Weapons and Arms
of the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Co. 'F'
and the 22nd Virginia Cavalry, Co. 'E'
-Revolvers-
Model 1851 and 1858 Colt Navy and Army Revolver .44 and .36 Cal.
This Percussion Revolver was a single action 6 shot cap and ball pistol. It was a favorite of Confederate Cavalry during the war a easy to duplicate in the manufacturing process, the weapon was the most copied pistol type reproduced by in the .36 Caliber by Southern small arms manufactures. It is 13 inches in overall length with a 7.5 inch octagon barrel. Point sight on barrel. Rear sight through hammer. By the wars end 185,000 Navy colts had been produced
Model 1858 Remington Army Revolver .44 Cal
This Percussion Revolver was a single action 6 shot cap and ball pistol and was a very accurate black powder pistol. It had an 8 inch octagonal rifled barrel. The original was marked on top "Patented Dec. 17, 1861 Manufactured by Remington's Ilion N.Y. Total Length 13.75 inches. Weight 2lbs. 14 oz. German Silver cone front sight. Rear sight grooved in the frame. Brass oval trigger guard. Blued throughout except for casehardened hammer. Walnut stocks. Made with loading lever, cut away on top to permit removal of cylinder without dropping level. This was a favorite weapon of Confederate Cavalry was mainly used after capture. The U.S. War Department had purchased 114,000 by the end of the war at $12.00 a piece.
-Rifles-
Used by the 22nd Virginia and the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry
Pattern 1856 and Pattern 1858 Enfield Rifle .58 Cal
The Pattern 1856 and Pattern 1858 Enfield "Short" Rifle was imported in numbers by the both Federal and Confederate Governments. This weapon had a 47.5 inch barrel with five groove bore and a 1:48 inch spiral. The "leaf" sight were marked to 1500 yards. It was a favorite weapon of both sides. It was popular at the beginning of the war for its gaudy sword bayonet which saw little practical use in combat. It was a particular favorite of Confederate Cavalry Units and was a weapon of choice for units that served under the Famous Confederate Raider Brigadier John Hunt Morgan of Kentucky. It was also the primary weapon of Brigadier General John McCausland's Cavalry Brigade with whom the 22nd Virginia Cavalry was attached during the majority of its service. This weapon was also issue to companies of the 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.
-Carbines-
Used by the 22nd Virginia Cavalry
1859 Sharps Carbine and Richmond Sharps .54 Cal.
The weapon was produced at Harper's Ferry Arsenal. About 5,500 were produced at the Richmond Arsenal for the Confederacy. about 5,000 for by the Confederate Government and S. C. Robinson of Richmond. The the breech loading action of this weapon was obviously easier to load in the saddle and was the favorite of carbine of both sides during the conflict. The Richmond version was of a lesser quality leading General Lee to lament " so defective as to be demoralizing to our men" the Confederates made use of captured Sharps but coming by ammunition was hard to come by. 80,000 Sharps Rifles were produced by the Federal Government and its contractors.
Bbl.length:22"; O.A.L.: 39"; Weight: 7 lbs. 12 oz; Rate of twist: 1:48; Rec. Bullet: Flat Base .54 cal.
-Other Carbines-
Pattern 1856 and 1860 Enfield Carbine "Musketoon" .577 Cal
This weapon was produced by the Enfield Factory and under contact for the Confederacy by London Armory Company and the Birmingham Gunsmith Guilds for use in British Artillery units to defend itself against enemy Infantry and Cavalry Units. It has a 24 inch barrel and a five groove 1:48 inch spiral. The rifles "leaf" sight was a short version of the longer 1853 Enfield Rifle marked up to 600yds. The weapon took the .577 caliber bullet. It sported the 22" Yartagan Sword Bayonet as the Short Rifle. These weapons were imported by the Federal and Confederate Governments and issued primarily to Artillery Units but was used by the Confederate Cavalry when they could be aquired when carbines were not available, the Pattern 1853 Cavalry Carbine was imported also it had a 21" Barrel and a attached swivel ramrod. The Cavalry version did not have the Henry Yartagan Sword Bayonet lug. Only fewer that 5,000 Carbines of both types were run through the blockade to the Confederacy.
Cook & Brothers Artillery Carbine or "Musketoon" .58 Cal
Englishmen Ferdinand and Francis Cook immigrated to the new Confederacy in 1861 and set up a gun manufactory in New Orleans. LA. Ferdinand was an engineer and had worked for Enfield during the 1850s. The Cook & Brother , New Orleans 1861-1862, Athens Georgia; 1863-1864. Patterned after the 1853 Enfield "Musketoon" Artillery Carbine. Total produced is unknown probably less than a 1,000; 33 inch barrel 58 caliber rifled barrel. The Artillery and Cavalry Carbine. Some were produced with or without lug on right side of muzzle for saber bayonet. Brass blade front sight and V-notch rear sight. Two brass barrel bands retained with barrel band retaining springs. Brass sling swivels attached to forward barrel band and trigger guard tang. Steel ramrod of tulip head type. Brass mountings including brass cap on tip of forend with a Walnut stock.
J.P Murray Carbine .58 Cal
Made by Eldridge S. Greenwood and William C. Gray, Columbus Georgia; c.1862-1964. Total produced unknown. 33 inch round 58 caliber rifled barrel. Finish believed to have been bright. Found with or without lug on right side of muzzle for saber bayonet. Brass blade front sight and V-notch rear sight. Two brass barrel bands retained with barrel band retaining springs. Iron sling swivels attached to forward barrel band and trigger guard bow. Steel ramrod of tulip head type. Brass mountings including brass cap on tip of forend. Casehardened lock with a Walnut stock.
-Edged Weapons-
Cavalry Saber
The Confederate Cavalryman was not complete without his saber. It was a hold over from the Napoleonic Era. Was not use for cutting and stabbing. It was mainly used to knock a foe from his horse and break bones by bludgeoning and hacking. Confederate Cavalry swords where made by various armories and contractor throughout the south. One famous sword production was the "Nashville Plow Sword" produced from melted down steel plows.
02/08/11