Confederate infantry could tell they were engaging Federal cavalry by sound. The Sharps carbine's sharp crack came faster and higher-pitched than the deep boom of a muzzle-loading infantry musket — a rapid crackle from the tree line instead of the slow, thunderous volley of a rifle regiment. At McPherson Ridge on the morning of July 1, 1863, Confederate brigades approaching Gettysburg heard that crackle and initially assumed a much larger Federal force was in their front. It was Brigadier General John Buford's cavalry division — dismounted, deployed as skirmishers, buying time for Reynolds's I Corps to arrive. Two hours later, the infantry showed up.

The figure kneels with both hands on the Sharps carbine — left supporting the forestock, right thumb pulling the hammer back to full cock, the last preparatory motion before aiming and firing. Federal cavalry dress: dark blue shell jacket with yellow branch piping, yellow neckerchief, sky-blue trousers with yellow cavalry stripe, dark forage cap. Revolver holstered on his right hip. Pair the figure with Trooper Kneeling Loading as the buddy in a two-man dismounted position, with the Sergeant with Regimental Flag marking the cavalry line's center, or face him off against a Confederate cavalry position like Confederate Cavalry Trooper Aiming Carbine for a meeting engagement.

King & Country model CW065 (retired). 1/30 scale (approximately 60mm), matte-painted metal. Single foot figure of Federal cavalry trooper kneeling to cock a Sharps carbine, on sculpted groundwork base. Boxed.