I'm not going to source these remarks, though I might if this goes any further. I was reading that the .52 caliber Sharps could accommodate a bullet up to .535". In another location, I read that the standard .54 caliber bullet for Lorenz, Mississippi, etc., was .535". I thought that was interesting.

Second, I was curious where Forrest's command got Sharps rifles or carbines. In another reference, I read that they had captured a large number of Sharps rifles or carbines in January of 1864 at Lexington, Tennessee.

Now here's another question. It appears that Forrest is looking for bullets, not necessary Sharps cartridges. Were the Confederates able to provide nitrate paper cartridges for the Sharps guns? Or, did they have another method of loading the gun. I don't know if anyone has tried this, but I recall, when I was young that we sometimes would load a Burnside or other carbine, that normally required a cartridge, by pouring the black powder in the "block" and placing the bullet on top of it. Then you carefully close the block, place the percussion cap and "bang". It would not have been much of an improvement over the loading method of a muzzleloader, but it was possible. I wonder if the Confederate with Sharps guns used nitrate paper cartridges or loaded the guns the way I've just described?

Your comments are appreciated.

Jim