With Thunderbolt to the Rebels: The United States Sharpshooters in the Civil War, author Darin Wipperman tackles the elite men who signed up to use their excellent marksman abilities to aid the Union. It is a pity that it seemed the army was not quite certain how to best use these soldiers, or rather did not utilise them properly, instead having them rush forward in several instances like regular soldiers rather than pepper the landscape and pick off Confederates as necessary. It was also sad to see so many dying from disease before ever meeting their intended foe.

For someone like me, I knew nothing of these men, from point of joining to the end of their service, or battles engaged. This book serves to give a complete rundown of the USSS, from the conception of the idea to the dismantling of their regiments just a few months before the end of the war. As a reader, I’m more interested in the human side, of the people who lived and died and what their lives were like before and after the war. The parts I enjoyed most, therefore, were when Wipperman included pictures of the men whose diary entries and letters he used, as well as at the end of the book in which it detailed the remainder of the lives of many who had survived the war. Others may enjoy the detailed descriptions of the various battles the USSS engaged in and how they helped to win the day (or, in many instances, rued the senselessness of their losses). The bibliography is extensive, and it is clearly well researched across various means and methods, like archives and ancestry.com to findagrave.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Any reader with an interest in the American Civil War will fund much to engage him/her in this detailed account of the United States Sharp Shooters. Providing a wealth of background collated from many sources the author sets out to explain how a group of marksmen were able to influence battles out of proportion to their numbers. From individual accounts and newspaper coverage the author is able to show how, in common with much of the organisation and logistics in the civil war years, the sharpshooters were most effective when led and deployed by officers who knew their business; they shared the problems of other formed units when this wasn’t the case and suffered as a result. Wipperman explains that, when deployed intelligently, particularly in skirmishing or when tasked to combat the destructive effect of enemy artillery, the sharpshooters were remarkably effective.
Always surprising in accounts of civil war casualties is just how many soldiers fell not to enemy cannon and bullets but to the ravages of poor hygiene and disease, and the author illustrates with relevant data how the sharpshooters suffered likewise in this way.
Other reviews have noted the difficulties all authors face when trying to incorporate the wealth of detail available across a range of sources. Wipperman is no exception to this rule and a truly exhaustive account is given of the daily life of the men of the USSS. On the other hand, the author takes care to provide a wider picture of the developments in the fortunes of the Union and Confederate forces. So, yes, it is detailed and some readers may tire of this level of detail, but it’s important to acknowledge that it all serves the purpose of painting a fuller picture of efforts of this small section of the Union forces.
Recommended.

This true account of the United States Sharp Shooters (USSS) during the Civil War is truly remarkable. The USSS, as the name implies, used the famous Sharps rifle that was a breech loader and high-quality manufacture with a good rate of fire. It was also highly accurate and became the first true sniper rifle.
The detailed accounts have been collated from a myriad of sources from contemporary newspaper reports, official US and Confederate Army battle reports, private correspondence to and from soldiers and their families and authored books on the War. The descriptions of the actions involving the members of the USSS from the units’ inception in 1861, formation in 1862 until disbandment in early 1865 are, at time gruesome. Any preconceptions that this was an organised well conducted armed conflict are rapidly dispelled as the reader progresses through the book, and the harsh reality of what troops on both sides went through is brought into harsh focus.
One of the biggest handicaps of the utilization of the USSS lay with the inexperience of their higher Command non army trained Generals appointed through political or social standing. This misuse of the USSS did cause unnecessary casualties, however, if left th their tactical commanders they were highly effective in eliminating Cannon captains and officers of the Confederacy.
A very good read for any historian of US conflicts as it tells the reader of the real life of a specialised US Army unit during the Civil War.

Wipperman effectively combines personal anecdotes with broader historical analysis, providing a well-rounded perspective on the Sharpshooters’ contributions and challenges.

However, at times, the level of detail can be overwhelming, potentially slowing the narrative’s pace. Additionally, while the book covers numerous battles, a more in-depth exploration of the Sharpshooters’ training and selection process would have enriched the understanding of their elite status.

Overall, “Thunderbolt to the Rebels” is a valuable addition to Civil War literature, shedding light on a specialized unit that played a significant role in shaping the conflict’s outcome. Its thorough research and engaging storytelling make it a recommended read for those interested in this facet of American history.

This was a really interesting concept and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It was a fascinating look into the Civil War element and was engaged with what was happening. Darin Wipperman has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.