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Free Saturday, March 1 talk at New York State Military Museum will discuss weird and revolutionary weapons of the Civil War

Latham, NY (02/21/2025) — Patrick Chaisson, a retired Army officer, Schenectady resident, and magazine writer, will speakabout "Strange, Unusual and Innovative Weapons of the U.S. Civil War" during a free talk onSaturday, March 1, at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs.

The talk will start at 2 p.m.

It is one of a series of free presentations being offered through Marchand April.

The hour-long presentation will discuss weapons innovations that worked, such as the Minieball, which put a rifle into the hands of every soldier, and those that didn't like a double-barreledConfederate cannon.

His talk will focus on the ingenuity of weapons inventors during the four-year conflict. Southernerstried to find unique weapons to offset the Union's numerical superiority. The North, meanwhile,used its productive capability to field new weapons like repeating carbines to increase thefirepower of its cavalry squadrons.

Chaisson promises to discuss cavalry, artillery, and infantry weapons as well as new navalweapons like ironclads.

Chaisson is a veteran of many New York State Military Museum presentations. He hasdiscussed the history of World War II aircraft built in New York, the role of the New York National Guard's 69th Infantry Regiment in the Pacific in World War II, the New York National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division in World War 1, and the role of the New York Air National Guard in VietnamWar.

Chaisson is a veteran of the Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War, who retired from the New York Army National Guard in 2012.He has written for popular history magazines, including Real Clear History and Warfare History.Network.

The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs oversees the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Resource Center. The museum is located at 61 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs.

Media Attachments

The Winans Steam Gun, developed in 1861, used a steam engine to power a revolving cylinder which used centrifigual force to launch 38-caliber balls at enemy forces as the operators sheltered behind a steel shield. The weapon was not practical. It is one of the unique Civil War weapons historian Patrick Chaisson will discuss during a free talk at the New York State Military History Museum in Saratoga Springs on March 1 at 2 p.m.

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