Download or read book Sharpshooters of the American Civil War 1861–65 written by Philip Katcher and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2002-10-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the American Civil War (1861-1865) broke out, both Confederate and Union experts decided that specialized sharpshooter units should be formed. These highly trained marksmen served in a front-line role and, due to the technological developments of the 1850s, were equipped with weapons that could guarantee greater accuracy over increased range than traditional muskets. This title examines the recruitment, training, tactics and deployment of sharpshooters from both sides of the conflict. It also takes a close look at the specialized personal weaponry of the sharpshooter, the rifle and its accoutrements, as well as the sharpshooters' unique insignia and identification patches.