Ballard Rifles

[Mississippian]

Gents,

In my research into the 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry (Union), I have come across numerous records of men deserting the ranks and taking their firearms with them. While most are simple Springfield Rifles, I have come across a number of Ballard Rifles (and one carbine version) being taken. I know the federal government bought only a few Carbines and Kentucky many more, but I have found no real info on the production of the Rifle version. Anyone have the production numbers this arm?

Will MacDonald

[Bmanz1085]

Re: Ballard Rifles

From the Springfield Armory Museum Site:

"In view of the sophistication of the design and the enthusiasm shown by recipients, if surviving testimonials are reliable, the meagre Federal government purchases are difficult to understand - merely 35 rifles and 1509 carbines, costing $36.06 and $23.29 apiece. The rifles were apparently purchased in Florida for sharpshooters of the 34th US Colored Infantry Regiment.
A contract had been signed as early in October 1862 to supply 1000 rifles and possibly also 2500 carbines, but the output of Dwight Chapin & Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, may have been poor enough to force the arms inspectors to reject large numbers of individual guns. Six hundred riflesPerfected Ballard rifles, made by Ball & Williams of Worcester, Massachusetts, in .44, .46 or .56 rimfire, were 45in. long, had 30-inch barrels and weighed about 8.25 lb. Most had three iron barrel bands.
Chambering .44 or .54 cartridges, the carbines had 20-inch barrels and measured 37.25in overall. Wooden fore-ends retained by a single barrel band were standard, often with a swivel under the band; a second swivel lay beneath the butt....
Although the Ballard rifle had failed to attract much Federal ordnance interest during the Civil War, extensive use by state militiamen in Kentucky had proved it to be much more efficient than many rival single-shot breechloading designs. Originally patented by Charles Ballard in November 1861 (US no. 33,631), the rifle survived long after the war had ended - not only in the hands of Westerners, but also to gain an enviable reputation for accuracy on the target range."

They do reference that KY ordered some 15,000

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Ballard Rifles

Hallo!

The Ballard Rifles are limited at the federal level, with only 36 (Reilly) being purchased 1862-1863 at $36 each (the price is the reason).

A number of states made their own purchases. "Kentucky" Ballard rifles are tricky, as Ballard used the stamped name "Kentucky" as a product name not ncessarily indicating State of Kentucky ownership. Having been favorably impressed by their carbine order, KY ordered 4,000 in 1864, and got 1,000 .46
RF rifles by April 1864. Kentucky also ordered 3,000 of the .56 (.54) RF but somehow settled on a .46 RF.

One can, maybe, look at overall known serial number range: .46 rimfires are recorded between 9400 and 13100. So... my poor math says 12,160 (assuming, and I don't know, without research... whether 6.600 Ballard Carbines were included or numbered separately).

Curt

[Mississippian]

Re: Ballard Rifles

Interesting. So we know they were government arms because the men were charged for them when they took them. Perhaps they were on loan from the State of Kentucky since these men had no "loyal" state government to call their own?

One of the "legends" involving the 3rd NCMI is that they bought Spencer Rifles with money and goods looted from Confederate supporters in east Tennessee and western North Carolina. Confederate accounts of the Camp Vance raid in June 1864 mention that the raiders were armed with Spencer Rifles and Spencer bullets have been dug from around the site of the camp. So far I have only found 2 Spencer Rifles being charged to the men, although if they were bought privately then they wouldn't be charged, would they?

One thing that we do know for sure is that the commander of the 3rd, Col. G.W. Kirk, and several of his family members who were in the regiment, bought their own Henry Rifles sometime in 1864.

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Ballard Rifles

Ok,

So Pvt. James Peddecord, Co. "B" 3rd N.C.M.I. was charged $26.13 after he deserted with his Ballard and Accoutrements, that would make it seem that it was the Carbine version that they were issued with.....

Will MacDonald

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Ballard Rifles

Hallo!

It may take more research.

He could have been docked a pro-rated/depreciated, or "used" value.

Curt