1st echelon revolver maintence

[Historyhunter-2007]

Recently, I have been shooting my percussion revolvers(Colt 1860, Remington New Model ) in local matches and have thoroughly cleaned the same after the monthly shoots. As A former Military Police Officer it has caused me to ponder what level of maintenance each trooper/user would be required to perform on active service? Any insights would be appreciated.

[Mike Stein]

You were expected to preserve your issued gear in the condition as originally issued whether Union or Confederate. Robert Watkins of the CSA writes in "Southern Service on Land & Sea" of keeping his musket in that condition in spite of the lousy weather at Chickamauga as well as other places. Some things would deteriorate while on a campaign march but you life might depend on your issued weapon so condition was everything.