MUSKETS AND RIFLES
Muskets were referred to as smoothbores. Rifles had special grooves which caused the bullets to spin and increase distance and accuracy.
The Minie Ball which was widely used by both sides was a particularly nasty bullet that was concave in the rear and made of soft lead which resulted in horrific wounds.
One of his was an 1826 Springfield flintlock that had not been rebored for rifling.
SWORDS
He had several, one of which was an artillery short sword that closely resembled those used in ancient Rome.
A NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CONNECTION
Mr. Stilling is a graduate of NIU and was at the recent Army-NIU game, and despite his military background, pulled for the good old Huskies. I had wanted to go to the game if for nothing else, but to see first-hand, the tremendous amount of tradition that accompanies West Point (and, of course, the Fort Fisher Armstrong Gun).
One incident he related was that he was doing some research and when he got out of his car was approached by a full-bird colonel who, after seeing his cane, wanted to know if he could help. Dick said no, but the colonel assigned two cadets to assist him anyway.
An Interesting Talk. --Old Secesh
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