Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

[guad42]

Hi Folks,

I tried a search on this and came up flat, but has anyone seen or could refer me to a discussion or article that addresses the genuine use of M1855 US rifles by Confederate forces?

Thanks!

-Sam Dolan

[fahnenschmied]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Well, there was at least 8,599 at Harpers Ferry, along with perhaps a thousand more in other Southern arsenals, so close to 10,000 out of 24,000 .58 rifle muskets from the prewar days. You could add a few hundred more perhaps assembled by Virginia from arsenal parts that would not be much different from a regular '55 before they began to make their own parts when the machinery was moved to Richmond.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Hallo!

Technically, there are no M1855 Rifled Muskets. :)

In brief and to over generalize a bit...

Edward Pollard in his book "Lost Cause; A New Southern History of the War of the Confederates" for what it is worth... states that 5,000 rifles in an unproved state and 3,000 finished but not inspected were seized having escaped Lt. Roger Jones' burning of the rifle works to prevent capture. (Bringing up the loose use of terms musket, rifled-musket, rifle-musket, and rifle often indiscriminately in Period writings, even ordnance folks.)

Lt. Roger Jones either did, or made greater report of his actions, in saying he destroyed 15,000 stands of arms stored in the 'Small Arsenal Building" consumed in the fires. Maryland troops valiantly tried to pull arms and machinery out of the buildings set afire by Jones.

The 1859 inspection returns which gives a partial picture of what was on hand just before the war in arsenals in the South show NO M1855 Rifles other than 3,570 in Harpers Ferry. And, 610 RM's at Baton Rouge, and another 543 at San Antonio arsenals

I do not recall, or remember ever seeing any production figures from the state of Virginia using HF parts to assemble M1855 Rifles before that operation was shipped to Fayetteville to eventually evolve into the "Fayette Rifle."

In November of 1861, the Federal government had the Ordnance Department establish a count from their records. The first tallying said 20,507 total arms of all kinds in storage, on second thought and count it was revised down to just 4,287.

It is not clear from the records, but Harpers Ferry had already ceased production of the M1855 Rifle Musket shortly after the turn of 1861 in anticipation of retooling and setting up for the new M1861 RM which happened.

A very small and unknown number of M1855 RM's and R's were captured from Federal troops in the field and issued into the CS ordnance supply system.

Curt

[yatman]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

I do not know about the total usage by Confederates of M1855 rifle muskets, or what was in the other southern Federal arsenals, but according to a November 12, 1859 inventory there were 610 rifled muskets, caliber 58 in the Baton Rouge Arsenal. (On January 3, 1861 there were 185 cadet muskets, caliber .58-inch in the B.R. arsenal.)

[David Fox]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Certainly a relatively large number of M.1855 rifle-muskets were toted onto the field of Manassas by Federal forces in July of 1861...and left there. There were few opportunities for Southerners to acquire any into the next year.

[rdykes]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

I've read that 1855 locks with primer tape were dug up in petersburg. I cannot remember the source but perhaps someone else may remember. Either way it's plausible to have one over a Richmond musket as there were many type 1s in southern arsenals prior to the war.

[4vaadjutant]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

In “Confederate Arms” by William A. Albaugh III and Edward N. Simmons it is related that the Harpers Ferry Arsenal was one of the largest in the nation. It was guarded by just forty-two U. S. Regulars commanded by Lieutenant Roger Jones at the time that a Virginia military force approached the town on April 18, 1861. Jones laid trains of powder throughout the Arsenal and set fire to it before the Virginians arrived. After the federal soldiers crossed the Potomac River into Maryland, workmen form the Arsenal and civilians of Harpers Ferry loyal to the secessionist movement doused the flames as quickly as they could. In spite of their efforts, the carpenter shop, other buildings, and about 17,000 finished arms were burned. The valuable gun-making machinery and a large quantity of gun parts were spared and sent to Richmond where they were initially stored in a tobacco warehouse. (p. 81)
In short order the inventory of parts and equipment was divvied up for use in manufacturing weapons for the Confederate Army. The machinery for making the .58 caliber rifle musket stayed in Richmond while the machinery to manufacture Mississippi Rifles, caliber .54, was sent to Fayetteville, North Carolina where there was good steam power. The stock making equipment was first sent to Atlanta and then to Macon, Georgia, which was considered to be centrally located for ease of distribution to all of the Confederate arsenals. A significant portion of the equipment was sent to Tennessee where it was given to George Morse at Nashville. Morse was an inventor and holder of several patents that applied to firearms and served as Superintendent of the Nashville Armory untild the city feel to the federals on February 25, 1862. This machinery was eventually moved to the “State Works” at Greenville, South Carolina. (p. 82)
Since the capture of Harper’s Ferry took place before Virginia seceded from the Union, the Commonwealth claimed title to the captured property, which is why the rifle-musket machinery was retained in Richmond instead of being moved to what the authorities considered to be a safer location in the Confederate interior.
The first guns produced in Richmond were simply marked “Richmond, Va., 1861.” “C.S.” was added after August 23, 1861 when the manufacturing equipment was turned over to the Confederate government for the duration of the war. The rifle-muskets made at Richmond became generally known as Confederate “Springfields,” and it was said that no better arms were made in the South.
In a statement prepared for Congress dated December 29, 1863, Major W. S. Downer, superintendent of the C. S. Armory, Richmond, wrote: “ In the first three months after the Armory was transferred to the Confederate States, no arms were issued, the time being occupied in repairing and putting up the machinery received from Harpers Ferry, and in preparing for the manufacture of Rifle Muskets; since which time as will be seen from the statement, there has been made 23,381 rifle muskets, model 1855; 1,225 muskets, model 1842; 2,764 rifle carbines, caliber .58; and 12,212 rifles musket and carbines repaired or made up of old parts with the addition of new and in all respect equal to it, making a total of 39,582 delivered to the MSK and being an average of 1,520 per month from Oct. 1861 to Nov. 1863.” (p. 85)
This official report indicates that most of the weapons made in Richmond through the end of 1863 were the M1855 rifle musket, and it can be reasonably concluded that those weapons were issued to the Confederate Army, and most likely the Army of Northern Virginia.

Tom Williams
4th Virginia Infantry
Indianapolis

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Hallo!

"In a statement prepared for Congress dated December 29, 1863, Major W. S. Downer, superintendent of the C. S. Armory, Richmond, wrote: “ In the first three months after the Armory was transferred to the Confederate States, no arms were issued, the time being occupied in repairing and putting up the machinery received from Harpers Ferry, and in preparing for the manufacture of Rifle Muskets; since which time as will be seen from the statement, there has been made 23,381 rifle muskets, model 1855; 1,225 muskets, model 1842; 2,764 rifle carbines, caliber .58; and 12,212 rifles musket and carbines repaired or made up of old parts with the addition of new and in all respect equal to it, making a total of 39,582 delivered to the MSK and being an average of 1,520 per month from Oct. 1861 to Nov. 1863. (p. 85)
This official report indicates that most of the weapons made in Richmond through the end of 1863 were the M1855 rifle musket, and it can be reasonably concluded that those weapons were issued to the Confederate Army, and most likely the Army of Northern Virginia."

Kinda, sorta, but not quite.

In many ways, ALL of the rifle-musket production at Richmond Arsenal was "M1855" RM's (or, "The Model 1855 Rifle Musket, as adopted for [Confederate States] service.)
as they were assembled from and then made from Harpers Ferry M1855 machinery ) as is, or modified).
Not counting the M1855 RM's assembled by Virginia before production went to Richmond Armory, the first batch of approx. 700 of HF parts assembled M1855 RM's took place in October of 1861. Followed by approx. 800 for November, approx. 800 for December.
HF had received 2,832 M1855 lock plates, and 1,599 lockplate forgings. '1861" dated Richmond locks are already the "high hump."

Other parts ran out quickly. For example the M1855 'Type II" "patchbox" ran out in December. And it is a long discussion following butt plates, nose caps, etc.
Plus, Confederate "boasts" of production numbers do not match the monthly Richmond Armory's work records and orders which are lower.

Anyways, it would be incorrect to view Richmond Armory as having made actual late model M!855 RM's now aka "M1855 Type II RM's" after late Fall of 1861.

Curt

[David Fox]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Query: The HF rifle shop was set-up by Hall and used to manufacture rifles of his design. In the early-mid 1840s production of "Mississippi" rifles was undertaken there. Is it not correct, then, that the machinery at the rifle works, used serially for the Hall and Mississippi, was modified for production of the M.1855 .58 calibre rifle? If that is so, and as the Fayetteville is pretty-much an M.1855 rifle with the 1861 lock modifications contemplated at HF but never quite adopted, wouldn't it be more accurate to say the machinery and parts to manufacture the M.1855 rifle (not the .54 calibre rifle) were sent-on to Fayetteville?

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Hallo!

In brief, yes.

However, the extent of the production machinery was far less than that from the rifle musket works portion of HF, as Lt. Rogers had focused on by his report 15,000 stands or RM's and R's, down to 4,000-5,000 stands by others. Whether due to Jones' crew, or the work of locals in putting out fires, it appears that the greater damage was done to the R buildings more so than the RM. Pollard claims 3,000 were obtained finished but not proofed, and 3,000 unfinished were taken by VA troops.

In looking at the correspondence in the absence of inventories,, it appears that Jones' must have focused on the guns themselves and on the stored stocks, and not so much on the machinery. My reason in thinking tis is that the Confederates pulled out the major machinery from the RM and R works to make RM's and R's. The exception being that at HF there was only one facility or building, etc., for making the M1855 lock.. and BOTH the RM and the R production shared that output. So, Richmond the decision to allow Richmond Armory to get the lock making machinery and not Fayetteville Arsenal (initially creating a problem as locks other than a few pieces parts had to come from Richmond at first).
IIRC, Fayetteville lock machinery was to have been up and running in July, then August, and then with the death of their commander in September... they did not get it set up on their own until the end of 1862.

So still in brief... Fayetteville Rifles have their own evolution story... basically starting out as HF unfinished guns, then assembled from HF pieces parts received from Richmond using Richmond made locks (their evolving as they did for the Richmond RM's), and then in very early 1863 with the production of Fayetteville's own unique lock and "S" hammer evolve in a more unique form (but still based on the last model M1855 Rifle.

Curt

[Jimmayo]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

I've read that 1855 locks with primer tape were dug up in petersburg. I cannot remember the source but perhaps someone else may remember.

It may have been me. I dug this one in CS works near Rt. 460. It was very deep.

[BobRoeder]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Sam,

Tried sending this via PM, but anyway, I was checking out content of back issues of North South Trader and noticed there is an article in Vol. 34 No. 4 titled, "Model 1855 Harper's Ferry Speaks ... With a Southern Accent" by John J. Barone.

I don't know what the article actually has to say, but I remembered your thread here and thought if you can find a copy, or someone who has a copy to share, it might be of some help to you.

Cheers

[Daniel]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

"Colonel Maney's 1st {Tennessee Inf}, and a portion of the 11th, totaling 1,119 enlisted men, were armed with rifle-muskets. (The arms in these two regiments account for all but 143 of the 732 U.S. Model 1855 rifle-muskets and 530 cadet rifle-muskets Tennessee had received under the 1808 Militia Act.) "Confederate Rifles and Muskets" by Murphy and Madus, page 64.

The Murphy and Madus book is breath taking in it's scope of what the Confederate arsenals had in their inventories There could be some more information regarding Confederate units using 1855's in this book.

Dan Stewart

[MuleyGil]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

It may have been me. I dug this one in CS works near Rt. 460. It was very deep.

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Jim, a little bit of WD 40 will fix that old lock right up!

[Savannah Republican Blues]

Re: Use of Model 1855 Rifled Muskets by Confederate Forces

Tell it the Savannah Militia Corps. that there were no 1855 "Rifled Muskets". The Savannah Militia Corps. received theirs in 1857. Type I, U.S. Rifled Musket, Model of 1855...

The... Savannah Republican Blues, Savannah Volunteer Guards, Oglethorpe Light Infantry, Phoenix Rifleman, Savannah City Light Guards and the Montgomery Guards were all outfitted with the 1855.

So, in Savannah, they were a VERY common small arm. Some eventually even made it into the hands of the Savannah River Squadron as well.

Regards,
Savannah Republican Blues