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Berdan Sharpshooters Skirmishing across an open
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ON Target - News from the Ranks
Rededication of the Vermont "Berdan" Sharpshooters monument
at Gettysburg... A Success!
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Reenactors
and B.S.P.A. members at the beginning of the rededication ceremony.
Thanks to the efforts of many this project is complete!
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EVENT IS A SUCCESS!
By BSPA Vice-President
Art Culp
On Friday Morning, April 27th,
my son Don and I left for Gettysburg. We were to be involved
with tours for Friends of the National Park Services, Gettysburg
members.
Early
Saturday morning we met with Mike Eastman, Co. C 2nd
Regt. and Doug Wicklund, staff member of NRA National Firearms Museum.
Our tour, one of 10, was “What is a Berdan Sharpshooter?”
Don was in overall control and spoke on history, formation of units,
uniform and accoutrements. Mike did the Sharps rifle, I the
Colt Revolving rifle, and Doug gave an outstanding history on the
Enfield Whitworth sniper rifle.
We then left via
bus, Mike giving an account of actions on Berdan’s movement to Pitzer’s
Woods. After this we traveled to Little Round Top, Mike again
accounting actions there. Thus ended the morning tour.
The afternoon tour was a repeat of the morning; however,
at Pitzer’s Woods, members of Co. C 2nd Regt. gave a
skirmish line firing demo. An additional feature was added,
a Confederate unit was doing a “living history” event at the same
time. They gave us a look at the formation used by the 33rd
Va. “Shenandoah Sharpshooters” in a firing demo.
Much thanks is to be given to Doug Wicklund,
Mike Eastman, Don Culp, and members of Co. C 2nd Regt.
Although not a Berdan member, Doug’s knowledge of firearms was greatly
enjoyed and appreciated.
The BSPA received a nice check from FNPG
for our presentation.
Below are copies of the April 2001 letter
from Friends and Thom’s response:
Dear Tom,
On
behalf of the Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg I want
to thank you and your fellow reenactors for a great job. I thank
you for all the time and energy you put on your presentation at
our annual meeting. Thanks for your support of the National Parks
at Gettysburg.
Sincerely,
Barbara Vossler
Chair events committee
From all of
us within the BSPA, I would like to return the thanks to the Friends
for their continued support of our cause. We are all working for
the same goal, to preserve our history. We certainly appreciate
all your efforts!
Sincerely,
Thom
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FROM THE EDITOR
Since our enlistment as BSPA editors has expired
and we opted not to reenlist as “Veteran Volunteers,” this edition shall
be the last presented by our hand.
We wish to take this opportunity to thank
everyone who submitted material for The Breechloader Report and
encourage all to continue to do so for future issues to:
BSPA
529 McGlaughlin Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
berdansbspa@blazenet.net
Research Corner
1st and 2nd
Regiment "Berdan" U.S. Sharpshooter Resources
Berdan's United States Sharpshooters
in the Army of the Potomac: by Capt. C.A. Stevens Morningside Books, Dayton, OH
Sharpshooter: Hiram Berdan
and his famous Sharpshooters and their Sharps Rifle: by Wiley Sword
Lincoln (RI): 1988
The Best the Union Could Muster:
The True Story of Berdan's U.S. Sharpshooters at the Battle of Gettysburg.
by Michael L. Fahle ,Greencoat Productions, Lindsey, OH
The Civil War Diary of Wyman
S. White: Butternut and Blue, 1991
Vermont Riflemen in the War
for the Union-A History of Company F: by William Y.W. Ripley Rutland:
Tuttle & Co. 1883. Reprinted by Grand Army Press, 1981
Civil War Chief of Sharpshooters
Hiram Berdan Military Commander and Firearms Inventor: by Roy M. Marcot
Northwood Heritage Press, 1989
Letters from a Sharpshooter:
The Civil War Letters of William B. Greene, Co. G, Berdan's Sharpshooters.
by William H. Hastings Belleville (WI): 1993.
More to come....
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