For you viewing pleasure...

[Forrestcavalryman]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

That had to be the highlight of my weekend at Perryville!

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Yea, but I tried the action too! It was sweet with a remarkably light trigger pull... No I didn't let it dry fire, I held the hammer. I bet it is/ was a good shooter!

[RJSamp]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Gents, the 3rd-7th Illinois cavalries were outfitted with surplus Mex War saddlery!

FWIW the 8th ILL Cavalry was issued Grimsley's at Camp Kane, East Bank of the Fox River in St. Charles, MO. An older gentlemen from the 7th ILL Cavalry (reenacting) told me that their were something like three (3) McClellan's available out west in 1861.....hence the Grimsley's. Don't know the date but eventually the 8th was issue McClellan's while they were out East.

[Mark Choate]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Zack,

You forget that I was there when you were holding the Buford repeater. I distinctly remember you, while wearing those white gloves, holding it in the air and saying, "Hey, y'all, check this out........(sound) cock-click, cock-click, cock-click....."

It was about then when we were all escorted out, I think.

kidding of course,
Mark

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

RJ, Cool I didn't realize the 8th was so issued; I've downloaded their regimental history but haven't read it yet...

Mark, I DID ask Joni BEFORE I tried the action... She is not a person to trifle with or someone to have angry at you… I'm afraid of Joni... very afraid.

[Brian Baird]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Gents,
Greg Schuller of Peoria, Il has been researching the Illinois quartermaster records for 20 years. I went through about 250 pages that he has shared with me and this was information I came up with on what Illinois issued to it’s cavalry regiments at the start of the war. It appears that Illinois issued much of the uniforms and equipments before the troops left the state.
Grimsley saddles:
This is from Chicago Tribune, January 30, 1862, pg. 4, col. 2-3.
TURNER & SIDWAY, NO. 208 RANDOLPH STREET.

Among the houses engaged in the manufacture of military equipments is that of Turner & Sidway, No. 208 Randolph street. This firm have for the last three years, and previous to the rebellion, been engaged in the general saddlery jobbing trade, making all articles in their line upon their own premises, with the exception of whips. In May, 1861, they abandoned their legitimate business and entered exclusively upon the manufacture of military equipments. The first contract filled was one for Capt. Barker’s Dragoons, on an order from the Quartermaster’s Department of the State of Illinois. Since that time they have manufactured and sold 12,260 full sets of cavalry equipments, of which number 5000 were the “McClellan,” and 7,260 the “Grimsley.” Of these 1,156 sets were furnished the 11th Illinois Cavalry, Col. R. I. Ingersoll, on an order from the United States; 1,156 went to the 3rd Iowa Cavalry, Col. Cyrus Bussey, on an order from the same source; 400 to the 2nd Iowa Cavalry, Col. Elliott, upon a Government order; 200 to the Iowa 1st Cavalry, Colonel Fitz Henry Warren; 200 to the 36th Illinois Regiment, Col. Greusel; (this was an Infantry Regiment with two Companies of Cavalry attached) 453 to the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, Col. W. A. Barstow, on an order from Capt. Trowbridge, U.S. Quartermaster; 176 to the U. S. Quartermaster’s Department at St. Louis, on the order of the late Col. Webb; 500 to the State of Ohio; 1,100 to Col. Dickey’s 4th Illinois Cavalry, on the order of the U. S. Quartermaster; and 6,909 to ex-Governor Wood, and by him distributed to the several Illinois Regiments. Officers’ equipments have been furnished, among others to Generals Prentiss, Paine, Pope, Palmer, Hurlburt, Colonels Wyman, Barstow, Ingersoll, Dickey, Greusel, Wood, Parker and Marsh. The amount received for ordinary cavalry equipments is $32.35 each. Officers pay from $75.00 to $95.00 each, according to the degree of ornamentation bestowed. They have furnished 1,000 sets since the 1st of January, 1861, at $29 per set__two dollars less than the army regulation price, as revised November 5th, 1861; and they are also at work upon a contract for 5,000 more, for supplying regiments and parts of regiments now being raised in different parts of the State. These are the “McClellan” equipments, and are furnished at the reduced rate above mentioned, showing a reduction to the State of the neat little sum of $12,500 from the regulation price.
CONDICT, WOOLEY & CO, NO. 52 LAKE ST.

This firm previous to the war were well known as extensive dealers in Saddlery Hardware, and in that branch of trade had secured an extensive business and acquired an excellent reputation as dealers. On the breaking out of the rebellion in addition to their regular trade they turned their attention to the manufacture of military equipments, in which they have been singularly successful. They have secured extensive contracts, and obtained the recommendation and good will of all whom they have furnished. Of the quality of the goods manufactured, principally cavalry equipments, it is impossible to speak too highly. So well did they fulfill their contracts that orders were received from many points not legitimately seeking Chicago as a manufacturing and contracting point; and this firm are represented in their manufactures in almost every division of the army on the Potomac, in Missouri, in Ohio, in Kentucky, and wherever our troops have been stationed; and it is patent to all judges that their equipments do not suffer by comparison. The equipage of that splendid regiment, the 8th Illinois Cavalry, Col. Farnsworth, entirely furnished by them, has been especially noted by army officers as the perfection of military manufacture. It will be remembered that this regiment was ordered to the Potomac where the quality of the work and its general adaptability to the service was brought into comparison with that made at all the principal Eastern manufacturing points, and few equaled, and none excelled them.
Some of the regiments supplied were:
Col. Farnsworth’s regiment with 1,200 full sets of cavalry equipments; Col. Brackett’s 1,080 sets; the First Iowa, Col. Fitz Henry Warren, 750 sets; 100 sets for Fremont’s body guard; 600 sets for U. S. Quartermaster’s Department at St. Louis; 100 sets for the cavalry company attached to Col. Wilson’s regiment. They have also furnished a large number of officer’s equipments, among whom are Cols. Farnsworth, Bracket, Warren, and several of the officers attached to the 12th Wisconsin.
They have now on exhibition at their store a magnificent saddle and accompanying equipments for Col. Cuming of the 51st Illinois volunteers, ordered by the officers and privates of his command, which for general excellence and beauty cannot be surpassed. It is the best set of officer’s equipment ever manufactured in this city, and is valued at $125 complete.
They also manufactured for Childs, Pratt & Fox, of St. Louis, the contractors for Gen. Fremont, 600 sets worth $18,000.
The “Grimsley” trees used were manufactured to some extent in this city, and were equal to those made at St. Louis. Besides cavalry equipments, they have furnished 3,000 knapsacks and a large number of infantry accoutrements were furnished the Union Defence Committee. During the height of the manufacturing season, three hundred and fifty men were employed, and the force was worked night and day. We were unable to learn the exact total of sales to Government and contractors to date, but the amount will not fall short of $400,000.
Brian Baird

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Very cool Brian... Greg had sent me many of the infantry issues back when I was doing infantry... Interesting that Turner and Sidway made more Grimsley patterns than McClellan, but Illinois seems to have issued more Macs... Makes me wonder what happened to them all??? Thanks for sharing. Z

[GAR]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

I assume he slung it around to the left side for the image (assuming this is a reversed image) Also, he could have been left handed too. It would be awkard to shoot right-sided if he was a lefty. I've seen a few longrifles that were pre-war that were made for left handed shooters... we may never know. Z

Doesn't the Hardee brim turned up on the right side (for cav) suggest that the image hasn't been reversed and it's the saber that's been slung over to the off side?
I am unschooled regarding shabraques. Does the tape pattern indicate a rank?
If it is an enlisted trooper, is it possible that his c. o. had this man saddle and bring his horse up to him, or even had the trooper "warm up" his mount, when a photographer happened by?
Great photo and discussion!

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

Guys, I have had a mental prolapse about images... Gary, I had not considered a reversed image based off his Hardee! Also upon enlarging it and flipping the image is this actually a "Texas" or horned saddle?!?!? Z

[TexCavly]

Re: For you viewing pleasure...

I see the horn. That's pretty cool, anybody seen the picture of the yankee bugler playing "draw sabers"? If you blow it up it is also a horned saddle, the horn is thin and tall and metal.