[shafter]

I forgot to mention that when we were shooting at Camp Grayling, we were standing in pits and able to "rest" the rifles/weapons on supports such as blankets rolled up, etc. These long range shots were not done "offhand". It truly was an eye opening exeriment and a lot of fun. We also did an experiment the night before. The fellow who was shooting his Smith was a junior high history teacher. He had his kids make life size human cut-outs of men and paint them in various uniforms. Some regular Yank/Reb with no flashy brass, some in Zouave uniforms, some with gold colored belt plats and breast plates, etc. We then lined up at 50 yards and given the order to load and fire as many shots as we could for a two minute time period. it was interesting - those with the flashy belt plates, breast plates, etc. received more hits than those in run of the milll uniforms. It was amazing how many of us used the belt plates, breast plates, etc. as aiming points because they caught our eye. It proved the theory of why a lot of soldiers stripped off their breast plates, cartridge box plates, etc. After recording the results, we then used them for firing cannister from cannons. We fired several rounds of cannister directly at them and then counted the hits - which were very few. We then fired cannister the way it was intended - at the ground in front of the ranks so that it ricocheted (sp?) up into the ranks. The damage from the cannister fired in that manner was devastating. Many of us voiced our thoughts of what it must have been like at Cemetery Hill as the troops reached the high water mark and the Union guns were loaded with double and triple cannister loads.
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This is a very informative post. Thanks!