Captain Heth's system provided for the issue of a bronze stadia to the best shot in the company, as determined by the captain, and a silver stadia to the best shot in the regiment, as determined by the colonel. The stadias had measuring appertures based upon the height of infantry and cavalry, and were similar to those issued to artillery officers. Using the lanyard on the stadia, they were worn on the soldier's uniform like a European army schutzenschnur. The men issued the stadia were supposed to help their officers estimate distances. I've seen two stadia that were issued to men in the Pennsylvania Reserves early in the war by George G. Meade, and one that was supposedly carried by a soldier in one of Berdan's two regiments. One also very occasionally sees them in photographs of old sergeants in the post-Civil War army. But, they are extremely uncommon either in photographs or as artifacts, and very expensive as artifacts.
It gets back to the problem of having a system and then not using it. The Soviets wrote of the American Army that we had doctrine, but could be relieved upon never to follow it.
Regards,
Don Dixon
2881V
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