E.B. Stuart of Confederate cavalry fame). The timing of this new manual could not have been worse. The numbers of experienced cavalry officers were very small and they were in great demand to train the thousands of new volunteers recruited to fight the war. These experienced officers were all well trained in Poinsett's, and they were reluctant to change to the new "Cooke's Tactics" just as they were franticly working to train all those new troopers.

Drill — 2nd U.S. CAVALRY Co. A / 9th VA CAVALRY Co. D 1776 Virginia Light Horse

www.secondcavalry.net

 

[2nd Alabama Cavalry]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry That sounds interesting, what are your sources of this information?

Source one: The 1864 War Department U. S. Army Manual entitled, "Cavalry tactics in three parts; School of the Trooper, of the Platoon, of the Squadron, and the Evolutions of a Regiment." Specifically, from part 2 regarding the Mounted portion of the manual.

Source two: "MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND MILITIA OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES" by William Gilham (1862 Richmond). He goes into great detail regarding the use of the rifle, pistol and saber as instructed in the "School of the Trooper" portion of the book.

Both of the above referenced sources go much deeper into the shooting aspects of the mounted and dismounted cavalryman than what I shared.

Source three: Lt. Col. Josiah J. Pegues of the 2nd Alabama Cavalry Regiment. He wrote several newspaper articles after the war, and in 1903 he provided a great deal of information, regarding the history of the 2nd Alabama Cavalry, to the Alabama Department of History and Archives. He revealed a lot of information on numerous aspects of the regiments history to include how they were trained regarding their Camp of Instruction and the School of the Troop. He wrote a couple of times about the Ring Tournaments and how his troopers were trained using the same course regarding the use of the saber, pistol, rifle and shotgun.

To get more information on the Ring Tournament`s, I researched them to get much more detail in the lay out of the course and how the tournaments were conducted, and how the course was ran, before, during and after the ACW.

From 8-31 Mar 1865, Brig. General Samuel Wragg Ferguson, under whom the 2nd Alabama Cavalry was brigaded, camped with-in a mile of Ninety-Six, S.C. While there, to boost morale, Ferguson soon proposed a tournament of "cutting heads and taking off rings" (Ring Tournament and Coronation Ball), primarily a contest of sabers and pistols. He proposed this in an effort to try and remedy the low morale of his men, which had resulted in some desertions from several regiments of his command over the last month or so. This would be a contest which tested the skill, ability and horsemanship of his cavalrymen. With the winner being crowned champion and the remaining contestants would be able to attend a Grand Coronation Ball with some of the local ladies, to take everyone's mind off of the war for a bit. In addition to training the cavalrymen to fight from a mounted position by running the course associated with that of a "Ring tournament" in the "Camp of Instruction" and "School of the Trooper", it was also a way to create excitement and competition between the troopers in his command, sort of a distraction during the past month of downtime. According to Ferguson, the men took to the idea immediately and wanted the contest to be between the enlisted men and officers. So, Ferguson commenced drilling some of the officers of the command in preparation of the upcoming tournament as he did not want them to be at a disadvantage to the enlisted men, as there would be a lot of pride and bragging rights involved for the winner of the tournament. However, on the night of 31 Mar 1865, Ferguson received an urgent message from General P.G.T. Beauregard to break camp and rendezvous with he and President Jefferson Davis at Greensboro, N.C. ASAP! Ferguson`s Cavalry Brigade had been selected to make up a part of President Jefferson Davis` personal escort and bodyguard, from North Carolina into Georgia, during his flight from justice in the final weeks and days of the war. So, needless to say the tournament was cancelled.

 

[2nd Alabama Cavalry]

4. What would be the effective pistol range against a moving target while dismounted? The effective range with a pistol while on a horse?

To further expound on the pistol, the following comes from pages 215-216 of the 1864 War Department U. S. Army Manual entitled, "Cavalry tactics in three parts; School of the Trooper, of the Platoon, of the Squadron, and the Evolutions of a Regiment."

"For the target practice on horseback, the target should be 8 feet high and 3 feet broad, the proportions of a man mounted. At 5 feet of its height, it is marked with a black band 3 inches wide. This band is struck when the pieces (weapons) are properly aimed. The troopers are formed in one rank, 300 paces from and opposite the target. A stake is planted in the direction from the squad to the target, to indicate the distance from which the troopers are to fire. The carbine is first fired at 50 paces, and the pistol at 10. As the troopers become more habituated to the target practice the stake is progressively removed from the target, until at the distance of 100 paces for the carbine and 30 for the pistol. ...After the troopers have been exercised in firing the pistol at the halt (mounted), the instructor gives them the following instructions: to fire the pistol on marching, the trooper should not halt, neither change the direction or gait. To fire to the front, the trooper designated leaves the rank, draws the pistol and cocks it. Having arrived abreast of the point from which he is to fire, he aims, fires, and marches on a few steps, turns about, and places himself on the left of the rank, at the same time loading his pistol. To fire to the right or to the left, the trooper executes the 3rd or 2nd movement indicated for the carbine, except that he does not halt, neither faces the target, but fires without changing his direction. To fire to the rear, the trooper designated leaves the ranks, draws the pistol, cocks it, and marches towards the target, so as to leave it a little on his right; having arrived at his proper distance, he turns around and when he finds himself between the target and the rank, he aims, fires to the rear at the target, and returns, in loading his pistol, placing himself on the left of the rank. These movements being executed correctly at the walk, are repeated at the trot and at the gallop."

So basically, starting from 300 paces, as the trooper would near the target, at a distance of 100-50 paces from the target a carbine would be used, then at a distance of 30-10 paces a pistol would be used. The shot gun would be used at or a little beyond the pistol range. All of the cavalry troopers were trained to fire at a halt, at the walk, at the trot and at the gallop, all four of the horses gaits.

 

[Story]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry
You should take your initial work here and submit it as an article to one of the period firearm publications.

 

[CavRTO]

During the "Camp of Instruction" and "School of the Troop", most who joined in 1861-1862 were trained in how to shoot mounted and dismounted regarding cavalry troopers. Included in this training was the firing of pistols, rifles and shotguns as well as the use of the sword. The course which was ran was the same as used in "Ring Tournament`s;" which was also known as, 'Cutting heads and taking off rings'.

The training was performed by both U.S and C.S. cavalries in their respective "Camps of Instruction," to demonstrate skill and ability with the above-mentioned weapons, as well as show exceptional horsemanship which is found in the U.S. Cavalry Journal during the American Civil War.

Regarding the saber, the cavalry trooper`s running the course would mount their horses, equipped with a cavalry saddle, bridle and housings. The course to be run was 125 yards from the first to the last post. The maximum time allowed was 11 seconds. The first post, six and one-half feet in height, was to the right of the track and was surmounted by a leather head which was placed on a peg of white pine three inches in length and one-half inch in thickness. This post was to be passed with the "right cut", and the peculiarity of the system rested in the fact that nothing counted except for a clean horizontal sweep which should sever the peg itself - a whack on the leather head was as good as a miss. Twenty-five yards from the first post was the second, which was high enough to support a horizontal arm over the track from which arm there depended a hook wire on which hung a three-inch ring to be taken at "quarte point". The third post, twenty-five yards farther on, on the left of the track, supported head and peg like the first and was to be taken at "left cut". The fourth, another ring post, twenty-five yards farther on the right of the track, the ring to be taken at "tierce point" and finally twenty-five yards still farther and making the total of 125 yards of the course, the low head post on the right, the head to be taken at "right cut against Infantry".

In order to be able to make these various cuts and thrusts inside the allotted eleven seconds the cavalry trooper would be compelled to keep his sword arm in pretty constant motion. At the sound of the bugle the horseman had to move out at a walk with "Saber at a carry"; take the gallop on reaching track; assume the position of "guard", then as he approached the first post take the first position of "right cut", make a sweeping horizontal cut, returning by the "half Moulinet" over the head to the position of "guard"; then the first motion of "quarte point" when nearing the ring, make the thrust, returning to the position of "guard" after discharging the ring. Before reaching the second head post he had to take the first position of "left cut", make a sweeping horizontal cut to the left, returning to the "guard" over the head by the "half Moulinet" as before, then the first motion of "tierce point", then the full thrust to the front and discharge the ring by the upper swing of the saber, then resume the "guard"; then the first motion of "right cut" against infantry, and the cut at the head, again the position of "guard" and finally "carry saber" after he cleared the track.

The four basic horse gaits which had to be learned during the "Camp of Instruction" and later mastered during the "School of the Troop" were: the "walk", "trot", "canter" and "gallop". All horses move naturally with these four basic gaits: the four-beat "walk", which averages 4 miles per hour; the two-beat "trot", which averages 8 to 12 miles per hour; the leaping gaits known as the "canter", being a three-beat gait that is 12 to 15 miles per hour; and the "gallop", a four-beat movement, which averages 25 to 30 miles per hour. Sometimes they would add leather heads laying on the ground to replicate fallen infantrymen where they would have to lean down from the saddle and take the head with their sabers at a fast gallop to ensure the kill. They called this "running at the heads (ball) upon the ground".

They ran the same course shooting into the leather heads with pistols, rifles and shotguns from a full gallop, in addition to leaping over rails and ditches. They would be required to shoot in all directions at a full run with accuracy, directly in front, to the sides and behind them as they rode from a mounted position. Shooting at heads on posts to the front and behind the rider on both sides. The cavalry trooper learned to be proficient with firearms on horseback from a stand, a walk, a trot, a slow gallop, a fast gallop, a half charge and a full charge with accuracy shooting to the left and right in front and in back in every direction. As well as shooting his weapon while leaping a bar (downed tree) and leaping a ditch. The cavalry trooper learned proficiency with the rifle and shotgun from a dismounted position in addition to his pistols, and saber from that position in like manner.

Those who enlisted and joined a cavalry outfit in the field, later in the war, were not able to attend a "Camp of Instruction" or a "School of troop" and had to learn those very important lessons as they served and fought and by listening to the veterans.

The U.S. 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Ft. Irwin, California), has a demonstration horse mounted unit which puts on a display of the same mounted saber course.

 

[thomas aagaard]

But what is your evidence that the live fire training described in the drillbooks was actually carried out across the cavalry of both armies?
It certainly was not the case for infantry.

 

[2nd Alabama Cavalry]

But what is your evidence that the live fire training described in the drillbooks was actually carried out across the cavalry of both armies?
It certainly was not the case for infantry.

There is no way to know exactly what each and every cavalry company, regiment, brigade, division and corps did regarding their live fire training exercises and target practice, if any. According to the manuals of the period from the War Department, that is how they were supposed to train. But as I stated in my initial post on this subject matter, for those who enlisted later in the war, and did not train in a Camp of Instruction or School of the Trooper, they more than likely did not have the opportunity to receive or partake in this type of training, at least as extensively. Simply because they were thrust right into the fighting once they joined their unit in the field. So, they had to learn as they went regarding many things from the Officers, NCO`s and veterans, to include the plethora of bugle calls which also had to be learned for battle. At the very least these manuals from the period allow us to know what was "expected" regarding their training. Having said this, I served as a U.S. Army Paratrooper, but I did not go through every aspect of the training which was meticulously detailed and outlined in the manuals when I received all of my training, nor did anyone else. I am sure that quite a few things may have been glossed over or completely skipped, which was up to the discretion of the instructor(s) and their superior officers. However, in a cavalry unit fighting mounted, as they effectively utilized their weapons, is key to fulfilling their combative role and designation, so I am sure that during the ACW, as many cavalry troopers as possible received the training and practice as was outlined in the manuals, understanding that there were some who did not.

 

[Dan Kohli]

I would suspect that the cavalry would have the same issues with target practice (or the lack there of). Also in "Volunteer Cavalry - Lessons of the Decade" (I forget who wrote it) it is mentioned that troopers were ill trained as far as saber training.

 

[thomas aagaard]

There is no way to know exactly what each and every cavalry company, regiment, brigade, division and corps did regarding their live fire training exercises and target practice, if any. According to the manuals of the period from the War Department, that is how they were supposed to train. But as I stated in my initial post on this subject matter, for those who enlisted later in the war, and did not train in a Camp of Instruction or School of the Trooper, they more than likely did not have the opportunity to receive or partake in this type of training, at least as extensively. Simply because they were thrust right into the fighting once they joined their unit in the field. So, they had to learn as they went regarding many things from the Officers, NCO`s and veterans, to include the plethora of bugle calls which also had to be learned for battle. At the very least these manuals from the period allow us to know what was "expected" regarding their training. Having said this, I served as a U.S. Army Paratrooper, but I did not go through every aspect of the training which was meticulously detailed and outlined in the manuals when I received all of my training, nor did anyone else. I am sure that quite a few things may have been glossed over or completely skipped, which was up to the discretion of the instructor(s) and their superior officers. However, in a cavalry unit fighting mounted, as they effectively utilized their weapons, is key to fulfilling their combative role and designation, so I am sure that during the ACW, as many cavalry troopers as possible received the training and practice as was outlined in the manuals, understanding that there were some who did not.

When it come to training in the use of firearms (other than dry drill), the norm for the infantry on both sides was that there was none.
Lack of cartridges, lack of focus and lack of knowledge because of a critical lack of professional officers and ncos who knew anything about marksmanship training.
and in many cases, especially for the csa cavalry, lack of arms.

In summer 63 we have Lee reminding everyone that guns actually need to be cleaned.
(after there had been complains of oversized bullets... the issue was badly maintained guns)

And in spring of 64 Meade had to order that every musket armed man be issued 10 rounds that he should fire under the personal. supervision of the company commanders. since it was well known than a lot of men had served for years and seen plenty of combat, without ever having managed to load and fire their gun at the enemy.

It is also well documented that federal units simply where not able to do a proper mounted "saber charge" until late in the war.
When the war broke out few new federal cavalry units was organized, because Scott had the opinion that it took 2-3 years to organize and train a cavalry regiment. We se the same in Europe where men doing their mandatory service had to serve a good deal longer if they served in the cavalry compared to the infantry.

But training is hard to do when actively fighting a war.

So I find it highly unlikely that the described firearms training was actually carried out in any wide manner with live firing.


Here is a short video abut the sabertraining in the federal army.. close to none existent (just like marksman training)

 

[2nd Alabama Cavalry]

When it come to training in the use of firearms (other than dry drill), the norm for the infantry on both sides was that there was none.

It is also well documented that federal units simply where not able to do a proper mounted "saber charge" until late in the war.
When the war broke out few new federal cavalry units was organized, because Scott had the opinion that it took 2-3 years to organize and train a cavalry regiment. We se the same in Europe where men doing their mandatory service had to serve a good deal longer if they served in the cavalry compared to the infantry.

But training is hard to do when actively fighting a war.

So I find it highly unlikely that the described firearms training was actually carried out in any wide manner with live firing.

There are many examples of both target practice being conducted and early saber charges being performed by both sides as early as 1861 until just before the close of the war in 1865. The Library of Congress, over the years, has digitized numerous period Newspapers spanning those years, which published articles between 1861-1865. Specifically, regarding target practice being taken with rifles, pistols and artillery by both armies. I just did a search on Newspapers.com regarding "Saber Charge" and "Target Practice" and came up with many more articles, from the period, reporting both events occurring between 1861-1865. So, to state that it did not happen, or rarely occurred is misleading. In saying this, I am not saying that it was uniform across both armies and happened everywhere and all the time, as a standard practice. I am only pointing out that it did happen far more than people are giving it credit for.

When actively campaigning, I am sure that they had neither the time nor the extra ammunition with which to target practice. However, during downtime in-between campaigns they did. I know that Ferguson`s cavalry brigade, under whom my ancestor served in the 2nd Alabama Cavalry, he stated that the troops under his command were drilling and training, to include taking target practice. He stated this in several of his daily reports, just after the Meridian Campaign and after Savannah fell among others. I would also like to point out that numerous men from the south grew up with guns in their hands and hunted with their fathers and grandfathers as young as 6 years of age. These men already knew how to shoot very well and were very familiar with guns long before they enlisted into the Confederate army to fight during the ACW. However, many in New York and other large cities in the north had never even held a gun much less fired one, with many of them having their first experience with a gun coming during the war.

Regarding saber charges, they were a part of the war from as early as August 1861 until 1865, being used by both armies. I found several Newspapers that ran articles reporting successful saber charges being performed by the Federal Army between August - November 1861, as well as Confederate saber charges. There were numerous saber charges reported in period papers from 1862-1865, again by both armies. Ferguson`s cavalry brigade was involved in slightly less than a dozen saber charges against Wilder`s Lightning Brigade and Minty`s Saber Brigade from May-Sep 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign. In his daily journal, as well as in some journals and letters written home by his men, they wrote numerous times of having to draw sabers and cut themselves out of a skirmish or a fight, in which they had no option but to draw their sabers or die. Ferguson was also engaged at Chunky Creek during the Meridian Campaign, where his horse was shot from underneath him, and he was wounded in the shoulder, this against Col. Edward Winslow`s cavalry during an ambush that went bad. This resulted in Ferguson and quite a few of his men being forced to fight dismounted, and once their weapons were depleted of ammunition, they drew swords and fought in numerous hand to hand affairs, until they could take to their mounts and begin to fall back, in what resulted in a running skirmish throughout the entire day. Ferguson made the entry in his journal that he had killed three men almost immediately upon hitting the ground, one being an officer, he used his sword and the butt of his pistol to kill the three, and to fight in much of the hand to hand affairs during that incident.

Regarding cavalry training, specifically the course which I outlined in my initial post to this OP, which was ran with the saber, rifle and pistol, I attach below an article from the 20 Feb 1861 issue of, "The Wilmington Daily Herald" of Wilmington, N.C. It stated that the cavalry training which many regular cavalry troopers had already adopted just weeks before Fort Sumter fell, was actually being utilized by the troopers and not just words lying dormant in an Army Manual. Below is that portion of the article:

 

[Story]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry

This is almost exactly, word-for-word, how I described the comparative training levels from a Yankee's perspective about five years ago. Stop thinking on my frequency!

I would also like to point out that numerous men from the south grew up with guns in their hands and hunted with their fathers and grandfathers as young as 6 years of age.

These men already knew how to shoot very well and were very familiar with guns long before they enlisted into the Confederate army to fight during the ACW.

However, many in New York and other large cities in the north had never even seen a gun much less fired one, with many of them having their first experience with a gun coming during the war.

 

[2nd Alabama Cavalry]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry

This is almost exactly, word-for-word, how I described the comparative training levels from a Yankee's perspective about five years ago. Stop thinking on my frequency!

I would also like to point out that numerous men from the south grew up with guns in their hands and hunted with their fathers and grandfathers as young as 6 years of age.

These men already knew how to shoot very well and were very familiar with guns long before they enlisted into the Confederate army to fight during the ACW.

However, many in New York and other large cities in the north had never even seen a gun much less fired one, with many of them having their first experience with a gun coming during the war.

LOL... Many in the south were already avid hunters long before the war began, having killed squirrels, rabbits, deer, turkey, and doves since their early childhood. It was common in the south to have shooting contests where beeves would be put up as the prize, awarded to the best shot. Many were shooting at a marksman level before puberty. Ferguson recorded in his daily journal and later in his memoirs where during the war he would go off and kill squirrels, rabbit and deer and then bring the meat back to share with his men, so that they would have fresh kill. He also went out and caught fish several times, stating that he and some of his officers caught upwards of 300 fish at one time. He stated that some were small, but others made a nice meal. He also spoke of going duck hunting on one occasion, killing three to bring back to his men. When he was attacked by a nest of hornets during the battle of Decatur, GA on 22 Jul 1864, as part of the Battle of Atlanta, he stated that he went flying off through the woods to try and get beyond them, but they were persistent, which resulted in him being knocked from his horse by the limb of a black oak, once he was able to get up he was confused as to where he was, but looked at the sun and credited his skills and experience as a hunter in quickly finding his direction and getting back to the fight.

 

[Cavalier]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry Fascinating stuff. Thanks

John

 

[thomas aagaard]

@2nd Alabama Cavalry

This is almost exactly, word-for-word, how I described the comparative training levels from a Yankee's perspective about five years ago. Stop thinking on my frequency!

I would also like to point out that numerous men from the south grew up with guns in their hands and hunted with their fathers and grandfathers as young as 6 years of age.

These men already knew how to shoot very well and were very familiar with guns long before they enlisted into the Confederate army to fight during the ACW.

However, many in New York and other large cities in the north had never even seen a gun much less fired one, with many of them having their first experience with a gun coming during the war.

Plenty of federal soldiers did not com from the big cities. The average soldier, north and south was a farmboy.
If anything this is more of a east/west difference than a north/south.

You also miss that many of the federal soldiers where not born in the US. So they where much more likely to have military experience (since most of Europe used some sort of system of mandatory service) than men born in the US.

And finally. using a smalbore rifle to hunt rabbits or a shotgun to shoot birds do not teach you how to hit an enemy infantry line at 200+yards with a military rifle in combat.
And it do not help solve the issue of wrong bullets for the sights, wrong powdercharge, sight not in yards, sight made to use different sight pictures and the list goes on.
The only time infantry armed with a riflemusket was actually using the correct cartridge for his gun, where csa soldiers with imported Enfield cartridge. Everyone else was using something that was not correct for the zeroing of their sights.
And in case of the Lorenz you where sure to miss if you set the sight at what you thought was the correct distance.
(since they where set in Austrian military steps and not yards.. something that was not common knowledge. as @Don Dixon have shown else where with his example of a Texas brigade that did not know and their ordonnance officer who did not know... despite it being his job to know. )

And Obviously exception would be experience with using shotguns. I do help a lot if you are a csa cavalryman armed with one...

 

[Cavalier]

I am certainly not as well read as many of you guys on here are, but I don't remember ever seeing a reference from a primary source alluding to adjusting the sights before firing while in battle. That has left me with the impression, perhaps incorrectly, that it was not a common practise.

During the course of my life, no doubt being overly enthusiastic in finding out about these kinds of things, I have asked guys that I thought I knew well enough, who were actually in wartime combat, or street cops who had participated in gun fights, if they ever actually aimed at someone before pulling the trigger. Only one stated he had. One remark that was almost universal among them was, in effect, "things are entirely different when someone is shooting back at you".

Just a couple of observations.

John

 

[Dan Kohli]

From the light research that I did it seems like target practice was there in theory but in practice almost nonexistent. I think it might be a combination of trying to get as much men in the field as fast as possible and the power's that be being cheap skates when it was concerned with ammunition prices.

 

[john alva'e]

Most Cavalry fought dismounted and were trained to do so.

 

[Old Soldier]

For those marksmen who are laughing at these stories and boast about their skills, fire a pistol with your OTHER hand - and see the results. The cavalry often wore a left hand holster in the right of the belt -(butt forwards) as they were encouraged to shoot LEFT handed. Why? Their sword, their principal weapon, was in the right hand. It did not need reloading. Yes. OK, the mounted infantry or 'rifle cavalry' differed, but they usually dismounted to fire.

The larger caliber pistols - 44s and 45s were perfectly capable of killing at 100 yards - the problem was the 'circle of error'. I suspect the 'hot shots' used heavier, longer barrel pistols too - near 8" - reasonably balanced and stable - with practice. Anything longer would be badly balanced and would need a shoulder stock (so much for the Buntline Specials!)

Grip/hold - At this time, the pistol was always to be fired by one hand, sometimes the LEFT, as the other hand would be holding a baton or blade. This was a holdover from muzzle-loading days when you only had one shot. However the real decider was TRAINING and PRACTICE. Another holdover was the practice of firing right handed with the hand turned to the left (fist). This was done to ensure ignition in FLINTLOCK pistols, but, like many other holds, old habits die hard.

Duelling also required a single hand hold with the body sideways on to the opponent. Many drawings of the time show a bent arm, not a straight one, but with the pistol at eye height!

Most uncomfortable (try it!) - and almost impossible to aim due to focus! Of course, it may be an 'artist's impression'. Note: no 'action' photos until 1900 at the earliest - all were posed.

The straight arm seems to have been used for the short-range encounter, with the eye well above the sights - 'pointing' - another holdover from smoothbore days when there were no sights as such. (another duel. Boston MA?)

The single-hand hold is still used for Target Competition shooting. Combat shooting is a totally different thing!

 

[Dan Kohli]

For those marksmen who are laughing at these stories and boast about their skills, fire a pistol with your OTHER hand - and see the results. The cavalry often wore a left hand holster in the right of the belt -(butt forwards) as they were encouraged to shoot LEFT handed. Why? Their sword, their principal weapon, was in the right hand. It did not need reloading. Yes. OK, the mounted infantry or 'rifle cavalry' differed, but they usually dismounted to fire.

The larger caliber pistols - 44s and 45s were perfectly capable of killing at 100 yards - the problem was the 'circle of error'. I suspect the 'hot shots' used heavier, longer barrel pistols too - near 8" - reasonably balanced and stable - with practice. Anything longer would be badly balanced and would need a shoulder stock (so much for the Buntline Specials!)

Grip/hold - At this time, the pistol was always to be fired by one hand, sometimes the LEFT, as the other hand would be holding a baton or blade. This was a holdover from muzzle-loading days when you only had one shot. However the real decider was TRAINING and PRACTICE. Another holdover was the practice of firing right handed with the hand turned to the left (fist). This was done to ensure ignition in FLINTLOCK pistols, but, like many other holds, old habits die hard.

Duelling also required a single hand hold with the body sideways on to the opponent. Many drawings of the time show a bent arm, not a straight one, but with the pistol at eye height!

View attachment 459667View attachment 459668
Most uncomfortable (try it!) - and almost impossible to aim due to focus! Of course, it may be an 'artist's impression'. Note: no 'action' photos until 1900 at the earliest - all were posed.

The straight arm seems to have been used for the short-range encounter, with the eye well above the sights - 'pointing' - another holdover from smoothbore days when there were no sights as such. (another duel. Boston MA?)

View attachment 459669

The single-hand hold is still used for Target Competition shooting. Combat shooting is a totally different thing!

Would you mind sharing your sources for troopers being trained to use the pistol with their left hand? In the manuals that I have read say to draw and fire the pistol with the right hand.