GDG- 2nd NH using "Poison and Explosive Bullets" at Gettysburg?

[Jack Kelly]

Jim,

The use of the .58 caliber Minie ball would violate all such conventions.  A 
500-grain soft lead bullet, even traveling as slowly as it did, wreaked 
havoc on human flesh and bone; not a nice round to run into, I'd guess.

Regards,

Jack Kelly


>
> <<  Was there anything like the Geneva Conventions  - formal or informal
> agreements on the "rules" of war?
>
> Take Care
>
> Dennis  >>
>
> The first attempt to ban such projectiles was The Declaration of St. 
> Petersburg, in 1868, later expanded on by the 1899 Hague Convention. 
> Essentially, these prohibit use of bullets which easily expand or flatten 
> in the body.  With modern, high velocity rounds, that effectively demands 
> full metal jackets on all small arms ammunition.  Explosive projectiles 
> were supposed to be used against material targets only, not fired directly 
> against personnel.
>