Hi
The "fact" that 27,574 muskets was picked up at gettysburg and that most where loaded, and one even loaded 23 times is mentioned in a number of my books.
The problem is that they all use another books as their source or simply don't give one.
I have been trying to find the primary source for this.
Back in February I made a post about it on the Civil war talk forum and it gave me some information.
I don't expect anyone here to actually have the source... since others have looked for it without any success... but no harm in asking.
Here is what I have been able to find.
1863
In the official records we got a report made by the Acting Chief Ordnance Officer for the Army of Potomac. Lt. John R. Edie
He give us a total of 24.854 muskets. picked up at Gettysburg. With no information at all about how many was loaded.
April 19, 1864 From general Meade to the army of the Potomac.
"To familiarize the men in the use of their arms an additional expenditure of 10 rounds of small-arm ammunition per man is hereby authorized. Corps commanders will see that immediate measures are taken by subordinate officers to carry out the order. Every man should be made to load and fire his musket under the personal super- vision of a company officer. It is believed there are men in this army who have been in numerous actions without ever firing their guns, and it is known that muskets taken on the battle-fields have been found filled nearly to the muzzle with cartridges. The commanding general cannot impress too earnestly on all officers and men the necessity of preparing themselves for the contingencies of battle."
It is written by Chas. E. Pease, captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.
He don't give the number or even mention Gettysburg, but do commend on "it is known that muskets taken on the battle-fields have been found filled nearly to the muzzle with cartridges"
So I think it is relevant.
January 1865
Major T.S. Laidley, "Breech-loading Musket," United States Service Magazine 3 (January 1865): 67-70.
He mention the 27.574 muskets, that 24.000 was loaded, 12.000 was charged with two loads and 6.000 where charged with from three to ten loads each.
One had 23 loads.
He don't give a source.
1867
In the book "A Course of Instruction on Ordnance and Gunnery for Cadets of the United States Military Academy" by Brevet Colonel JG Benton.
Page 341:
"...of 27,574 muskets picket up on the battlefield of Gettysburg and turned into the Washington Arsenal, at least 24,000 were loaded. About half of this number contained two charges each, about a fourth contained from three to ten charges each and the balance one charge. The largest number of cartridges found in any one piece was twenty three. In some cases the paper of the cartridges was unbroken and in others the powder was uppermost."
(in a chapter about the durability of muskets)
But he don't give a source.
----------
The "fact" that 27,574 muskets was picked up at gettysburg and that most where loaded, and one even loaded 23 times is mentioned in a number of my books.
The problem is that they all use another books as their source or simply don't give one.
I have been trying to find the primary source for this.
Back in February I made a post about it on the Civil war talk forum and it gave me some information.
I don't expect anyone here to actually have the source... since others have looked for it without any success... but no harm in asking.
Here is what I have been able to find.
1863
In the official records we got a report made by the Acting Chief Ordnance Officer for the Army of Potomac. Lt. John R. Edie
He give us a total of 24.854 muskets. picked up at Gettysburg. With no information at all about how many was loaded.
April 19, 1864 From general Meade to the army of the Potomac.
"To familiarize the men in the use of their arms an additional expenditure of 10 rounds of small-arm ammunition per man is hereby authorized. Corps commanders will see that immediate measures are taken by subordinate officers to carry out the order. Every man should be made to load and fire his musket under the personal super- vision of a company officer. It is believed there are men in this army who have been in numerous actions without ever firing their guns, and it is known that muskets taken on the battle-fields have been found filled nearly to the muzzle with cartridges. The commanding general cannot impress too earnestly on all officers and men the necessity of preparing themselves for the contingencies of battle."
It is written by Chas. E. Pease, captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.
He don't give the number or even mention Gettysburg, but do commend on "it is known that muskets taken on the battle-fields have been found filled nearly to the muzzle with cartridges"
So I think it is relevant.
January 1865
Major T.S. Laidley, "Breech-loading Musket," United States Service Magazine 3 (January 1865): 67-70.
He mention the 27.574 muskets, that 24.000 was loaded, 12.000 was charged with two loads and 6.000 where charged with from three to ten loads each.
One had 23 loads.
He don't give a source.
1867
In the book "A Course of Instruction on Ordnance and Gunnery for Cadets of the United States Military Academy" by Brevet Colonel JG Benton.
Page 341:
"...of 27,574 muskets picket up on the battlefield of Gettysburg and turned into the Washington Arsenal, at least 24,000 were loaded. About half of this number contained two charges each, about a fourth contained from three to ten charges each and the balance one charge. The largest number of cartridges found in any one piece was twenty three. In some cases the paper of the cartridges was unbroken and in others the powder was uppermost."
(in a chapter about the durability of muskets)
But he don't give a source.
----------
Comment