Confederate Muskets

[Rockbridge]

Ok....so has anyone ever done the research of what arms were being used by whome in the Army of Northern Virginia? There is a great site about the Union arms at Gburg.....anything like that for C.S.? Just curious. I know the therory is that smoothbores are good for an early war impression, but rifles are better for a late war. No specific unit in mind, just a generic impression. Anyone got any helpful ideas? Thanks

Jeff Dunwoody

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Confederate Muskets

The short answer to Confederate weapons at Gettysburg is "yes."

You name a weapon, it's probably documented to ANV usage in '63. Smoothbores, '55s, Enfield (rifles and rifle-muskets), Richmonds, Mississippis, target rifles...

It really varies, and is difficult to come up with a "generic" weapon, even within divisions or brigades. In the area of the Culps Hill attack, Enfields, a '55, a Richmond, and a sword bayonet are all documented battlefield pick-ups.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Confederate Muskets

Hallo!

According to the unpublished memoirs of Nicholas Pomeroy of Company "A," 5th Texas Infantry, and surviving Period images, they were armed with P1853 Enfield RM's after arriving in Virginia.

On a broader scale, while there have been semi-detailed studies and listings of Federal arms issuances based upon evaluations of the ordnance requisitions and returns in NARA... aside from individual accounts and some exceptions there is nothing of that detail and scale done (or possible) for the Confederates.

Curt

[David Fox]

Re: Confederate Muskets

I believe Dean Thomas published a thin book entitled "Ready, Aim, Fire" in the early '80s. It documents bullets actually recovered from each position of each majour formation of the two armies at Gettysburg. This constitutes telling evidence of what was actually in the hands of the troops the first three days of July, 1863. I have it in my library but can't at the moment lay my hands on it. For Mr. Lee's people, this sort of forensic evidence is especially appealing as they had just gleaned the majour battlefield of Chancellorville, had since been on near continuous campaign, and formal returns would likely have been lacking even if they would have otherwise survived.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Confederate Muskets

Hallo!

Thanks Herr David, I had forgotten about Thomas' "Ready, Aim, Fire."

My copy may be old, as it cost $10.00, but for Gettysburg, IMHO it is $10.00 (or so) well spent.
(And he compiles things in a nice reference appendix at the end...)

Curt

[English Doc]

Re: Confederate Muskets

Dean S Thomas also did another in conjunction with Earl J Coates in the early '90's called, 'An introduction to Civil War Small Arms'. Appendix C of this book has a detailed list compiled using ordnace returns from record groups 94, 109, and 156 in the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.

These lists, in general, represent the period 1863 -1864, and gives a fair, although probably not complete, cross section for both sides.