Inspection Report of Shelby's Missouri Cavalry Brigade, Oct. 1863

[Mississippian]

Shelby's "Iron" Brigade.

CSR of Lt. J. Moore:

Inspection of Shelby's Missouri Brigade Oct. 23rd 1863:

Shelby's (5th) Missouri Cavalry:

Officers Armed and Mounted: 6
Men Armed and Mounted: 32
Officers Unarmed and Mounted: 0
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 0
Officers Armed and Unmounted: 0
Men Armed and Unmounted: 2
Discipline: not noted
Instruction: not noted
Sabers in hands of officers: 6
Sabers in hands of men: 0
Muskets: 21
Miss Rifle: 1
Enfield Rifle: 6
Aust Rifle: 0
Belg Rifle: 0
Sharp (?) R: 0
Shotguns: 4
Navy Pistols: 2
Dragoon Pistols: 0
Cartridges per man: 20


Jean's (12th) Missouri Cavalry:

Officers Armed and Mounted: 6
Men Armed and Mounted: 49
Officers Unarmed and Mounted: 0
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 8
Officers Armed and Unmounted: 0
Men Armed and Unmounted: 3
Discipline: not noted
Instruction: not noted
Sabers in hands of officers: 6
Sabers in hands of men: 0
Muskets: 23
Miss Rifle: 13
Enfield Rifle: 1
Aust Rifle: 3
Belg Rifle: 0
Sharp (?) R: 7
Shotguns: 0
Navy Pistols: 12
Dragoon Pistols: 2
Cartridges per man: 20

Thompson's (6th) Missouri Cavalry:

Officers Armed and Mounted: 5
Men Armed and Mounted: 38
Officers Unarmed and Mounted: 0
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 2
Officers Armed and Unmounted: 0
Men Armed and Unmounted: 0
Discipline: not noted
Instruction: not noted
Sabers in hands of officers: 3
Sabers in hands of men: 0
Muskets: 16
Miss Rifle: 6
Enfield Rifle: 1
Aust Rifle: 10
Belg Rifle: 1
Sharp (?) R: 1
Shotguns: 1
Navy Pistols: 2
Dragoon Pistols:
Cartridges per man: 20

Elliott's (1st) Missouri Cavalry Battalion:

Officers Armed and Mounted: 1
Men Armed and Mounted: 20
Officers Unarmed and Mounted: 0
Men Unarmed and Mounted: 0
Officers Armed and Unmounted: 0
Men Armed and Unmounted: 0
Discipline: not noted
Instruction: not noted
Sabers in hands of officers: 1
Sabers in hands of men: 0
Muskets: 9
Miss Rifle: 1
Enfield Rifle: 2
Aust Rifle: 5
Belg Rifle: 0
Sharp (?) R: 0
Shotguns: 3
Navy Pistols: 3
Dragoon Pistols: 0
Cartridges per man: 20

Inspectors Comments:

Thompson's Regiment reports 21 men absent on duty who will be in this evening. Jean's Regiment 18 men absent in same measure. I found the arms of the men in good condition, the horses in tolerable condition but found one-half to one-third need shoeing. The men are without blankets, and greatly need warm clothing."


Will MacDonald.

[9thmocav]

Re: Inspection Report of Shelby's Missouri Cavalry Brigade, Oct. 1863

Is the term Enfield Rifle being used to describe a two-bander or a three-bander? I ask because I was under the impression that the 1853 Enfield was called a rifle musket.

Will Watson

[Mississippian]

Re: Inspection Report of Shelby's Missouri Cavalry Brigade, Oct. 1863

Unfortunately most officers use the terms "rifle" "rifle-musket" and even "rifled musket" interchangeably, so there is no way to tell for sure what exactly he is talking about.

Will MacDonald

[Silas]

Re: Inspection Report of Shelby's Missouri Cavalry Brigade, Oct. 1863

Didn't know they were remounted after Vicksburg. I had thought they remained unmounted cavalrymen who fought as infantry for the remainder of the war.

Surprised by how few men constituted this brigade in name only. There are enough men in each regiment to have undersized companies, but not enough companies to form a regiment. Still, the numbers are larger than what reenactors bring to reenactments.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Inspection Report of Shelby's Missouri Cavalry Brigade, Oct. 1863

I'm not sure what you mean by 'remounted after Vicksburg' Silas. Shelby's boys only served west of the river in the Trans-Miss. They were not at Vicksburg.

[Savez]

Re: Inspection Report of Shelby's Missouri Cavalry Brigade, Oct. 1863

Are inspection reports found digitally now online or do you have to go to the National Archives for those? It's interesting to me that someone brought up reenacting. I was watching YouTube videos of cavalry at reenactments and it seems that authenticity is not adhered to. I'm not a reenactor so maybe I shouldn't criticize but just an observation.

Clint Hathcock