Rare Confederate .45 Caliber Whitworth Sharpshooters Rifle Cartridge / SOLD

Rare Confederate .45 Caliber Whitworth Sharpshooters Rifle Cartridge - Inventory Number: CON 406 / SOLD

Condition: Very good, non-excavated. The paper tube cartridge has a small crack, no repairs. Measures approximately 3.60” length. Reference:  M&M: p. 83 item 35. Thomas' RBTR Part Four: p. 245, Specimen 621 & T&T: p. 15 item 69c.

These cartridges are very rare and this one is in great shape. Included in this listing are images of another example of a Whitworth cartridge as pictured in "Civil War Projectiles II Small Arms & Field Artillery with Supplement" by W. Reid McKee and M. E. Mason, Jr. on page 83, item 35. Also included is information about the Whitworth cartridge, its rifle, a cartridge diagram, and loading instructions. This rare Whitworth cartridge will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War cartridge, bullet, or general relic collection.

The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia regarding Whitworth rifles:

"The gun proved to be an accurate and deadly instrument. Its most remembered act was on May 9, 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, where Union General John Sedgwick urged his men to leave a ditch in which they lay in order to cover from the Confederate snipers hidden 800 to 1000 yards away. According to Martin T. McMahon, Brevet Major-General, U.S.V. [Chief-of-Staff, Sixth Corps], he and General Sedgwick were walking along the line when he [Sedgwick] noticed a soldier dodging a near-passing bullet, and said to him."

"What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. I'm ashamed of you, dodging that way. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance."

"Just seconds later he fell forward with a bullet hole below his left eye."

Comes housed in 8 inch x 14 inch riker display case with red velvet backing and descriptive card.

Inventory Number: CON 406 / SOLD