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Thread: 1st Michigan 3-Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment rifles?

  1. #1
    cannonmn is offline
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    1st Michigan 3-Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment rifles?

    This question is on the Company of Military Historians forum and I took the liberty of copying it here-you may have the answer.

    "I am giving some thought to writing an article for the journal about the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment. They reportedly made the deepest penetration up Henry Hill during the 1st Battle of Bull Run. Few photographs are available and I am thinking of adding uniform illustrations. To get the illustrations right I need information on their arms.

    Not being very knowledgeable on muskets, I am having trouble understanding their weapons. The Detroit Light Guard took their pre war muskets with them. Various sources describe these arms as, in 1859 as percussion rifles, in 1859 as new Minnie rifles, and in 1861 as rifled muskets. In 1861, they had 60 state owned rifled muskets, 6 revolvers and 8 non-commissioned officers swords. Many men attached gold or silver shields to the rifle stocks; the shield were engraved with their identification number. The rifle stocks were varnished, the locks and screws blued and the barrels burnished. At the end of the companies three months of active service, these personalized muskets were turned over to the Ordinance Department. Would I be mistaken in believing their arms to be Model 1855 Rife Muskets? Are there any photographs of rifles from this era with these types of identification shields?

    The rest of the regiment carried either rifle muskets the State received in 1859 or what the 1st Regiment was issued. The newspapers called these issued arms, Springfield 1857 improved percussion muskets. These Springfield's replaced the Harper's Ferry 1846 muskets the 1st Regiment were originally issued. I am guessing this refers to Model 1855 Rifled Muskets and Model 1842 Rifle Muskets.

    Bill Carr "

  2. #2
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    Re: 1st Michigan 3-Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment rifles?

    According to "Michigan in the War" the Baltimore American newspaper commented upon the First's march through the city in mid May, 1861:

    "They were exceedingly well equipped, thanks to the liberality of the State of Michigan, which had furnished them with an entire outfit from head to foot, and were armed with the new minie guns."

    We can only assumed that these were probably Model 1855 rifle muskets or possibly Model 1861's. Both models appear in the three year regiments ordnance records at the close of 1862.

    Bruce W. Miller
    NCOIC
    1st Michigan Infantry
    N-SSA 121

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    Re: 1st Michigan 3-Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment rifles?

    Since production of the M1861 did not start until the spring of 1861, I am sure the 1st Michigan had M1855 rifle muskets.

    Phil
    Regards,


    Phil Spaugy

  4. #4
    Jim_Burgess_2078V is offline
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    Re: 1st Michigan 3-Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment rifles?

    My research also indicates the 1st Michigan regiment had M1855 rifle-muskets at Bull Run.
    Jim Burgess
    Museum Specialist , Manassas NBP
    (15th CVI)

  5. #5
    cannonmn is offline
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    Re: 1st Michigan 3-Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment rifles?

    Thanks for the info, I'll make sure Bill knows.

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