03USMC
Active member
Early in the Civil War many unit's CS and US were armed with .69 caliber muskets of various manufacture. These were smoothbore bore weapons that fired a round known as buck and ball. The round consisted of one .69 ball and three buckshot. At close range these were devestating to the enemy. It effectively made the musket a shotgun and some sources claim effectiveness greater than the .58 caliber mini ball out to 200 yards.
In the Union Army the .69 was generally replaced by the Springfield 61 or 63 rifled musket by mid war although some units such as Meaghers Irish Brigade and some of the Iron Brigade chose to retain the .69's because of their effectiveness.
In the Union Army the .69 was generally replaced by the Springfield 61 or 63 rifled musket by mid war although some units such as Meaghers Irish Brigade and some of the Iron Brigade chose to retain the .69's because of their effectiveness.