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Browsing named entities in a specific section of An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps.. Search the whole document.

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England (United Kingdom) (search for this): chapter 33
act, it is dangerous to use guns of our own manufacture, for, to my knowledge, many have exploded upon the first trial in the field, and others have been so inaccurate they were worse than useless. We succeeded in procuring some good ones from England, by vessels which ran the blockade; and the fact that our Government has not purchased European guns of any other manufacture, speaks well for British superiority in this respect. We have captured hundreds of excellent guns from the enemy, od disused. All that is required of a good gun can be realized by breech-loading, and, from experience, I can do more with such a weapon than any other. It occupies less room in working, and saves the men from unnecessary exposure and loss. In England, I know, the invention of Armstrong is patronized; they may have potent reasons for the preference, but our men prefer Whitworth's weapon. This was written long before Whitworth was patronized by the English Government. I agree with you e
Springfield, Mo. (Missouri, United States) (search for this): chapter 33
ttles, I saw a youth fix his ramrod to a tree, and endeavor to push the cartridge home in that way, for the musket was so dirty from use, that it was impossible to ram the load. Here was a situation for the boy to be in-ramrod bent, and the musket useless! Since the enemy have supplied us with arms, said another, we have had a good variety of weapons among us — the English Enfield rifle, by various makers; the old Harper's Ferry musket; the Harper's Ferry Minie musket; the new and old Springfield musket, rifled and smooth bore; and last of all, that heavy, unhandy, clumsily-made thing called the German or Belgian rifle, which carries a ball equal .to that of a young six-pounder. The Belgians or Germans, who use this weapon, must be hard, large-fisted fellows, used to playing with a pair of fifty-sixes; for it is certainly the most ungainly rifle mortal ever used; being furnished with a heavy oak stock, and trappings of iron and brass, sufficient to decorate a howitzer. Those I h
Austria (Austria) (search for this): chapter 33
of all, that heavy, unhandy, clumsily-made thing called the German or Belgian rifle, which carries a ball equal .to that of a young six-pounder. The Belgians or Germans, who use this weapon, must be hard, large-fisted fellows, used to playing with a pair of fifty-sixes; for it is certainly the most ungainly rifle mortal ever used; being furnished with a heavy oak stock, and trappings of iron and brass, sufficient to decorate a howitzer. Those I have seen apparently come from some part of Austria, judging by the name-plate. The Mississippi rifle is also too heavy, and carries a large ball; though good for its time, it is now superseded by lighter and more accurate weapons. Take a seat, Adjutant, said Robins, as Lieutenant Nixon entered the tent. We have ,been speaking of the different kinds. of weapons, and by general consent it seems breechloaders are preferred; what think you? I am a better judge of pens than rifles, perhaps, but many old wiseheads still seem to prefer
Manassas, Va. (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 33
ould have more than sufficed for three times the number of men in both armies. Virginia is the only place where fine water is abundant in the South, yet at Yorktown and other places the quality and supply were inferior. The same may be said of Manassas. Although Bull Run ran there, the men had an aversion to using that stream, except for washing purposes. How strange our generals never thought of digging wells! The bread question, said the doctor, is an all-important one; old troops r succeeded so well as their French neighbors. We excel both in that respect, and although not a nation of cooks, have done wonderfully well. Our generals did endeavor to erect large bakeries to supply the army, but they were too small, at Manassas and elsewhere. Those that could bake would not- they enlisted to shoulder a musket, they said, and could not be prevailed upon to try their hands at bread-making, though hundreds were professional bakers, and excellent workmen. The scarcity of
Virginia (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 33
r all around us, kept up roaring fires of logs. During the summer and fall, however, our hospital-lists were heavy with chills, fevers, rheumatism, and the like, but now we are thoroughly acclimated, and the hills, snows, cold winds, and mud of Virginia are as bearable and pleasant to the boys as their own sunny South, near the waters of the Gulf. Hera is Dr. Wilson, smoking at his ease. What have you to say regarding this matter, Doctor? No long, barbarous, four-footed professional terms, i Halleck, on the other hand, had not been in Corinth more than three days before he bored for water, and had many fine artesian and other wells in operation, which would have more than sufficed for three times the number of men in both armies. Virginia is the only place where fine water is abundant in the South, yet at Yorktown and other places the quality and supply were inferior. The same may be said of Manassas. Although Bull Run ran there, the men had an aversion to using that stream, ex
Dutch (West Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 33
light and heavy infantry and cavalry, their rifles, and every branch of the service well represented, each having its particular part to play in skirmish or battle; but owing to our hurry in forming the Southern army, and the continual succession of stirring events, we have but three classes-artillery, infantry, and cavalry-without further distinctions; and one regiment is considered as heavy as another if it musters only five hundred men. The enemy have splendid bands, for there are German, Dutch, Italians, and French in their ranks by tens of thousands. Not so with us. The ruling foreign element with us is Irish, and, although Irishmen are passionately fond of music, they still cling to the musket, and make music of their own in the hour of battle. I wish we had a hundred thousand of them; they make the best soldiers in the world. We have some good bands in the service, Major, though I confess but few of them. The Louisiana bands are occasionally good, and that of the First
Cockpit Point (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 33
f excellent guns from the enemy, of all which the Parrott is my favorite, being much lighter, more durable, stronger at the breech, of longer range, and safer to handle. The Parrott gun, you know, was invented by a Georgian, and patented before the war began; the enemy have extensively patronized the weapon. But of all guns, I most admire Whitworth's English breech-loading pieces. We had several of them during our blockade of the Lower Potomac in the winter months of 1861 and 1862, at Cockpit Point,. and other places, and their accuracy was amazing, while the unnecessary, unsightly, dangerous, and detestable ramrod business was entirely discarded, and the rapidity of fire greatly increased. It requires no great amount of scientific knowledge to see that the rammer and ramrod are totally behind the age, and should be discouraged and disused. All that is required of a good gun can be realized by breech-loading, and, from experience, I can do more with such a weapon than any other.
Richmond (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 33
service as Brevet Second Lieutenant of Infantry, July first, 1850; was Captain Seventh Infantry, March third, 1855; and appointed Captain Assistant Quartermaster, March eighth, 1858. This gentleman's labors are beyond all praise. When we were appointed to our several posts, what did these much-abused doctors find? Hundreds of sick, lying on the bare ground; no hospitals, but simple tents to withstand the weather; and oftentimes not a grain of medicine of any kind on hand, nearer than Richmond! And how stood matters in the capital? All in confusion, and short of supplies. In the hurry of the first months, hundreds of so-called doctors thronged the city in quest of preferment, and to my own knowledge — either from incapacity or carelessness — the heads of the Medical Department appointed scores of men who could scarcely write their own names, or tell the difference between salts and strychnine — impostors who brought disgrace upon an honorable profession, and were unfitted to a<
Whitworth (United Kingdom) (search for this): chapter 33
durable, stronger at the breech, of longer range, and safer to handle. The Parrott gun, you know, was invented by a Georgian, and patented before the war began; the enemy have extensively patronized the weapon. But of all guns, I most admire Whitworth's English breech-loading pieces. We had several of them during our blockade of the Lower Potomac in the winter months of 1861 and 1862, at Cockpit Point,. and other places, and their accuracy was amazing, while the unnecessary, unsightly, danga weapon than any other. It occupies less room in working, and saves the men from unnecessary exposure and loss. In England, I know, the invention of Armstrong is patronized; they may have potent reasons for the preference, but our men prefer Whitworth's weapon. This was written long before Whitworth was patronized by the English Government. I agree with you entirely, Robins, said the Major, in regard to the ramrod; I think it should be abolished. Half the men you see walking about to
Seven Pines (West Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 33
on to a dog! Yes, the doctor is right, said another; things are gradually improving, but the price of our experience has been awful; though nothing like the mortality among the enemy from similar causes — if that is any consolation. McClellan acknowledges to have lost nearly fifty thousand men during his stay on the peninsula, chiefly from sickness! Johnston always managed to keep him in some kind of swamp or mudhole, and when a certain person complained of his inactivity before Seven Pines, he answered: I am fighting, sir, every day! Is it nothing that I compel the enemy to inhabit the swamps, like frogs, and lessen their strength every hour, without firing a shot? That was all very well, but I am convinced if Lee had not taken the helm when he did, we might have been falling back towards the Gulf. I see there is some difference of opinion on this point, and therefore keep to the doctor's chain of thought. There is no doubt that good bread and pure water are the tw
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