The Sharps rifle, invented in 1848, was one of the first breech-loading military weapons. It could be loaded much faster than a muzzle loader. And it was much more prone to effective use in the hands of an inexperienced -- and terrified --soldier. In order to load a muzzle-loading weapon, a soldier was required to pour a measured amount of gunpowder down the barrel of his gun and follow it with a lead ball. He then tamped the materials down with a ramrod, affixed a percussion cap to the hammer of the rifle, pulled the hammer back, and fired. This slow, complicated process proved particularly troublesome in the heat of battle. By contrast, the Sharps rifle allowed a soldier to insert a linen cartridge containing powder and a ball at the breech, or back end of the barrel. Percussion caps fed in automatically when he pulled back the hammer. Faster and more reliable, the Sharps rifle proved invaluable in the Civil War, although it saw limited use compared to more conventional muzzleloaders. Improved firearms and the carnage they inflicted would force a change in military tactics. Eventually, the traditional infantry charge would fall from favor. |
