This had to be resolved in order for the sharpshooters to be able to function effectively in the field. The biggest problem, however, was that each gun required its own specialized ammunition as they were not of a uniform caliber. Some of the guns were mounted with large and delicate optical sights that made the guns even more awkward to carry on a march. Many of the guns were heavy barreled target guns weighing as much as 2-3 times as a standard musket. While initially he requested that his men provide their own target rifles, this soon became a significant problem. He also expected his men to be able to estimate distance, be able to make adjustments to their shots to compensate for shooting up of downhill (something many modern shooters still struggle with) and to be able to adequately compensate for wind as well. Berdan set relatively strict minimum standards for his marksmen, and to even be considered for a place in his organization a man had to be able to keep 10 shots in a 10” circle at 100 yards off-hand, and at 200 yards from a rest. In many ways, Berdan’s Sharpshooters, who would become the 1st & 2nd Regiments of US Volunteer Sharpshooters would be the first American use of organized “special forces” type regiments, and were in many ways the 19th century predecessors to the 20th century Army Rangers and Force-Recon Marine Scout-Snipers. During the summer of 1861, Berdan approached the War Department with the concept of recruiting a regiment of sharpshooters, men who were outstanding marksmen, who would be deployed as special purpose troops in the conflict. Berdan was also a target-shooting enthusiast, and when the Civil War broke out, he was the “top shot” in the United States and had been for well over a decade. Berdan was responsible for a number of inventions ranging from a machine to separate gold from ore, a mechanical bakery, artillery fuses, a submarine gun boat, a torpedo boat, the Berdan breechloading rifle and the Berdan centerfire primer, just to name a few of his innovations. A highly educated man, Berdan’s pre-war career was that of a mechanical engineer working in New York City. Hiram Berdan was born on Septemin Phelps, NY. The second most desired weapon, and the one that is much more reasonably acquired in terms of both availability and price is a Berdan Sharps one of the special order Sharps New Model 1859 Rifles issued to the 1st and 2nd US Volunteer Sharpshooters, better known as “Berdan’s Sharpshooters”, during the American Civil War.
For the collector of arms related to sharpshooting during the American Civil War, the ultimate acquisition is certainly an original Confederate Whitworth rifle, certainly the most iconic of long range rifles from the conflict.
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