Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade

[26th NC]

Does anyone know of any authentic Federal cavalry re-enactors who portray either a cavalryman in Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade, or a generic cavalryman from the Army of the Potomac that are in the Chicago area, possibly even Michigan?

If you do, please have them contact me at my cell, 847-612-8312, or at either of my my email; pennlmj@yahoo.com or layton.pennington@usar.army.mil.

Layton Pennington
26th NC

[Chris Suppelsa]

Re: Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade

There is a group here in Michigan who portrays them, but they are NOT what you would call authentic.

[1stMaine]

Re: Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade

Chris,

I suppose it might also be a bit difficult finding those Spencer rifles they were armed with.....

Respects,

[Minieball577]

Re: Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade

The Reproduction Spencer Rifles are available, and can be made accurate with a small amount of work.

[jpbab]

Re: Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade

Chris,

I suppose it might also be a bit difficult finding those Spencer rifles they were armed with.....

Respects,

The entire brigade was not armed with the spencers.

"The first reported Confederate use of a Spencer was by Sergeant W.O. Johnson, Co. C of the 49th Va. Infantry on July 3rd 1863. He used one of the repeaters in fighting around Culps Hill at the battle of Gettysburg.12 How an infantry sergeant managed to capture a Spencer so quickly, and with an apparently adequate supply of ammunition, is a mystery. In the east they had been issued only to the 5th and 6th Michigan cavalry. Up to that date, there had been no major engagements between northern cavalry and southern infantry in the Gettysburg campaign. "

Source http://www.civilwarguns.com/spen2b1.html