Ordnance Records of the 3rd Mississippi Cavalry

[Mississippian]

I have been looking for info about this unit for a long time. This regiment was organized in the spring of 1863 from men who had been in the State Troops in Northern Mississippi. A homemade jacket belonging to one of the men exists in the University of Mississippi Museum in Oxford MS. What is interesting about this form is that it lists the number of men in the regiment at the time and the fact that they had never been equipped by the central government.


CSR of Lt. Pope, O.O.

Ordnance Stores received at Macon Arsenal, Nov. 25th 1864 (for 171 men)

72 Saddles
163 Bridles
168 Halters
80 (?) Saddle Girths
58 pr Stirrup Leathers
128 Canteens
137 Haversacks
160 Curry Combs
160 Horse Brushes
166 Saddle Blankets
48 Sets of Accoutrements
142 Gun Slings
142 Gun Boots
136 pr Spurs
16 Breast Straps
20 Ball Screws
20 Cone Wrenches
20 Wipers
200 Horse Shoes
200 Mule Shoes
50 lbs Shoe Nails

Will MacDonald

[Mark Choate]

Re: Ordnance Records of the 3rd Mississippi Cavalry

What is interesting about this form is that it lists the number of men in the regiment at the time and the fact that they had never been equipped by the central government

Will MacDonald

Will,

The portion above intrigues me. If, by late '64 they had never equipped by the central (CS) gov't, would this mean that the items listed above would have been a) brought from home, or, b) battlefield acquisitions, or, c) were they supplied by some portion of the State of Mississippi (as opposed to the CS gov't), or, d) a combination of the above and anybody's guess?

Mark

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance Records of the 3rd Mississippi Cavalry

Mark,

It's interesting, as State Troops they provided all their own equipment except maybe a few shotguns given to them by the state. They served in various raids in late 1863 and were part of the pursuit forces that chased Sooy Smith back to Memphis in Feb. 1864. Because of those actions it's likely they had at least some Federal gear during that time frame.

Will MacDonald

[Mark Choate]

Re: Ordnance Records of the 3rd Mississippi Cavalry

Great stuff and as always, I learn a ton from these.

thx,
Mark

[Mississippian]

Re: Ordnance Records of the 3rd Mississippi Cavalry

Found a little more:

CSR of John McGuirk

Ordnance Stores received at Macon Arsenal Nov. 29th 1864:

123 Canteens
123 Canteen Straps
137 Haversacks
200 Horse Shoes
20 lb's Horse Shoe nails
42 Cartridge Boxes
42 Cartridge Box Belts
42 Cap Boxes

Will MacDonald