OMNA International Newsletter

Summer Edition 2015
In This Issue
CHORDNOTES
Warner Center at MCU
Gettysburg
Recent Ops
South Canyon
Thirtymile
NASA at Fred-Chanc
NCTC at Sharpsburg
Future Ops - 2015-16
NEW:  CHORDNOTES!
Notes from our
Chief of Ordnance 

This summer Pete recovered an extremely RARE Federal small arms projectile for .58 caliber rifled musket on private property which was once the location of action on the Wilderness Battlefield,  site of May 6-7 fighting in 1864.

It is a three-piece SECTIONAL Shaler patent bullet (see image).

Rubin and Ira Shaler recieved a U.S. patent in 1862 for their sectional bullet. In theory, the three pieces separated after exiting the barrel making "one man equal three." However, the separate sections were inaccurate, but DID each separately catch the rifling, so they stayed laterally accurate.  The elevation, however, varied for vertical spread. The specimen dug is a short range variant and the lightest of four known Shaler variations. All are EXTREMELY rare, and did not see much service for obvious accuracy/loading concerns.

The principle of the bullet separating upon exiting the barrel WORKED, and interestingly enough, expansion of hollow base(s) and forward inertia did not wedge pieces together to prevent separation. They successively "shed" as each bullet section became free of bore contact at point of leaving muzzle.

Characteristics of the Wilderness battle and close-in fighting were actually ideal for use of this particular short range variant. Based on recovery of this complete Shaler and other separate dropped Shaler pieces in immediate vicinity, coupled with 6th Corps metal kepi cap insignia and Rhode Island Buttons, Pete is pretty sure it was a Rhode Island regiment within 6th Corps that had, and used, these Shalers.  

The ground still talks after 151 years!

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The new $80M Warner Center for Advanced Military Studies at Marine Corps University was dedicated on 7 August 2015. Senator John Warner, Generals Al Gray, James Jones, James Amos, and Joe Dunford were all in attendance.

This new construction doubles the physical infrastructure capacity of the University's main campus at Quantico.

We've added a new feature in this issue -- Chief of Ordnance Notes (CHORDNOTES) on the left side of the e-mail.  Many of you have asked questions about 19th century arms and equipment that we discuss on many of our staff rides.  If we get good feedback about the CHORDNOTES, we may expand them to include HORSENOTES too!

As usual, in the paragraphs below you'll find images of past adventures and a link to our schedule of upcoming opportunities.  We are especially looking forward to our USFWS Little Bighorn Staff Ride in October!

Semper Fidelis!   

The OMNA Team
L-580 Gettysburg in May - new stop west of McPherson Ridge
Recent Operations:  Since our last newsletter, we had a busy May and June, then took a summer break and are now gearing up for our Fall season of staff rides.  We have fond memories of Gettysburg, South Canyon, Thirtymile, Fredericksburg-Chancellorsville, and Sharpsburg this past quarter.  Welcome to NASA and NCTC as our newest partners in leadership education!
Jim Cook orients all conference groups at South Canyon
Thom Taylor briefs at the deployment site for Thirtymile
NASA HQ logisticians at Chatham Manor, Fredericksburg
NCTC Advanced Refuge Management Academy at Sharpsburg
FUTURE OPERATIONS:
To get our latest schedule, go to:
Reserve a slot now for 2016!