The Civil War\'s single-shot, muzzle-loading Musket revolutionized warfare-or so we\'ve been told for years.
Engagingly written and meticulously researched, his book will be of special interest to Civil War scholars, buffs, re-enactors, and gun enthusiasts alike..
Drawing upon the observations and reflections of the soldiers themselves, Hess offers the most compelling argument yet made regarding the actual use of the Rifle Musket and its influence on Civil War combat.
He also presents the most complete discussion to date of the development of skirmishing and sniping in the Civil War.
He notes that bullets fired from the new Musket followed a parabolic trajectory unlike those fired from smoothbores; at mid-range, those Rifle balls flew well above the enemy, creating two killing zones between which troops could operate untouched.
He argues further that its potential to alter battle line operations was virtually nullified by inadequate training, soldiers\' preference for short-range firing, and the difficulty of seeing the enemy at a distance.
Hess presents a completely new assessment of the Rifle musket, contending that its impact was much more limited than previously supposed and was confined primarily to marginal operations such as skirmishing and sniping.
Historians have also assumed that the weapon dramatically increased casualty rates, made decisive victories rare, and relegated cavalry and artillery to far lesser roles than they played in smoothbore battles.
Many contemporaries were impressed with the new weapon\'s increased range of 500 yards, compared to the smoothbore musket\'s range of 100 yards, and assumed that the Rifle was a major factor in prolonging the Civil War.
Hess forcefully challenges that claim, offering a new, clear-eyed, and convincing assessment of the Rifle musket\'s actual performance on the battlefield and its impact on the course of the Civil War.
Noted historian Earl J.
The Civil War\'s single-shot, muzzle-loading Musket revolutionized warfare-or so we\'ve been told for years
