Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

[Ken Knopp]

Is this a western Confederacy officer's McClellan saddle?

I don't know. It has no provenance but it has some unique features. This saddle came to light recently but I just this weekend had a chance to review and photograph it. I note the following are not original to the manufacture of the saddle but are quite old nonetheless: The stirrup straps are add ons and some repairs including some rivets although they are of the correct period. Other ornamental hardware is questionable too.

More importantly, I make special note of the following original components....It has an old (period correct) original wood tree and rawhide covering, correct period iron look stirrup strap hangers, abbreviated (Confederate?) russet leather skirts, military style hand sewing on the quarterstraps (although including rivets that are likely add-ons). The stirrups are bent wood, Federal style (but easily removed). The saddle has interesting one piece leather skirt, seat and jockeys. Also includes period iron (Federal style) D-rings for quarters straps, brass rings on the bars, period correct Federal style iron foot stands, correct period brass mortice plates of the period Federal style. it also has military style brass moulding that cover the cantle and pommel. With interest I note a brass shield, "CS" embossed, located on the pommel. This shield is either tin or silver plated I could not tell. However, its CS embossing is unlike the common Richmond Arsenal pattern both in the shape of the shield and the CS embossing. It has been my understanding that the common CS shield found on eastern saddles were made in large quantities in Richmond. Few if any of these were sent west (I have not noted any). The shield on this saddle is quite different.
The above noted components (in whole) are not normally found on Federal saddles and never on post war commercial McCellens. Many officers Macs were made at or through the western arsenals for sale to CS officers. These saddles are detailed in my first book and numerically noted relative to individual makers and arsenals in my second book. In summary I ask....was it a captured and refurbished Federal to CS saddle? A western Confederate officer's, high end (non EM-issue grade) saddle of CS arsenal or contract manufacture or, private purchase or.....a fake? Opinions? What do you think?

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

Ken,
I got your email and am still studying this. On your examination, does the placement of the tin/silver CS shield look correct and consistent with a strap going through? In the picture, it looks high as if it would hinder running a strap through it, at least not without wear to the leather just under it.

[Old-South]

Re: Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

Notice that the skirts and the seat cover appear to be of one piece of leather cut down the middle of the seat and cutaways made for the pommel and cantle. It's also under the quarter straps and completely covers the tree including the bars. It that also tarnished brass trim around the pommel and cantle edges?
Great pictures Ken!

[csabugler]

Re: Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

Well Hell, if you don't know how do expect us to????

Cool find, as usual

Pete
The Autonomous Collective Mess

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

Well, Like everyone, I have an opinion (a supported one) but I just wanted to see what you fellas thought and generate some discussion. Ken R Knopp

[rbruno]

Re: Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

Ken,
I am wondering if it is mainly the CS mortise plate that is suggesting it is Western theater or if there are other clues. Are the short skirts characteristic of more Western then Eastern theater? I am a novice at looking at original saddles and leather, but after seeing how much equipment, weapons, etc where turned in to the various depots under "repairable", it would not surprise me to think this was a refurbished Federal saddle especially with many of the hardware pieces that seem to be Federal. Great find and hopefully worth a lot of discussion.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

Rob, now that I have written this, I am sorry “you” asked. Just kidding. Anyway, I started thinking about this and decided a bit more detail might be in order. Now, please understand I may be wrong, missing something or just full of $*% here but maybe this lengthy explanation will be of service. Ken R Knopp

First, qualified and proven CS saddles coming into the public realm are rare birds indeed. (Qualified means as to correct war time construction materials and methods. Proven means with some sound documentation such as good museum or familial records) People call alot of saddles "Confederate" but in reality few can be qualified or proven. I know, I make a lot of people mad at me when they ask and I tell them something they don’t want to hear. Outside of those saddles with "water tight" museum documentation or family provenance it is very difficult to find "any" so called Confederate saddles that are qualified in manufacturing details (and less with a CS shield). There are many ways to authenticate a saddle. The following details some of those.

While this saddle has no documented provenance its military style manufacturing details are entirely consistent to the war time period. All non-interchangeable components and materials are consistent with wartime period construction including the tree, rawhide covering, sewing of quarter-straps, iron loop stirrup strap hangers, correct Federal style iron foot stands, correct period brass mortice plates of the Federal style, etc. Otherwise, for this discussion here the most important features are the
1. the pattern including leather seat treatment; 2. the CS shield and, 3. the brass overlay.

First an overview: Early in the war officers saddles were private purchase and pretty much, anything goes. By 1862 the Confederate government had largely taken control of material production, manufacturing and labor. In the east, officer’s saddles (Jenifers and Macs in patterns and materials differing from trooper’s saddles) were made in three somewhat similar style (see my book for details) with some allowance for personal taste. Most included a Richmond Arsenal made CS pommel shield.
Out west, the manufacturing chronology was much the same. Officer’s saddles were made in large numbers for the arsenals usually (but not always) by contractors.



Pattern: Up until spring/summer 1863 few officer’s McClellans were made in the east via the Richmond Arsenal. There were made in increasing numbers after this time. However, the Jenifer continued to be made for officers in large numbers until at least late 1864.
Out west, beginning in 1862 the Jenifer was made at most arsenals but the McClellan was made for trooper’s and officers at Nashville and later Atlanta, from the spring of 1861 for most of the war. Later macs were made at all of the arsenals. Like in the east, most manufacturing was controlled by the government beginning about 1862 so private purchase was possible but increasingly limited and expensive.
This saddle has several Federal style components including the foot stands, D-rings and brass overlay but I should point out that Confederate officer’s saddle were purposely styled after the Federal patterns. The leather pattern, russet leather (rather than more common black leather for Feds) and especially the seat treatment on this saddle is interesting and unlike any Federal officer’s saddle I have ever seen. Most Federal officer’s macs have padded or plain seat coverings. The (russet leather and) abbreviated skirts suggest to me, Confederate economy of leather, while the one piece seat covering used here is “mother hubbardesque” which was/is more of a Spanish or western adaption. Circumstantial? Yes, quite so but interesting.
Conclusion: The use of McClellans was generally more common for western CS officers saddle usage than in the east and, the pattern is very different from the common Federal officers patterns. Still, is this truly a western CS made mac? Inconclusive. Not enough information.



Shield: The well known “CS” shields are Richmond Arsenal products stamped in Richmond and sent to Clarksville for placement on saddles made there or, put on contract made saddles arriving at the Richmond Depot. There are two basic Confederate saddle shield patterns- Cavalry and Artillery. There are two variations of artillery pattern one with a strap slot and one without. The cavalry patterns all have slots. Nevertheless, the “CS” embossing is identical on all of them and so it is clear all were stamped from the same die. It remains possible, even likely a private manufacture also made a copy of these shields in some very small quantity.
Out west, there was no consistent manufacturing of pommel shields or mortice plates. It was left to each arsenal and their sub contractors to make them which usually ended with inconsistencies or often, no one making any at all. While I have in my collection odd ball shields including at least one tin shield, I have never been able to find any shields positively identifiable to a particular western arsenal much less any consistency in their manufacture. However, several variations of likely but sadly non-descript shields and mortice plates are noted and excavated.
The shield on this saddle is brass with an unusual tin or silver plating I could not tell which. Its CS embossing is very different from the common Richmond Arsenal pattern both in the overall shape and the CS embossing- which is spaced entirely different. The shield, while not your typical Richmond Arsenal product is different but unlike any fakes I have ever seen. The standard fakes are re-pops of the Richmond pattern shield. Fakes are rare by reputable dealers and collectors except out of ignorance. Occasionally, someone attempts to sell a saddle with one of these fake shields however, they are usually exposed through other inconsistent manufacturing or construction details in the saddle. The saddles’s other mortice plates are very similar to Federal patterns but these are also found on Confederate saddles too.
Conclusion: The shield is not a Richmond Arsenal product. Is the shield legit? I think it is. Where from? I do not know.



Brass Overlay: This saddle has military style brass moulding that covers the cantle and pommel. I have noted that few, if any Confederate macs (none I can think of or find right now) positively identified to ANV officers- have brass overlay. However, I am aware that there are two known Jenifer saddles with brass overly. One of 1862 South Carolina origins although with questionable provenance and one with no provenance at all. On the other hand, Federal officer’s saddles quite often had brass overlay.
Out west, considering the number of McClellans saddles made via Nashville, Atlanta and later the other arsenals, the use of macs for officers saddles would appear to be more common. In addition, varying descriptions of arsenal contracts in the west for officers saddles mention “brass hardware”. I also note at least one CS McClellan saddle positively id’d to Gen John Adams (killed at Franklin and complete with bullet holes) has brass overlay (see page 91 of my first book). While one surviving example doe not make it conclusive it is nonetheless, interesting.

In summary: When considering all of the above “circumstantial” evidence, I may be wrong or, I may have missed something important but, given these reasons I am speculating (opinion alert!!) that this saddle could be.
1. A Confederate officer’s saddle made from a refurbished Federal (even one “hodgpodged” for a trooper);
2. A Confederate arsenal authorized and manufactured officer’s saddle or,
3. Maybe even a privately constructed Confederate officer’s saddle.


I am "truly" sorry this is so long! Really!!

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[rbruno]

Re: Western CS Officer's McClellan Saddle??

Thanks Ken for the great explanation. It is a very intersting saddle. As with all "finds" too bad there is not more information with the saddle on its history. Given all of the reasons you stated, I am going to guess at #1 on your list. With all the federal hardware pieces, I would through my hat if it is worth it in that this was a refurbished Federal saddle sold back out to an CS officer.
Thanks for posting the explanation and pics. Also, great pommel holster pictures.