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Re: From the records...breast straps and cruppers.
Good question Larry. It is clear that Memphis like other early facilities purchased large amounts of civilian saddlery early in the conflict then conducted their own manufacture. What kind? Though I do not know, I will "speculate" and "suggest" that "military" (ala" Cavalry) saddle manufacture was of the McClellan pattern similar to that being made in Nashville at the same time. Why? they were connected by and under orders by the State of Tennessee early in the conflict then put under Confederate authority later. Major Willliam R Hunt (Memphis ordnance station commander) and Moses H Wright (arsenal commander at Nashville then later Atlanta) were in communication sharing information and rescources. Nashville made McCellans. Both facilites were evacuated within months of each other. Nashville to Atlanta (in Feb 1862) and Memphis to Columbus Miss. (in May 1862) then Selma (Jan. 1863).
Tens of thousands of saddles were made and issued from Memphis in the short year or so of its operation including large numbers of other equipment, weapons and ammunition. Unfortunately, very little original record of its operations have survived. Most has been pieced together from a wide variety of sources. I have a short bio on the Memphis Depot in my second book but I am not aware of anyone who has done a lengthy history of the depot.
I had a photo (I remember him as a large man) and bio somewhere for Maj. Hunt but could not find it but I believe I remember Hunt had some pre-war service that made him a good choice for Ordnance officer at Memphis as well as exposure to military saddlery.
His home in Memphis, the Hunt Phelan home still stands and has an extraordinary history including serving as Grant's Headquarters, a Freedmen's Bureau after the war, and more. As recent as the 1980's the home was still lived in by family decendents and still contained all of its orginal furnishings and many, many relics from its past. However, several "issues" since then have damaged that integrity in many ways. If one would google the home you can find mountains of interesting information regarding its past and present.
Anyway, I got kinda long here but until better info. comes along I think for reenacting purposes, an early CS McClellan similar to the Nashville Pattern would be "appropriate" to assimilate for a Memphis issue cav saddle. Details? Well, that is another speculative question.
Ken R Knopp
Good question Larry. It is clear that Memphis like other early facilities purchased large amounts of civilian saddlery early in the conflict then conducted their own manufacture. What kind? Though I do not know, I will "speculate" and "suggest" that "military" (ala" Cavalry) saddle manufacture was of the McClellan pattern similar to that being made in Nashville at the same time. Why? they were connected by and under orders by the State of Tennessee early in the conflict then put under Confederate authority later. Major Willliam R Hunt (Memphis ordnance station commander) and Moses H Wright (arsenal commander at Nashville then later Atlanta) were in communication sharing information and rescources. Nashville made McCellans. Both facilites were evacuated within months of each other. Nashville to Atlanta (in Feb 1862) and Memphis to Columbus Miss. (in May 1862) then Selma (Jan. 1863).
Tens of thousands of saddles were made and issued from Memphis in the short year or so of its operation including large numbers of other equipment, weapons and ammunition. Unfortunately, very little original record of its operations have survived. Most has been pieced together from a wide variety of sources. I have a short bio on the Memphis Depot in my second book but I am not aware of anyone who has done a lengthy history of the depot.
I had a photo (I remember him as a large man) and bio somewhere for Maj. Hunt but could not find it but I believe I remember Hunt had some pre-war service that made him a good choice for Ordnance officer at Memphis as well as exposure to military saddlery.
His home in Memphis, the Hunt Phelan home still stands and has an extraordinary history including serving as Grant's Headquarters, a Freedmen's Bureau after the war, and more. As recent as the 1980's the home was still lived in by family decendents and still contained all of its orginal furnishings and many, many relics from its past. However, several "issues" since then have damaged that integrity in many ways. If one would google the home you can find mountains of interesting information regarding its past and present.
Anyway, I got kinda long here but until better info. comes along I think for reenacting purposes, an early CS McClellan similar to the Nashville Pattern would be "appropriate" to assimilate for a Memphis issue cav saddle. Details? Well, that is another speculative question.
Ken R Knopp
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