type of musket

[daz]

which type of musket,would be best for an early war impression,enfield or 1843 springfield,its for both eastern theatre union & confederate impressions?.

Daz Wilson
118th Pa
"the Corncob Mess"

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: type of musket

I guess the answer to the question is what was the 118th PA, armed with?

The next best answer is what is your portrayal based on? Let us say it is a call up of the militia, then you are probably (generically) talking a .69 pumpkinslinger of some year (I think the 1822 was the most numerous in 1861).

I would probably think not an Enfield for a generic because they didn't start to show up in large numbers until after the war started.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: type of musket

Hello,


I would go with some sort of 69 caliber weapon. Maybe a 1842 musket or a flintlock coversion 1822 musket.


Andrew Kasmar

[tiger_rifles]

Re: type of musket

Hello All, In a report dated "November 12, 1859" from "Colonel of Ordnance" H. K. Craig, to "Secretary of War" Hon. John B. Floyd, Colonel Craig gave this accounting of "Serviceable muskets, and rifles on hand at each armory and arsenal". Here are the totals, if you want information on a certain state or arsenal/armory let me know.
Muskets:
Altered to percus-sion, cal. 69.- 275,744
Altered to May-nard lock, cal. 69.- 14,765
Made as percus-sion, cal. 69- 213,155
Percussion since rifled, cal. 69.- 33,631
Rifles musket, cal. 58.- 24,105

Rifles:
Altered to percus-sion, cal 54.- 1,385
Made as percus-sion, ca. 54- 43,375
New made rifle, cal. 58.- 4,102

The good Colonel also stated that,"It does not include the 23,894 flint-lock muskets and 652 flint-lock rifles still remaining unaltered.".

[Prodical Reb]

Re: type of musket

Paul,
do you have those numbers for NC?

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: type of musket

Hallo!

At the end of 1859, the Fayetteville Arsenal had :

4,817 percussion altered .69 muskets
2,861 made as percussion .69 muskets
1,685 percussion .54 rifles

IMHO, that can be interpreted as 4,817 M1822/M1840's, 2,861 M1842's, and 1,685 unaltered
M1841 rifles.

Curt

[tiger_rifles]

Re: type of musket

For NC!
Same Report: "Fayetteville Arsenal, N. C." Report states.....
Altered to percus-sion, cal. 69.--- 4,817
Made as percus-sion, cal. 69.--- 2,861
Made as percus-sion, cal 54. (rifle)- 1,685

I am takeing this from a book,"Firearms of the Confederacy" by Fuller & Steuart, 1944. I have not seen this book in any re-prints. In this book it shows many letters from "Sothern" State Governors asking for thier yearly musket issue early.
In a report dated "December 21, 1860" from "Wm. Maynadier, Captain of Ordnance." It seems that NC recieved:
"311--- Long range rifles, caliber .58 inch."
Early as part of there 1861 issue. It seems that Sothern states were issued from Harpers Ferry, and since most of these states were asking for thier issues early, Harpers ferry could not keep up with the orders.

I also have a letter here dated "January 28, 1860" from Col. of Ord. Craig, to Major Gen. Jesup, QM Gen. U.S. Army: asking for transportation of "musket boxes. Each box contains 20 arms, weight about 300 pounds, and occupies about 10 cubic feet.". Attached report states:
From Springfield Armory to North Carolina Arsenal......1,250 boxes
From Watervliet Arsenal to North Carolina Arsenal........100 boxes

Report dated "January 21, 1861" from Colonel Craig, but now to Sec. of War Hon. J. Hoyt. "Serviceable arms at the U.S. forts and arsenals within the several states" .Listed under "North Carolina":
Muskets, all descriptions now used and useable,---32,678
Rifles &c. ---3,636

* just for ref.;
8-inch. howitzers, and 24, 18,and 12 pounder guns-----37
Brass field guns and howitzers ---4

There is a couple letters here from NC asking for arms, but no more shipments/reports I can find. There is a report here from a "Bvt. Maj. S. S. Anderson, Second U.S. Artillery" Ref. "Seizure of the U.S. Arsenal of Fayetteville, N.C., April 23, 1861". He states," I have to report that this arsenal was surrendered to the State of North Carolina yesterday,on demand of the Governor of the State, which demand was sustained by a force of one thousand and fifty rank and file of State troops, well armed and equipped."
He goes on to say that his arms were, "only forty-two effective muskets". But the "Major and Chief of Ordnance, J. Gorgas." in a report dated May 7, 1861, Listed the loss of arms at Fayetteville over 37,000 small arms,(no breakdown or details given).

Hope this helps!

[Arkansas volunteer]

Re: type of musket

For a generic impression I would go with the 1842. They are more reasonably priced and can be used in a wider variety of events. (ie midwar events)

However, if you have the cash go with the conversion.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: type of musket

Hallo!

Those arsenal stats come from the OFFICIAL RECORDS, etc... Series III. Vol. I, "Correspondence, Orders, Reports, and Returns of the Union Authorities From November 1, 1860, to March 31, 1862."

From Colonel of Ordnance H. K. Craig to John B. Floyd, Secretary of War, in a letter dated November 12, 1859.

Curt

[tiger_rifles]

Re: type of musket

Curt, as always you are very correct Sir! Thank you!

Someone asked for this information by PM and I thought it might help others also.........

For Missouri there is not much, atleast in this book. What I do have is......
From the "November 12, 1859" Report,"Saint Louis Arsenal, Mo." had....
Muskets
25,990.....Alt. to Perc. cal. 69.
1,502.....Alt to Maynard, cal. 69.
325.....Made as Perc. cal. 69.
4,488......Perc since rifled cal. 69.
710.......Rifled cal. 58.
Rifles
236....Made as Perc. cal. 54.
483....New mdl Rifle cal. 58.

From the "December 21, 1860" Report it shows, "Missouri" as issued:
252...."Rifle Muskets,cal. .58 inch"

From the "January 21, 1861" Report it shows, "Missouri" had:
32,468 Muskets
5,673 Rifles, &c.


For Arkansas there is a little more information, but fewer arms! Here we go....
From the "November 12, 1859", Report it shows: "Little Rock Arsenal, Ark." had:
349 Made as Perc. cal. 69.
54 Made as Perc. cal. 54.

From the "January 21, 1861" Report it shows, "Arkansas" had:
1,310 Muskets
54 Rifles, &c.

Also found "Statement of arms sold, by order of the Secretary of War, from January 1, 1860, to January 1, 1861"
Sold to "Phillips County (Ark.) Volunteers. 50 Muskets altered to percussion, at $2.00 each"
Sold on "Nov. 16, 1860" and delivered to "Saint Louis Arsenal, Mo."

Also found,"Statement of small arms on hand when seized by the States"
"Little Rock by Arkansas.......10,000 arms" No details given.

[Prodical Reb]

Re: type of musket

Thanks Pards!

[tiger_rifles]

Re: type of musket

*Someone asked about Virginia*(here is what I could find).


As for The Great Common Wealth of Virginia........

The first thing I have is a letter dated November 3, 1860, from J.B. Floyd (Sec. of Wa), to H. K. Craig (Col. of Ordnance). It seems that a General Richardson (Adjutant General), wrote on behalf of the Governor of Virginia, requesting an advance of the arms quota for 1861 and 1862. Floyd tells Craig to advance arms for 1861,(that he "estimates to be about 682 muskets", and to advance "203 muskets on account of the quota for 1862." They describe these arms as, "the original army percussioned muskets with accouterments,".

Going back to the reports listed in the earlier thread,
Report dated November 12, 1859
"Harpers Ferry Armory, Va."
Altered to Percussion Cal. 69. ........149
Alt. to Maynard lock, cal. 69...........2
Made as percussion cal. 69.............4,569
Perc since rifled cal. 69..................737
Rifled Musket cal. 58......................8,599
Made as Perc. cal 54......................696
New mdl rifle cal. 58.......................3,570

*(If you want information on "Fort Monroe Arsenal, Va." Let me know, but it never fell into CS Hands.)

Report dated December 21, 1860
"Virginia" was sold
"50- Long Range rifles caliber .58 inch" for $17.43" each
"450- Perc. Muskets caliber .69 inch" for "$13.25" each

Report dated January 21, 1861
"Virginia" had
10,646....."Muskets"
6,868......."Rifles"

In another report dated Jan. 21, 1861 from Craig, he shows, "Statement of arms distributed by sale, by order of the Secretary of War, from January 1, 1860 to January 1, 1861".
To "State of Virginia"
5,000 "Muskets altered to percussion" at $2.50 each
Date of sale, "Nov. 6, 1860",
"Place of delivery"..."Washington Arsenal, D. C."

I also have a report here dated November 16, 1861, from a "Liet. Col. William Maynadier, U.S. Ordnance Dept." ref. losses at the Harper Ferry Armory.
He states, "number of arms in store when armory was destroyed in April 1861, was reduced to 4,287 the value of which was about $64,000."

Last item for Virginia is the issue of Virginia Mfg. Muskets and rifles. According to Cromwell, from 1802 to 1821 about 58,428 Va. Mfg. Muskets were made and from 1803 to 1821 about 2,093 Va. Mfg. Rifles were made.

In a letter dated November 2, 1861, from C. Dimmick, Chief of Ordnance of Virginia, to Va. Governor Letcher, Dimmick states," Virginia has issued 10,000 percussion muskets, U.S., and 50,000 Virginia flintlock muskets , these last plainly known by the stamp "Virginia" upon the lock." also,"this state has issued 10,000 U.S. flintlocks, which she recieved from the Federal Goverment years ago." This letter goes on to say that he wants these flintlocks returned so they can be converted to percussion, marked for "Virginia" , and then re-issued. Stateing, " Now, there is no objection to these arms going into the field to any troops if Virginia has the credit of such issue. As there is to be a final settlement between all the States of the South, when the value of all issues will be an element of credit to the State of issuing," .

if you want information on arms coming out of the Richmond Armory during the war, I can start looking up the numbers, but some on this forum my know it by heart!

Hope this helps,

[ACo.]

Re: type of musket

Well, if you are interested in Virginia issued guns and equipment here is a source that shows everything from British flintlock muskets ( ) to "modern" rifle muskets:

"Message from the Execttive of the Commonwealth,
with Accompanying Documents,
Showing the Military and Naval Preparations for
the Defence of the State of Virginia, &c. &c.:"

http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/message/message.html

Dated June 17, 1861. While it may seem rather vague to those who are not arms students, there is a LOT of information in there. One of my favorite reads. :D