Martin Pegler, prolific author and former Senior Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, has published a series of articles in American Rifleman on sniping and sharpshooting.
The first starts with the introduction of the rifle and goes into the early 19th Century.
The next one covers the period starting roughly with the Crimean War and going up to the American Civil War, when the rifle began to be widely used..
The current one, just posted on line, is about Sharpshooting North and South.
Capandball, whom we have met before, takes a detailed look at the Lorenz Rifle Musket, used extensively in the Civil War, especially by the Army of Tennessee.
He then discusses the tactics of the Austro-Prussian War, especially the 1866 battle of Königgrätz, which resulted in a decisive Austrian defeat. The Austrians used the Lorenz and outdated tactics, while the Prussians used the breech-loading Dreyse Needle Gun and looser skirmish tactics. Capandball discusses the tactics, the ammunition (and how to make it) and then goes to the range for a demo. Very comprehensive! (Hat tip to Joe Bilby)
UPDATE: I am happy to say that American Rifleman has posted Pegler’s latest article on line. This one is specifically on Civil War sharpshooters. The previous part of the post has been revised to reflect this.
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