Preview: Thunderbolt To The Rebels | The United States Sharpshooters In The Civil War

by
posted on July 12, 2025
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Thunderbolt To The Rebels book

While sharpshooting as a military practice goes back to the days of the American Revolution, during the Civil War, Hiram Berdan’s sharpshooters elevated the practice with updated techniques and, of course, then-modern firearms that outperformed the common muzzleloaders of the age.

In Thunderbolt To The Rebels: The United States Sharpshooters In The Civil War, author Darin Wipperman provides a tantalizing glimpse into the world of Berdan’s sharpshooters, with details that will be particularly interesting to firearm enthusiasts.

Wipperman outlines the initial issue of Colt revolving rifles to the sharpshooters and provides evidence of the men’s complaints about using such arms. Of course, later, the sharpshooters would be issued the famous Sharps rifle, and the prowess of these green-jacketed soldiers is outlined in vivid detail across 376 pages.

Suggested retail price for Thunderbolt To The Rebels: The United States Sharpshooters In The Civil War is $35. For more information, visit globepequot.com.

Latest

Smith & Wesson Night Guard revolvers
Smith & Wesson Night Guard revolvers

New for 2026: Smith & Wesson Night Guard Revolvers

Smith & Wesson brings back the Night Guard series of revolvers in .44 Special and .357 Magnum.

Battle On The Border: Pancho Villa’s Raid On America

In March 1916, Americans living in the quiet town of Columbus, N.M., suddenly found themselves attacked by Mexican bandits, and many citizens sought to arm themselves and fight back, both during the raid and afterward.

The Armed Citizen® Feb. 9, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Swiss Armed Forces Select SIG Sauer P320s

Swiss Armed Forces select a domestically sourced SIG Sauer P320 as standard issue.

Preview: Reptilia RECC-E Carbine Stock

Versatile and exceptionally lightweight, the polymer RECC-E SR-15/M4/AR-15 Carbine Stock from Reptilia provides a constant, uniform cheek weld across a generous range of settings for length-of-pull...

The MAT-49: France's Mid-20th Century SMG

After World War II, the French military was left with a hodgepodge of leftover submachine guns. After several years, the army consolidated on a standard service rifle, the MAS-49, and a standard submachine gun: the MAT-49.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.