Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

[Mississippian]

Some good stuff here. Will lead of with a Ordnance report from Herberts Brigade in January 1863.

Ordnance on Hand, Herbert's Brigade, Jan. 24th 1863

3rd Louisiana Infantry:

0 Percussion Muskets
0 British Muskets
179 Enfield Rifles
52 Mississippi Rifles
20 Austrian Rifles
102 Bayonets
262 Cartridge Boxes
269 Cap Boxes
269 Waist Belts
0 Shoulder Belts
102 Bayonet Scabbards
0 Musket Cartridges
0 British Musket Cartridges
7160 Enfield Cartridges
2880 Mississippi Cartridges
0 Minnie Cartridges
0 Austrian Cartridges
0 Elongated ball .69 Cartridges
11000 Percussion Caps
N/A Knapsacks
N/A Haversacks
N/A Canteens
N/A Canteen Straps
43 Wipers
25 Screwdrivers
0 Ball Screws

36th Mississippi Infantry:

288 Percussion Muskets
7 British Muskets
30 Enfield Rifles
6 Mississippi Rifles
0 Austrian Rifles
128 Bayonets
319 Cartridge Boxes
334 Cap Boxes
297 Waist Belts
262 Shoulder Belts
168 Bayonet Scabbards
11940 Musket Cartridges
0 British Musket Cartridges
1200 Enfield Cartridges
150 Mississippi Cartridges
0 Minnie Cartridges
0 Austrian Cartridges
0 Elongated ball .69 Cartridges
13540 Percussion Caps
390 Knapsacks
344 Haversacks
334 Canteens
334 Canteen Straps
20 Wipers
10 Screwdrivers
5 Ball Screws

37th Mississippi Infantry:

364 Percussion Muskets
0 British Muskets
38 Enfield Rifles
41 Mississippi Rifles
0 Austrian Rifles
421 Bayonets
429 Cartridge Boxes
440 Cap Boxes
431 Waist Belts
373 Shoulder Belts
420 Bayonet Scabbards
12980 Musket Cartridges
0 British Musket Cartridges
1590 Enfield Cartridges
1640 Mississippi Cartridges
0 Minnie Cartridges
0 Austrian Cartridges
0 Elongated ball .69 Cartridges
24530 Percussion Caps
355 Knapsacks
423 Haversacks
376 Canteens
376 Canteen Straps
148 Wipers
57 Screwdrivers
17 Ball Screws

38th Mississippi Infantry:

219 Percussion Muskets
0 British Muskets
0 Enfield Rifles
40 Mississippi Rifles
0 Austrian Rifles
180 Bayonets
247 Cartridge Boxes
250 Cap Boxes
243 Waist Belts
185 Shoulder Belts
229 Bayonet Scabbards
7379 Musket Cartridges
0 British Musket Cartridges
0 Enfield Cartridges
1600 Mississippi Cartridges
0 Minnie Cartridges
0 Austrian Cartridges
0 Elongated ball .69 Cartridges
14405 Percussion Caps
269 Knapsacks
235 Haversacks
226 Canteens
226 Canteen Straps
15 Wipers
12 Screwdrivers
6 Ball Screws

43rd Mississippi Infantry:

414 Percussion Muskets
0 British Muskets
14 Enfield Rifles
8 Mississippi Rifles
0 Austrian Rifles
189 Bayonets
445 Cartridge Boxes
439 Cap Boxes
436 Waist Belts
269 Shoulder Belts
189 Bayonet Scabbards
15760 Musket Cartridges
0 British Musket Cartridges
560 Enfield Cartridges
320 Mississippi Cartridges
0 Minnie Cartridges
0 Austrian Cartridges
0 Elongated ball .69 Cartridges
20800 Percussion Caps
438 Knapsacks
388 Haversacks
417 Canteens
417 Canteen Straps
42 Wipers
19 Screwdrivers
7 Ball Screws

7th Mississippi Infantry Battalion:

148 Percussion Muskets
0 British Muskets
0 Enfield Rifles
10 Mississippi Rifles
0 Austrian Rifles
83 Bayonets
146 Cartridge Boxes
142 Cap Boxes
129 Waist Belts
35 Shoulder Belts
88 Bayonet Scabbards
3920 Musket Cartridges
0 British Musket Cartridges
0 Enfield Cartridges
657 Mississippi Cartridges
0 Minnie Cartridges
0 Austrian Cartridges
0 Elongated ball .69 Cartridges
4458 Percussion Caps
163 Knapsacks
149 Haversacks
175 Canteens
175 Canteen Straps
10 Wipers
9 Screwdrivers
5 Ball Screws

Will post more later,

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

Some more from Capt. Talbot.

Ordnance Stores on Hand, 40th Mississippi Infantry, August 22nd 1862, 690 men present.

200 Percussion Muskets (40 not fit for use)
529 Flint Muskets (227 not fit for for use)
13 Enfield Rifles
2 Belgian Rifles
2 Mississippi Rifles
408 Knapsacks (91 not fit for use)
628 Haversacks
717 Canteens (10 not fit for use)
552 Cartridge Boxes (116 not fit for use)
375 Cap Poxes (103 not fit for use)
259 Bayonets (18 not fit for use)
144 Tents
103 Spades
105 Axes
0 Wagons
0 Cartridges

Will MacDonald

[daveray84]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

Great stuff as always, Will! Wasn't Herbert's Brigade in Grenada in Jany. 62?

[guad42]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

Is it just me or did Mississippi have a preponderance of smoothbore muskets? If so, why?

-Sam Dolan

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

Dave,

This brigade had been sent down to Vicksburg by late December 1862.

Sam,

Mississippi like all southern states had a severe shortage of arms early in the war. Most of the good arms ended up in the early formed companies that generally were sent to the ANV. By the time most of the companies in this report were formed, the stock of arms was quite bare.

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

A really good one from August of 1862.

Ordnance Stores on hand, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of Tenn. August 13th 1862:

3rd Louisiana Infantry:


274 Percussion Muskets
56 Mississippi Rifles
0 Sharps Rifles
0 Colts Rifles
53 Enfield Rifles
2 Minnie Rifles
0 Carbines
0 D.B. Shotguns
0 Halls Rifles
0 Common Rifles
0 British Muskets
0 Flint Muskets
10 Minnie Muskets
392 Cartridge Boxes
390 Cap Pouches
331 Haversacks
136 Knapsacks
222 Canteens
34394 Percussion Musket Cartridges
26056 Mississippi Rifle Cartridges
0 Sharps Rifle Cartridges
0 Colts Rifle Cartridges
5890 Enfield Rifle Cartridges
260 Minnie Rifle Cartridges
3264 Minnie Musket Cartridges
0 Carbine Cartridges
13044 Musket Caps
0 Small Caps
0 British Musket Cartridges


3rd Texas Cavalry: (Dismounted)


251 Percussion Muskets
139 Mississippi Rifles
42 Sharps Rifles
94 Colts Rifles
7 Enfield Rifles
7 Minnie Rifles
7 Carbines
0 D.B. Shotguns
0 Halls Rifles
0 Common Rifles
0 British Muskets
0 Flint Muskets
0 Minnie Muskets
469 Cartridge Boxes
431 Cap Pouches
406 Haversacks
86 Knapsacks
261 Canteens
23399 Percussion Musket Cartridges
14470 Mississippi Rifle Cartridges
3460 Sharps Rifle Cartridges
1740 Colts Rifle Cartridges
1490 Enfield Rifle Cartridges
860 Minnie Rifle Cartridges
0 Minnie Musket Cartridges
1224 Carbine Cartridges
46050 Musket Caps
15000 Small Caps
0 British Musket Cartridges


1st Texas Legion Cavalry: (Dismounted) (aka 27th Texas Cavalry)


275 Percussion Muskets
68 Mississippi Rifles
0 Sharps Rifles
0 Colts Rifles
14 Enfield Rifles
0 Minnie Rifles
0 Carbines
2 D.B. Shotguns
0 Halls Rifles
0 Common Rifles
95 British Muskets
0 Flint Muskets
2 Minnie Muskets
450 Cartridge Boxes
425 Cap Pouches
399 Haversacks
370 Knapsacks
285 Canteens
51454 Percussion Musket Cartridges
0 Mississippi Rifle Cartridges
0 Sharps Rifle Cartridges
0 Colts Rifle Cartridges
0 Enfield Rifle Cartridges
0 Minnie Rifle Cartridges
0 Minnie Musket Cartridges
0 Carbine Cartridges
65975 Musket Caps
27900 Small Caps
5100 British Musket Cartridges


14th Arkansas Infantry:


32 Percussion Muskets
3 Mississippi Rifles
0 Sharps Rifles
0 Colts Rifles
0 Enfield Rifles
0 Minnie Rifles
0 Carbines
0 D.B. Shotguns
0 Halls Rifles
1 Common Rifles
0 British Muskets
167 Flint Muskets
1 Minnie Muskets
199 Cartridge Boxes
25 Cap Pouches
169 Haversacks
110 Knapsacks
172 Canteens
4500 Percussion Musket Cartridges
2500 Mississippi Rifle Cartridges
0 Sharps Rifle Cartridges
0 Colts Rifle Cartridges
0 Enfield Rifle Cartridges
0 Minnie Rifle Cartridges
0 Minnie Musket Cartridges
0 Carbine Cartridges
900 Musket Caps
0 Small Caps
0 British Musket Cartridges


17th Arkansas Infantry:


114 Percussion Muskets
0 Mississippi Rifles
0 Sharps Rifles
0 Colts Rifles
0 Enfield Rifles
0 Minnie Rifles
0 Carbines
0 D.B. Shotguns
0 Halls Rifles
0 Common Rifles
0 British Muskets
0 Flint Muskets
25 Minnie Muskets
138 Cartridge Boxes
132 Cap Pouches
128 Haversacks
41 Knapsacks
86 Canteens
10650 Percussion Musket Cartridges
6840 Mississippi Rifle Cartridges
0 Sharps Rifle Cartridges
0 Colts Rifle Cartridges
0 Enfield Rifle Cartridges
0 Minnie Rifle Cartridges
3871 Minnie Musket Cartridges
0 Carbine Cartridges
15964 Musket Caps
0 Small Caps
0 British Musket Cartridges

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

A little bit extra to go with that last report.

Report on Transportation, Camp & Garrison equipment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division. August 13th 1863


3rd Louisiana Infantry

15 Spades
9 Axes
81 Tents
14 Six-Mule Wagons
1 Four-Mule Wagon
1 Two-Mule Wagon
2 Ambulances

3rd Texas Cavalry (Dismounted)

7 Spades
12 Axes
88 Tents
10 Six-Mule Wagons
3 Four-Mule Wagons
1 Two-Mule Wagon
1 Ambulance

1st Texas Legion Cavalry (Dismounted) (aka 27th Texas Cavalry)

19 Spades
21 Axes
76 Tents
10 Six-Mule Wagons
9 Four-Mule Wagons
0 Two-Mule Wagons
0 Ambulances

14th Arkansas Infantry

4 Spades
7 Axes
70 Tents
14 Six-Mule Wagons
2 Four-Mule Wagons
0 Two-Mule Wagons
2 Ambulances

17th Arkansas Infantry

9 Spades
5 Axes
24 Tents
6 Six-Mule Wagons
2 Four-Mule Wagons
0 Two-Mule Wagons
0 Ambulances

Will MacDonald

[GenuineInformation]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

Interesting to note the deficiencies of bayonets and shoulder belts:

- 3d LA: 100% lacked shoulder belts, 69% lacked bayonets

- 36th MS: 18% lacked shoulder belts, 61% lacked bayonets

- 37th MS: 14% lacked shoulder belts, 5% lacked bayonets

- 38th MS: 26% lacked shoulder belts, 31% lacked bayonets

- 43d MS: 40% lacked shoulder belts, 57% lacked bayonets

- 7th MS Batt'n: 77% lacked shoulder belts, 48% lacked bayonets

- 40th MS: 50% of long arms fit for use had bayonets fit for use

[Dbackfed]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

I think that bayonets (one per man) may be over-represented, historically speaking. If I recall correctly, Ewell said large numbers of men lacked bayonets for his corp at Gettysburg.

Interesting to note the deficiencies of bayonets and shoulder belts:

- 3d LA: 100% lacked shoulder belts, 69% lacked bayonets

- 36th MS: 18% lacked shoulder belts, 61% lacked bayonets

- 37th MS: 14% lacked shoulder belts, 5% lacked bayonets

- 38th MS: 26% lacked shoulder belts, 31% lacked bayonets

- 43d MS: 40% lacked shoulder belts, 57% lacked bayonets

- 7th MS Batt'n: 77% lacked shoulder belts, 48% lacked bayonets

- 40th MS: 50% of long arms fit for use had bayonets fit for use

[GenuineInformation]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

I wonder if the 3d LA was equipped with sets of Baton Rouge Arsenal accoutrements, including Pattern of 1857 cartridge boxes that lacked provisions for shoulder belts. That could explain why none show up.

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance papers of Capt. L. Talbot, O.O. Herbert's Brigade Army of Mississippi

The more I think about it the more excited I am that I found these particular records. The Dismounted Cavalry and Arkansas records are actually quire rare. Many of the Arkansas units int the Army of West lost their records at various times and finding good info about this is very hard. As for the Mississippi units, my girlfriend had lots of ancestors in several of them, including a GGG Grandfather who was a Captain in the 37th Mississippi. The 43th Mississippi had a Camel as a mascot, which I believe was killed at Vicksburg.

Joesph,

I think the 3rd got Magee and Kneass or Magee and George made accoutrements in 1861, I'm not sure if they had the shoulder belt or not. They may have gotten rid of them on the whim of the commander of the regiment, I know some units did that.

Will MacDonald