The Rifle-Musket and the Battle of Gettysburg

Abstract

It has been claimed that the introduction of the 1861 Springfield .58 caliber rifle-musket in the American Civil War changed the nature of combat because of its increased range and accuracy. This study examines how the training and tactics used by the heavy infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg and topography determined if they could take advantage of the superior qualities of the rifle-musket. The study begins with comparing the rifle-musket and the replaced 1842, .68 caliber smoothbore. This comparison includes a comparison of aiming of method, a ballistics analysis, and an examination of the results of the 1860 field trails at the Washington Armory, which resulted in the decision to replace the smoothbore musket with the rifle-musket. The training and tactics employed by the heavy infantry are examined using the two Infantry training manuals used at the time of the battle. This includes the weapon's operation, including the steps to load and fire, the line of battle formations to be used, to determine if there were any significant changes to employee the benefits of the rifle-musket by the heavy infantry. After a summary of the Battle of Gettysburg, there is a detailed examination of when the heavy infantry began firing at the enemy with small arms. First, the topography of Gettysburg was examined firsthand. Then by examining the primary battle reports in The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 1889, and other sources, the range when the small arms fire begins was determined. The examination results show that the vast majority of engagements started at a distance of 200 yards or less. The 1860 field study showed that at 200 yards or less, the smoothbore musket firing buck and ball ammunition was superior to the rifle-musket.