Army commercial

[Stefan]

There is an Army commercial running on TV right now. You can find it on Youtube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLiI9pT6qKo

It starts with a studio photo of a group of 18 Civil War soldiers who all have, what looks to me like, the same sniper rifles with long scopes mounted. I have never seen that picture before, so I am wondering if someone knows what unit that was and what kind of guns they are carrying.

[7tharkinf]

Not sure what unit but those look like American target or bench rifles they where made by various makers at the time. The berdan sharpshooters used these before they got their sharps but not all gave them up.

[Maillemaker]

Screen capture of image from video:

http://i.imgur.com/dqqGTig.png

Steve

[terrydull]

Western Sharpshooters with civilian marksman rifles??

[John Holland]

If memory serves correctly, they are the 1st Mass., Andrew's Sharp Shooters, unattached. They also have a monument at Gettysburg.