The Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle was the first rifled firearm issued to every soldier in the British Army, and gave the infantry a revolutionary increase in firepower. First issued in 1853, the Enfield proved itself worthy during both the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny, where its long range, durability, and interchangeable parts made it a perfect campaign rifle. However, it was during the American Civil War that the Enfield saw the greatest use, with over a million rifles being sold to the armies of both the North and South. This title takes an in-depth look at the design, the history, the mechanics, and the use of one of the most important firearms of the 19th century.

This monograph examines the specific markings found on British Pattern 1853 rifle-muskets and short rifle derivatives purchased by the Confederacy. Viewer (inspector) cartouches, supplier logos, property marks, and inventory control numbers used by the War Department and the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, and South Carolina are all covered. Specifics include: - Over 60 color photos of Confederate Enfields and related markings. - 32 color scans of significant purchase and shipping documents ? most published here for the first time. - Detailed information on the meaning and location of all known Confederate marks: JS-Anchor, Anchor-S, Circle-CH1, Oval-IC, Crown-SHC, Star-TC, furnishers? letters, inventory numbers, and GA, NC, & SC property marks. - New information on the state purchasing agents of GA, NC, LA, & SC. - Rare identified Enfield of a Confederate soldier killed in action at Gettysburg.

The Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket is one of the iconic weapons of the mid-19th century, used extensively in the American Civil War, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and other conflicts. While the history of the Enfield rifle is well known, it was the ammunition developed for this rifle that was truly revolutionary. Brett Gibbons traces the history of the muzzleloading cartridge used in the Enfield rifle from the early development of the Minié bullet in France, to the dramatic yet ultimately unsuccessful attempt by the Confederate States to adopt the Enfield cartridge for the Southern armies in the American Civil War. The role of the Enfield "greased cartridge" in the outbreak of the Indian Rebellion of 1857-1858 is carefully handled. Crossing several oceans and continents, from the sweltering heat of Central India in the summer of 1857 to the trenches of Petersburg in 1864, Brett Gibbons ties together the fascinating history of Enfield rifle-musket ammunition. Each development of the Enfield cartridge from 1853 to 1864 is covered, with over 60 helpful illustrations.

The Civil War's single-shot, muzzle-loading musket revolutionized warfare-or so we've been told for years. Noted historian Earl J. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 also presents the most complete discussion to date of the development of skirmishing and sniping in the Civil War. 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. Engagingly written and meticulously researched, his book will be of special interest to Civil War scholars, buffs, re-enactors, and gun enthusiasts alike.

"A great deal of time and study has been devoted to the task of acquiring a knowledge of our flintlock military arms, and much has been written on the subject ... In this compilation, the source used is the Official Chart issued from Springfield Armory, for as is well known, all such publications had to be approved by the officials of the War Department, and the model designations used on the chart must have had official sanction"--Introduction

The flintlock or firelock musket is one of the most iconic weapons in history: used on the battlefields of the English Civil War, it was then carried by both sides at Blenheim, Bunker Hill, Waterloo and the Alamo, and dominated warfare for more than 150 years, with military service as late as the American Civil War in the 1860s. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork, this engaging study examines the role that the flintlock played in close-order combat on European and other battlefields around the world. Employing first-hand accounts to show how tactical doctrines were successfully developed to overcome the weapon's inherent limitations, Stuart Reid offers a comprehensive analysis of the flintlock's lasting impact as the first truly universal soldier's weapon.

On the battlefields of the Crimean War, William Howard Russell described the new weapon in the hands of British troops -- the rifle-musket -- as "the Destroying Angel" that swept away their Russian foes. In a response to the popular belief among current historians that the rifle-musket's impact on military history was very limited, Brett Gibbons argues that the rifle-musket was in fact the first modern infantry weapon. Drawing upon a wealth of previously unidentified primary sources, Gibbons examines the rifle-musket and it's role in not just the American Civil War, but also the Crimean War, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and the Italian Wars of Unification. He compellingly demonstrates that the rifle-musket forever changed the way battles are fought, and just as importantly, revolutionized the way soldiers are trained. Gibbons considers a number of historical battles, from well-known actions like the "Thin Red Line" at the Battle of Balaclava to obscure yet ferocious actions during the Indian Rebellion, to illustrate the varying impact of the rifle-musket in both trained and untrained hands. Drawing upon his broad domain knowledge as an expert on 19th century arms and a U.S. Army Ordnance officer, Gibbons compellingly demonstrates that the rifle-musket deserves a better reputation than it currently has from military historians.