cannonmn
08-01-2010, 08:04 AM
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 "
"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 "