Scott,

Fogle's letters were never published, and are at Emory, as are the Thomas Michelle Carter letters, another member of the Columbus Guards from April '61 to April '62. You can email me for additional info on either of these collections.

I strongly doubt that any Kentucky Rifles were present among the 2nd Georgia at Sharpsburg. Most, probably all, of the enlisted men carried standard, nineteenth century, percussion cap, military issue muskets and rifle muskets.

Carter's parents managed to procure a Sharps rifle for him a few weeks before he left the company, but his is the only case of a really non standard long arm that I have documented. It also offered clear advantage on a WBTS battlefield, with a rate of fire superior to an Enfield. On the other hand, a .58 Enfield had the following advantages over a Kentucky, which typically fired a patched .45ish ball: similar or better accuracy, more knock down power, readily available ammo, faster reload, bayonet mount... I think it would have taken a truly desperate soldier to use a Kentucky in Sept 62, and victories Cedar Mountain, Manassas, and Harper's Ferry put Lee's army out of this category.

best regards,

Andrew Johnson
benningsbrigade@comcast.net