Where can I find detailed info on battle tactics used by Confederate commanders (Specifically Rapley of "Rapley's Sharpshooters") without reading the two thousand books regarding the Civil War?
Oh, if only it was that simple. Doyle is right, to get an accurate and total picture, one must examine lots of material.
On this board and the Texas board, there are threads on the sharpshooter battalions formed in the spring of 1862 for Van Dorn's army. You can do a search on these boards for more information.
I think I recall that it was determined that these sharpshooter battalions evolved more into the role of skirmishers, whereas a few select marksmen were armed with specialized rifles [as Doyle pointed out] for more traditional sharpshooter duties.
Here are some extracts from those threads [arranged chronologically], some of which has already been posted, and some information I have collected.
“General Orders from A & IG C.S.A.” printed 1864
#34 May 3, 1862
Act to organize battalions of sharpshooters dated 4/21/62...one for each brigade of not less than 3 nor more than 6 companies of men selected from the brigade or otherwise....Long range muskets and rifles..Generals commanding departments can form them as they deem necessary. No more than one such battalion per brigade...must be of men from the same state....
Army of the West [Van Dorn] orders:
#97 May 24, 1862
Par XI-Each brigade commander will at once organize a company of selected sharpshooters to be attached to each battery and carefully drilled as skirmishers and armed with long range rifles.
Posted By: Bryan Howerton HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST,
June 14th, 1862. HEADQUARTERS 2d BRIGADE
#115 June 15, 1862
General and Special Orders for Maury Division
Aug 9, 1862 letter to “My Dear Ma Camp near Tupola Miss”
Spec Order #___ Aug 11
Date: Friday, 9 December 2005, at 3:01 p.m.
One of the more shadowy Arkansas organizations was Stirman's Arkansas Sharpshooters, which was built around the 1st Battalion Arkansas Cavalry and augmented by an unknown number of companies from other organizations. Many of us who have been trying to figure out this organization are pretty well convinced that Texans (and possibly Missourians) were part of the augmentation.
Well, a piece of the puzzle has been found. Here's an entry from the journal of the adjutant of the 9th Texas Cavalry:
June 1st, 1862—Make a pretty good march & camp at "Camp Ingram" & while here Reorganized the Brig (under Col Ross for the past few days) & it consists of 6th & 9th Tex Cav, 3rd Ark Cav & Stirman's Ark Batt. Cav & Brig Genl C. W. Phifer is in Command * * * During the course of our organization &c Co "H" is detached & attached to the Sharpshooters (Stirman's Batt.) & they are exempt from all duty & drills as Skirmishers.
I have a roster of Co. H, 9th Texas Cavalry, which I'll post if anyone is researching Stirman's Sharpshooters.
A minor find, but every little bit helps. I'm going to try to find out what I can about the 6th Texas Cavalry and see if they contributed a company to Stirman's Sharpshooters
Priceville, June 11, 1862.
General Orders, No. 39.
VII. In accordance with the law, a battalion of sharpshooters will at once be organized in each brigade of this Army. These battalions will made up of chosen men, all of whom must be able-bodied, active and good rifle shots and of tried courage. Volunteers from the companies now in the brigades of the Army of the West may be accepted for the battalion of sharpshooters, provided no company is thereby reduced below the legal minimum. The battalion may be filled up if necessary by recruits from those exempt from conscription, or by choice volunteers from the conscripts. All of the officers of the battalion will be carefully selected and thoroughly examined before being recommended to the President for promotion or appointment to the battalion. It is desired to bring the effective strength of each battalion up to seven hundred and fifty (750) rank and file, if possible, and no pains will be spared to make the battalions the elite of the Army of the West. An opportunity is therefore now afforded to young men of spirit to enroll themselves in a corps which is unquestionably to become the most distinguished in our Army. It is hoped and expected that no man will offer or be accepted into this select corps who is not resolved to lead in every daring enterprise which may be undertaken.
VIII. Brigade commanders will commence enrolling the sharpshooters at once. Every proper means will be taken to fill up the battalions as soon as possible. The men and officers of each company will be from the same State. The brigade ordnance officers will see that the sharpshooters are equipped with long range guns, and if possible, that the guns are of uniform caliber.
By order of Major-General Earl Van Dorn.
General Orders, No. __.
In accordance with General Orders, No. 34, War Department, Richmond, June 3d, 1862, and General Orders, No. 39, from General Maury’s Headquarters, there will at once be organized a Battalion of Skirmishers for this Brigade. These men will be detailed from the companies composing the different Regiments of this Brigade..............................................
By order of Tom P. Dockery, Colonel Commanding Brigade,
.....................
As it is at present impracticable to organize a battalion of sharpshooters for each brigade as contemplated in general order #34 from the War Dept., each division commander will designate one regiment from each brigade to act as sharpshooters. They will be particularly instructed and armed with long range arms..........
Spec Order #___ Aug 1, 1862
Par II Major Bridges Bn of Sharpshooters will at once be consolidated with Lt Col Stirman’s Bn of Ark [dismounted] Cavalry and the whole to be under Lt Col Stirman as the Regiment of Sharpshooters for Phifer’s brigade.
“....................My company is now in a Regt of Sharp Shooters. The old Battalion we were in, & Brooks’ [battalion]-which Dohoney will remember–having been consolidated and a Regt formed of the two
.........to be a review of the battalions of sharpshooters of the division..................