Southron Sr.
08-06-2010, 09:44 AM
What the heck, I "restored" an original Model 1861 Musket I picked up at a gun show back in the early 1970's for $125.00 like that Walker was restored.
1. The barrel on my Model 1861 was shot out, so I replaced it with a new Weisz barrel. It shot much better in Skirmishes after that.
2. The stock was really "ratty" so I purchased one of those 95% Springfield stocks from Dixie Gun Works and after a little stock work, replaced the stock.
3. The lock was in bad shape, so I purchased an original 1861 lock in "like new" condition and installed it.
After that, my "Restored" M 1861 looked great and it was a legitimate "restoration" because the buttplate, barrel bands and nose cap were "original."
R. McAuley 3014V
08-06-2010, 03:29 PM
Given the number of Colt Walkers lost during the Mexican War by members of the First and Second Regiments of Hayes' Texas Rangers, there ought to be quite a number of old rusty frames lying about. Below are identified at least 30 six-shooters that were lost in service, circa 1846-1848, within just one of the five companies of Hayes' Texas Rangers fighting in Mexico, which if merely the “relic frames” were discovered would potentially be worth upwards of $300,000.
Colonel John Coffee “Jack” Hayes’ First Texas Mounted Volunteers mustered in May 1846 on six month enlistments, many of whom were later discharged on disability at Carmargo in September 1846 due to illness, afterwards returning home. Hayes raised the Second Regiment of Texas Rangers in April 1847 which mustered in at San Antonio for twelve months, or during the war and were discharged in May 1848 so each company served twelve months. The war began at Palo Alto on May 9, 1846; and the treaty of peace was signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848. The American army evacuated Mexico in June, 1848.
Pvt James Chandler (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter at battle of Sequalteplan,* Feb 25, 1848
Pvt Cleveland Coffee (C. Ashton’s Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter, cost $30
Pvt Asa Dial (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter
Pvt William Fields (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter at Sequalteplan*
Pvt James Hall (Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter
Pvt William Hammock (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter at Sequalteplan*
Pvt Prince B. Hawes (C. Ashton’s Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter (died at Mexico City, Dec 15, 1847)
Pvt Dennis Hays (C. Ashton’s Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter, cost $30
Pvt Oliver Lanthrop (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter and 1 rifle (died at Mexico City, Apr 8, 1848)
Pvt Hezekiah McKelvy (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost three pistols with holsters and housings
Pvt Robert W. McMullen (Handley’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter
Pvt Nathan B. Phillips (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost two six-shooters at Sequalteplan*
Pvt John Powers (Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter
Pvt John Roberts (Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter
Pvt Felix Scott (Handley’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter
3rd Corp Jacob Sessum (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost two six-shooters
Pvt William H. Smith (C. Ashton’s Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter, $30
Pvt Irvin Stanfield (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter, $30
1 Lt Amos Strickland (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), two six-shooters unavoidably exploded (resigned Nov 30, 1847 at Jalapa, Mexico)
Pvt Andrew Stumpf (C. Ashton’s Co E, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter
1st Corp James Thomas (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost two six-shooters, $30 each and accoutrements (died Dec 8, 1847 at Puebla, Mexico)
Maj Alfred M. Truitt (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost two six-shooters in skirmish with guerillas, March 1847 (elected Major of the Regiment, Oct 26, 1847)
Pvt Andrew Jackson Truitt (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost one six-shooter at Sequalteplan*
2nd Lt Thomas F. Tucker (A.M. Truitt’s Co, Second Texas), lost two six-shooters at Sequalteplan*
*Sequalteplan (now spelt Zacualtipan) is situated about 75 miles northeast of Mexico City in the mountains (in the State of Hidalgo). It must be distinguished from the small village of Zacualpan, situated about 30 miles to the southeast of the former (in the State of Veracruz-Llave).
Note: General Winfield Scott landed his army at Vera Cruz in March 1847, and after reducing that place, advanced towards Mexico City. Fighting at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, and Churubusco, Molina del Rey, and Chapultepec, his army entered the capital September 14, 1847. Captain Chaucer Ashton succeeded Truitt on his election to Major, then afterwards died at Mexico City, Dec 14, 1847, and was succeeded by Alexander E. Handley. The companies of Captains Johnson, Ross, Highsmith, Gillett and Baylor were stationed at different points on the frontier of Texas, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Bell. All the others went with Hays to Mexico. They marched from San Antonio to Laredo, and down the west side of the Rio Grande to its mouth, about 300 miles, and were transported in steamers to Vera Cruz, where their brilliant career began. Hays and his men arrived at Vera Cruz on October 17, 1847, and two days later the first consignment of Colt’s Walker Model revolvers were delivered and issued to the Rangers. Most of the companies were discharged at Vera Cruz between April 29 and May 8, 1848.
The above enumeration of lost "six-shooters" was derived from Bennie Nix (1964) Soldiers Serving From Shelby County in 1846 - 1848 United States-Mexican War. Among those enumberated included Andrew Jackson Truitt (1819-1876) of Shelby County (late of Tarrant County), a nephew (by marriage) of my great-great-grandfather, former Texas congressman Alvey R. Johnson (1803-1862), and his father, Major Alfred M. Truitt (1817-1864) afterwards quartermaster of Randal’s 28th Texas Cavalry, CSA, 1861-63, was a business partner. In his report on the engagement at Sequalteplan, Major Truitt stated that at the start of the engagement, he had but six men under his command, and at no time during the engagement did he have more than 12 men in his force. He stated “the engagement lasted upwards of half an hour; and but few Colt’s six shooters, we could not have held our own, much less have driven Montagna from his position. This is certainly the most effective fire-arm in use.” He reported the loss of the enemy as 11 killed, 20 wounded, and took 21 prisoners, only sustaining two men in his own force wounded, one slightly.
According to Albert Gallatin Brackett (1854) “General Lane’s Brigade in Central Mexico,” Brackett (a 1st LT in Co. I, 7th Regiment U.S. Infantry) described the Texas Rangers under the command of Colonel Jack Hays on their arrival at Puebla: “they belonged to our brigade, though before joining it they went up to the city of Mexico and reported to Gen. Scott. They were certainly odd-looking set of fellows, and it seemed to be their aim to dress as outlandishly as possible. Bob-tailed coats and “long-tailed blues,” low and high-crowned hats, some slouched and others Panama, with a sprinkling of black leather caps, constituted their uniforms; and a thorough coating of dust over all, and covering their huge beards, gave them a savage appearance. Their horses ranged from little mustangs to large American full-bloods, and were of every shade and color. Each man carried a rifle, a pair of pistols, and one or two of Colt’s revolvers, or “five-shooters.” A hundred of them could discharge a thousand shots in two minutes, and with what precision the Mexicans alone can tell. I watched them closely as they passed silently by me, and could distinguish no difference between the officers and men. They carried no sabers.”
Also participating in the fight at Sequalteplan was John S. "Rip" Ford, surgeon/adjutant of the Second Texas, who earned the nickname "Rip" on account of his signing the death certificates of the Rangers lost during the war. ‘Our entrance into the City of Mexico produced a sensation among the inhabitants,’ wrote Ford. ‘They thronged the streets along which we passed. The greatest curiousity prevailed to get a sight at “Los Diabolos Tejanos” – The Texas Devils.’ When the Rangers arrived, many Americans were being killed within the City of Mexico, but now men had come who took eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The Mexicans called them los Tajanos sangrietes. A sneak thief stole one of their handkerchiefs, was detected, refused to stop. ‘A six-shooter was leveled upon him and discharged. The Mexican dropped lifeless to the pavement. The Ranger recovered his handkerchief, and went his way as if nothing had happened.’ Another threw a stone at a Ranger. The Texan’s hand fell to his holster, a shot rang out, and the Mexican fell dead. A waiter at the inn of the National Theater on learning that his guests were Texas Rangers dropped his tray and fled the place. When Adam Allsen’s of Robert’s company was murdered in a part of the city called by the Texans ‘Cutthroat,’ the Rangers took a bloody vengeance. The Mexicans carried in their dead on a wooden litter. ‘At breakfast time they had brought in fifty-three corpses… In the evening the captain reported more than eighty bodies lying in the morgue… They had been shot in the streets and left lying.’ Complaint was made to General Scott. He called in Hays and questioned him. Hays boldly defended the Rangers, telling the General that no one could impose on them. Scott passed the matter over, but found work for the Rangers outside the capital [Walter Prescott Webb (1965) The Texas Rangers: a century of frontier defence, pp119-121]
Richard McAuley
R. McAuley 3014V
08-11-2010, 09:14 PM
According to an article published for the Handbook of Texas, “Walker served as captain of the inactive Company C of the United States Mounted Rifles until the outbreak of the Mexican War. When the First Regiment, Texas Mounted Riflemen, was organized in June 1846, Walker was elected lieutenant colonel. He fought in the battle of Monterrey in September and on October 2, 1846, mustered out of federal service, activated his commission as captain of the mounted rifles, and proceeded to Washington, D.C., to begin recruiting for his company. During his recruitment excursion Walker visited Samuel Colt. Colt credited Walker with proposed improvements, including a stationary trigger and guard, to the existing revolver. The new six-shooter was named the Walker Colt. After arriving with his new company at Vera Cruz, Mexico, Walker was detailed on May 27, 1847, to the First Pennsylvania Volunteers, stationed at Castle San Carlos de Perote to counter Mexican guerrilla activities between Perote and Jalapa. On October 5, 1847, Walker left Perote with Gen. Joseph P. Lane to escort a supply train to Mexico City.”
Although this article and numerous others refer to Walker as commanding a company of mounted rifles, it is generally assumed the troops were U.S. Regulars or Texas Rangers. However, according to George C. Furber (1857) The Twelve Months Volunteer, or Journal of a private in the Tennessee Regiment of Cavalry in the Campaign, in Mexico, 1846-7 p633, provides the following account of the Battle of Huamantla
“General Lane, who by his rapid movements and indefatigable energy, in pursuing and breaking up the band of guerrillas, after this time acquired the name of the Marion of Mexico, was now advancing from Vera Cruz towards Puebla, with a force of one regiment of Indiana Infantry, Col. Groman; one do. Ohio, Col. Bough; four companies of Georgia mounted men, Major Lally; nine additional companies of infantry, two batteries of artillery, and a large wagon train.— Santa Anna moving from Puebla, took a position at some distance from the national road, at Huamantla, with the intention of allowing the force of Gen. Lane with the train to pass him on its route, and then with his whole strength, suddenly fall on the rear of the Americans, at a time when as he says, “they would least expect it.” Gen. Lane encamped in the neighborhood on the night of the 6th of October;— on the following morning, the 7th, the Mexican force silently commended the march for the appointed place of surprise. But Lane at the same time having heard of the position of Santa Anna, determined at once to attack him, and on the same morning, having placed the train compactly together on the road, leaving with it Col. Brough’s Ohio regiment, with three other companies of infantry, and a battery of artillery, he rapidly marched with Gorman’s Indianans, Walker’s Georgia mounted men, Wyncoop’s Pennsylvannians, and a battery of five pieces of artillery, for Huamantla.— The mounted men advanced under Walker, charged rapidly on, entered the town and immediately were engaged hand to hand with the force left there. In this bloody conflict the gallant Walker lost his life. This fight was maintained by the cavalry for three quarters of an hour, when they succeeded in putting the enemy to flight; capturing two pieces of cannon. During this time, the infantry and artillery were hurried to their utmost speed towards the city to support the cavalry, and at the same time the whole Mexican army were endeavoring by another road, in full view of the Americans, to get back into the town;— Santa Anna from a lofty watchtower, having seen the movement of the Americans from the road, had countermarched his forces from their original destination. In this exciting race between the two opposing armies, the Mexicans from the nature of their road, succeeded in arriving first at the town, and succoring their broken battalions, which were now flying before the chivalrous cavalry. Instantly the lancers charged upon and drove the American cavalry back into the town, and, rapidly pursuing them, were met in their turn by the column of American infantry, with the artillery, and a sharp engagement ensued, in which the Mexicans were totally routed, and dispersed with a loss of about hundred and fifty men;— American loss thirteen killed, eleven wounded.— This was Santa Anna’s last attempt, in person, against the Americans.— Abandoning the town after destroying the great amount of military stores found there, Gen. Lane with his force rejoined his train, and proceeded towards Puebla; which he entered on the 13th, clearing the way before him by vollies of musketry, and relieving the gallant detachment under Col. Childs, who so long had defended the place against overwhelming numbers. The Mexican general, Res, on Lane’s approach, retired to Atlixco, but the indefatigable American, on the morning of the 19th, left Puebla in pursuit of him.” This led to the battle of Atlixco, the force under Gen. Lane comprised Col. Brough’s 4th Ohio, and Col. Gorman’s 4th Indiana regiments; Col. Wyncoop’s battalion of 1st Pennsylvannians; Capt. Heintzleman’s battalion, all infantry; Major Lally’s Georgia cavalry; a squadron of regular cavalry under Capt. Ford, with two batteries of artillery, under Capt. Taylor and Lieut. Pratt. The American casualties were one killed, and one wounded. Gen. Res’s Mexican force suffered 219 killed, 300 wounded.
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