Spencers, Henry, Etc. Question on ammo issue

[fortdonelsonrelics]

In speaking with the historian at Fort Donelson the other day regarding the 14th Missouri / 66th ILL, he made mention of a reference in a book whereas the issuing of ammunition for Henry's would have been made late 1863 and later.

I am working on getting the book from him to read it in its context, however, the question remains.

At a time when repeating weapons where not completely accepted by the government and were privately purchased by regiments like Wilder's Brigade and the 66th Illinois, who was responsible for the ammo?

John Walsh

[Curt Schmidt]

Hallo!

In regards to Henry's, there some few thousands in Federal service, many/most were private purchases. But, the Government (Ordnance Department) assumed responsibility for the ammo, initially ordering small lots of cartridges in October of 1863 from the New Haven Arms Company or Crittenden & Tibbal.
In April of 1864 General Ramsay tried to buy a lot of 400,000 at $16.00/M from Winchester, but was declined due to a desire to get higher prices. Ramsay was able to up the contract in July to 2,000,000 but paid the new price or $20.00/M. And in December, when the 2 million had been finally delivered, they ordered another 1 million at $24.00/M.

In rough numbers, between 1862 and 1865 a little over 10,000 rifles were sold, with the U.S. purchasing less than 20% of them. But by June of 1865, it had purchased 3,964,000 from New Haven, and 500,000 from Crittenden & Tibbal, with an unspecified additional 146,400 cartridges between June 1865 and June 1866.

Curt