The Rifle Musket in Civil War Combat

摘要

In The Rifled Musket in Civil War Combat, Earl J. Hess sets out to reevaluate the role of the rifled musket in the Civil War. When rifled muskets were introduced, people were impressed with the new weapon's increased range compared to the smoothbore musket. As a consequence of this improved range, many historians have since assumed that the rifled musket dramatically increased casualty rates and made decisive victories difficult to achieve. Hess presents a different assessment, contending that its impact was limited and that its effectiveness at long ranges was marginal. He also argues that its long-range potential was negated by inadequate training and the difficulty of seeing the enemy at a distance.