[Arny Krueger]

"Patrick Turner" wrote in message


Was not the repeating rifle a boon the North in the
American war of Independance?

Not really. While a practical repeating rifle had been invented and had been
in volume production since about 10 years earlier, the Northern army's top
brass were agin' it.

Such repeating rifles as were in use were bought by the individual soldier,
who had to be pretty rich when inducted, because they cost about a month's
pay.

In fact the Army still wasn't buying repeating rifles in volume even 10
years later, when Custer's soldiers were armed with single-shots, and the
indians were armed with repeating rifles.