"Potsdam" Musket Photos

[Grabenkater]

Has anyone seen a photo of a Federal soldier armed with a Potsdam/ Prussian musket?

[Third Mainer]

Re: "Potsdam" Musket Photos

Don't know if you have a copy, but there's one on p. 127 of Johnsons book Cartridge Boxes of the Union Infantryman. It's mislabeled as an Austrian rifle.

[tsgalloway]

Re: "Potsdam" Musket Photos

Not exactly photos, but this thread speaks of numbers that were imported: http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...e-in-Civil-War

[tsgalloway]

Re: "Potsdam" Musket Photos

From the above thread in a post by Tim Prince: "The Prussian M-1809 aka "Potsdam" saw heavy use by Western Theater US troops in the opening months of the American Civil War. Some estimates place the number of Potsdam muskets in the ranks of Grant's men at Fort Donelson at nearly 50%. It is a very appropriate weapon for a Western Theater Federal infantryman from the beginning of the war, to as late as the Vicksburg campaign. They show up with OHIO property stamps from time to time. They are typically stamped on the wrist and the flat opposite the lock. They also appear with both the "CITY OF PHILADELPHIA" and the "A WURFFLEIN" mark from time to time- the marks are a city property mark and the mark of gunsmith Wurfflein who was not the procurer as has long been thought, but apparently inspected them and stamped them to show they were serviceable (I have to credit author David Noe for that bit of information). Plenty of variations came over here, including the M-1839, the M-1839/55 and the M-1839 German Federal Naval rifle - quite rare but apparently they were purchased by Philadelphia in some quantity, as a handful have been documented with the Wurfflein and Philadelphia marks."

[tsgalloway]

Re: "Potsdam" Musket Photos

Looks to be a "Potsdam" in his hands...

[pvt_dirty]

Re: "Potsdam" Musket Photos

Off topic but what kind of cap pouch is in this photo?

Thanks
Tyler Goodrich

[gsusat]

Re: "Potsdam" Musket Photos

Looks like a shield front cap pouch. There is a flap of the frock coat skirt that covers the bottom of the cap pouch flap. The shield front was a prewar pattern and was produced early in the war as well.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: "Potsdam" Musket Photos

While not a particular image, if I recall correctly there are a number of different import muskets seen in these albums http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/caption/...ljenquist.html .

All the best,