#civilwarguns

[picasoart]

Why well send those Johnny Rebs back across the river I tell you what #sketch #inkdrawing #soldier #soldierup #soldier65 #civilwar #sketching #blackandwhite #civilwarsoldier #civilwarera #civilwarart #civilwarguns #timeofwar #ink #artistsoninstagram #artist #artwork #inksketch #inkart #inkartwork #gelpen #gelpenart #artistofinstagram #artislife #sketchbook #gelpendrawing #gelpenartist #gelpendrawings #gelpensketch #lovepeaceanddirtyjeans https://www.instagram.com/p/CewUhjaOMNM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[historyinfullcolor]

Battery No. 4; Yorktown, VA; 13 inch mortars weighing 20,000 lb; May 1862

“I will take Yorktown, but it may be a slow process” – U.S. Gen. George McClellan

Officers of the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery are standing by their 8 ½ ton guns outside of Yorktown, Va.  As U.S. Gen. George McClellan prepared his attack, some of the soldiers passed the time by carving their names into the battery’s earthen walls.

In the spring of 1862, U.S. Gen George McClellan planned to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va. via the Peninsula.  The big roadblock would be the town of Yorktown.  

McClellan operated under the belief that the Confederates had a larger force protecting Yorktown.  Instead of a rapid attack, McClellan decided on a siege operation.  

McClellan selected May 4 to begin firing his mortars.  Before the fireworks began, the Confederate army quietly abandoned Yorktown.

A 13 Inch mortar could fire a shell weighing 200 pounds, a distance of 875 yards and land within 40 yards of the target.  With a maximum range of 2 ½ miles, these mortars provided great advantage when firing on earthen fortifications.

While small mortars where easy to transport, large ones like this, were difficult to move and required special railroad cars or ships to relocate them.  

Mortars remain in use today.  Most of the modern ones are 2-5 inches in diameter and can be carried by 1-2 soldiers.

[evandaire]

Had a rare occurrence today. Caught both a hangfire and a squib in the same video in a sharps rifle. Our best guess is the primers got wet or corroded somehow. Not a huge deal, but we couldn't shoot it for the rest of the day and will need more ammo. It is a good safety reminder to check the bore if you ever hear a strange sound after firing. #nopew #nopewpew #sharpsriflecompany #sharpsrifle #civilwar #civilwarreenactment #squib #hangfire #rtsp #rtsponline #pewpewlife #pewpewprofessional #2a #molonlabe #gunsdaily #curioandrelicfirearms #curioandrelic #civilwarguns (at New Jersey)

[evandaire]

A wee bit of civil war rifles I came across in Winchester. Up top we have the Spencer Carbine. Largely issued to Cavalry the spencer was the most produced repeating rifle of the war. 7 rounds are fed through the back of the stock, similar to the much later produced Remington .22lr Nylon 66. After a shot is fired the hammer is half cocked, the lever is run to load the next cartridge and then the hammer is fully cocked and it is now ready to be fired. I’d imagine in a fight soldiers would just go straight to full cock to skip a step and shoot a little faster. I’ve actually had the pleasure of shooting one of these a year ago. They shoot well, but definitely get wildly outshot by 1860 Henry’s in terms rapidity of fire as the Henry cocks the hammer automatically as you work the lever. Below that is the Sharps rifle. The sharps is a single shot breachloader early versions were paper cartridge guns designed by Rolin White, who is more better known for his patent on bored through cylinders on revolvers that gave Smith And Wesson a monopoly on that technology for some time. The guns later received an upgrade to metallic cartridges in .45/70. This rifle was renowned for superb long range accuracy and is lovingly featured in Quigley Down Under in such a role. It’s final derivative was worked on by Hugo Borchardt, who would go on to invent the semi automatic handgun in the 1880s. These rifles can still be custom ordered today. Finally at the bottom we have an 1861 Bridesburg Musket. This is a more typical gun of the era. Muzzleloading, a mile long and percussion cap primed. We’ve actually had one of these at RTSP at one point which was awesome to handle. These super long guns were designed for the napoleonic warfare of the day. The length gives you extra length in bayonet fighting, in spear lines to combat cavalry charges, and to prevent the second line of infantry from shooting the first line in the back during formation fighting. The advent of the Minnie Ball more than tripled the ranges of the common soldiers arm of the day, which would quickly make many of those tactics obsolete. #pewpewlife #oldguns #civilwarguns #winchester — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2EKlv5o

[evandaire]

It's a Henry original! This one is in 44-40. I've always thought these were gorgeous rifles. #henry #henryrifles #henryrepeatingarms #4440 #leverguns #levergunsonly #civilwar #civilwarguns #pewpew #pewpewlife #pewpewphotography #pewpewprofessional #pewpewlifestyle #rtsp — view on Instagram http://ift.tt/2De3XKe