Hunters of Men: Civil War Sharpshooters
It was a killing business, looking down the sights of a rifle and taking a cool, deadly, measured aim at an individual enemy in the distance. Most Civil War infantry was trained to maintain a high firing rate, with little emphasis on accuracy, so most shots in combat were “to whom it may concern.” Who were these deliberate marksmen, and what was a sharpshooter’s actual mission during the War? Dave Goracke speaks to who they were and who they weren’t. How did the sharpshooter evolve over history and the American experience? What did the public, their fellow combatants, their commanders, and history feel about them and their impact? How were sharpshooters actually used in combat, how were they trained, and what kinds of weapons did they use? Were they loners, did they form into units, did they operate in teams? Come and gain some insights into these American warriors.

Mr. Dave Goracke
Dave Goracke is a retired aerospace engineer/manager, who grew up in Falls Church, Virginia. Among other places, he worked at a company based on the western edge of the Manassas battlefields. These nearby battlefields, monuments, and history, stoked his interest in the War. Currently, Dave is the Program Coordinator for the Civil Warriors CWRT in West Hills, California. Dave has made numerous presentations to Los Angeles area Civil War Round Tables, as well as other historical societies in the greater LA area.