A few early war Ordnance Records fof the 2nd Virginia Cavalry

[Mississippian]

Just a light, update so far today, ordnance records for the Fitz Lee/Wickham brigade are proving to be scarce, but I'm still working on it. In the meantime, enjoy a few early war records from the 2nd VA Cav. I found the different sizes of shotguns in use interesting.


CSR of Maj. W. Graves

Jan. 19th 1862 (For Co. F)

1000 Double Barrel Shotgun Cartridges
2000 Percussion Caps
80 Enfield Rifle Cartridges

CSR of Lt. Col. J. Watts

Oct 19th 1861 (For Co. A)

4000 Shotgun Caps
400 Colts Army Pistol Cartridges
600 Colts Navy Pistol Cartridges
4900 14 Gauge Shotgun Cartridges
50 16 Gauge Shotgun Cartridges
50 18 Gauge Shotgun Cartridges

Nov. 18th 1861 (For Co. A)

8 Halters
22 Halter Straps
2 pr Stirrups
14 Girths
1 Bridle and Bit
6 pr Bridle Reins

Nov. 20th 1861 (For Co. A)

500 Sharps Carbine Cartridges

Will MacDonald

[rbruno]

Re: A few early war Ordnance Records fof the 2nd Virginia Cavalry

Will,
As you start to look at the 2nd VA, several of the captains are signing for ordnance. As they start to move into '62, you will start to see the shotgun rounds drop and the Sharps rounds increase. The 2nd was pretty active in and around Culpepper Court House in early '62 till they were sent to the Valley in May. During the time around Culpepper Court House, they had nurmerous small skirmishes with the Federals and were capturing a good number of men. When they got to the Valley and went into the battle of Winchester in late May, they help pushed the federals out of the town and capture a lot of stores. Munford wrote, "As the cavalry had captured at Winchester and Martinsburg all the arms they wanted, they soon exchanged their double barreled shot guns for carbines and began to be dragoons, and before two years were out, good ones too, for we had an abundance of carbine and pistol ammunition which we used without stint." The 2nd still draws some shotgun ammunition after this, but it starts to decline after the summer when the 2nd takes part in the battles around and during 2nd Manassas. They followed Jackson out of the Valley in June and joined him in Ashland around late June. They were mostly his advance gaurd or other duty for Jackson for most of this campaign. They captured a little over 150 men at the small town of Waterford in early Sept. So I think based on the change in ordnance, they were getting better equiped as '62 went on. So, when they entered MD for the Antietem campaign, I think, at least the 2nd, was well equiped. I will be interested to see what more you dig up on them.