 |
The
Living History Engineer's
The Stadia Sight |
At
a recent Civil War Event (
Fort
Warren
) some of you may have seen an strange instrument
being used as a part of the Engineering and Artillery demonstrations.
This item was a "Stadia Sight" which was reproduced by the 1st United
States Sharpshooters, Company "G" who are members of the North-South
Skirmish Association and the American Civil War Shooting Association.
This reproduction of the Stadia Sight is a replica of one of several different
designs used during the Civil War period. The purpose of this instrument
was to determine an approximate range or distance to a target, whether the
target was the size of a man, or the size of a mounted soldier. These
"sights" were often awarded to the highest scoring sharpshooters in a
given unit.
The sight that was used at
Fort
Warren
is patterned after the he Stadia Sight which is
featured in the Time-Life's book "Echoes of Glory." The sight is
not an exact duplicate in that the bead a the end of the sight string is made of
lead in the original, and i the reproduction the bead is made of brass.
In both of the below references (Echoes and Lords) a watch chain was shown as
attached to the sight. This is not included in the reproduction, however,
it does provide the owner with a way to personalize the sight should he desire
to do so.
Stadia
Sight Usage:
The sights are designed to give reasonably accurate range estimate depending of
course on the skill of the user.
--First , choose the side of the sight to use depending upon the target
(infantry or mounted cavalry);
--Second, put the bead on the end of the string in your mouth;
--Third, extend your arm to it's full length with the sight in your extended
hand, pulling the string tight as you do so;
--Fourth, Move the slider on the sight so that the top of the target's head and
the bottom of the feet fit into the aperture space;
--Fifth, the range should appear in the slider opening.
Some additional points which may make the use of the slider a little easier:
•••••a taut string keeps the stadia sight at the prescribed distance
from the eye, together with maintaining the string parallel to the ground;
•••••if both eyes are used, it makes it simpler to pick out the
target;
•••••use our finger on the back f the sight vice the slider at the
longer ranges. Sometimes this makes using the sight effectively somewhat
easier.
Definition:
"STADIA"-- See also ENGINEER EQUIPMENT. A stadia was a metal
(brass or silver) instrument for measuring distance, given a a prize in
competitive marksmanship with the rifle, musket or carbine. A company
prize was brass, a regimental prize was silver.
From Lords, the following comments are mentioned relating to the two stadia
pictured:--
Stadia: Left--standard issue, all-brass stadia sight. 5 1/4 inches
overall, marked "Frankford Arsenal" -- also "U.S. Stadia"
graduated scale on both sides. Obverse for infantry; reverse for cavalry
– as marked with a brass chain for carrying and original cord with a lead ball
(which was held between the teeth) for gauging distances.
Right--Identical to the above, but the fancy solid silver, fully engraved
presentation type which was given as prizes. This one is also marked
"Frankford Arsenal" like above, but also bears marks of "George
W. Simons, Philadelphia" who obviously made it (Norm Flayderman).
References:
Time-Life Book "Echoes of Glory;"
"The Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia:" by Francis A. Lord, Vol. I,
Page 261
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