Henry rifle mentioned in Official Records

[bluesuit01]

I did a quick search of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion last night and found these mentions of the Henry rifle. Many of these reports are very large, so I just pulled out the Henry parts.

HDQRS. THIRD BRIGADE, ARMY OF THE FRONTIER, Camp Curtis, Maysville, January 16, 1863.
Col. N. P. CHIPMAN, Chief of Staff,
MY DEAR COLONEL: You will see by the date of this that my letter of the 7th instant is yet in my hands. I send it, as it contains all the facts of which I wished to write. The cartridges have come to hand all safe and very opportune, as my last loads were in the guns. Many thanks for your trouble and kindness. I will use them well.
I preceded the advance of our brigade from Elm Springs to this place in command of 500 mounted men. The distance of 25 miles I made during the night, and surprised a party of Livingston's gang. I killed 9 and captured 13 of the gentry. We have sent the prisoners on to Fort Scott. The country is full of these marauding devils, but we are clearing them out rapidly. This light snow for the past two days enables us to track them to a charm. They have turned their heads south, and are making for the river. We are hauling them in and putting them under every day. This country is in a terrible condition. Families, both Union and secesh, are fleeing for safety to our lines. Union, however, are scarce in these parts. One of the devils that I took had the scalp of one of our soldiers in his pocket.
I should still like to raise a battalion of sharpshooters and have the Henry rifle. I can make it equal to two regiments, and a terror to the enemy, yet I am here and cannot figure for the thing. The weather is cold and freezing very hard; real winter has come at last. Please use the petition enclosed as best you may, and gum it together, as I have not these little conveniences. I send it simply to show you the feeling amongst the Indian officers, not that I imagine it will have a feather's weight with the Secretary of War. "There must be a friend in court?
Well, excuse me for my tedious letter, and the next will be short and to the point.
I have the honor to be, your friend,
A. O. ELLITHORPE.


COLUMBIA, KY., May 12, 1863.
SIR: In accordance with an order received from you, with parts of the Ninth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, I marched, by the way of Jamestown and the mouth of Greasy Creek, to the Cumberland River, to create a diversion in favor of Brigadier-General Carter, who was to have crossed the Cumberland at Waitsborough and Mill Springs to Monticello at daylight of the same day, Monday, April 27. My advance guard caught 2 of the enemy's pickets at the river.
Where every one, from the highest officer under command to the humblest private, behaved with the most distinguished gallantry, it may appear invidious to mention names. I will, however, mention such as came under my immediate observation. Lieutenant-Colonel Holeman, commanding the charge, being ranking officer and the commander of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, cheered the men on to their work of death, and wherever the fight was most dangerous there he could be found. I found his counsel and aid during the whole time of the utmost service. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, commanding the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, executed his orders promptly, and with great coolness and bravery. Maj. Byron M. Cutcheon led the Twentieth Michigan Infantry in the charge, and behaved with great gallantry. Major Rue, of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, my volunteer aide, deserted my side by the artillery, but only to assume command of the left wing, and did the most daring and gallant fighting, leading and cheering the men on. Captain Wilson, of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, rushed into the midst of the enemy and laid many a man low with his Henry rifle. Capt. John Porter, of the Twentieth Michigan, captured a prisoner and secured him in the thickest of the fight. Major Delfosse, of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, had his hat shot from his head, and behaved with the utmost bravery, as did also Captain Grant, of the Twentieth Michigan. Captain Sims worked his gun with great skill. Lieut. H. W. Shaler did the most rapid and accurate firing, carrying death and destruction to the enemy.
Respectfully,
RICHARD T. JACOB,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.


HARPER'S FERRY, W. VA., June 16, 1863.
CAPTAIN: In compliance with an order from Brig. Gen. W. L. Elliott, I have to report the following operations of my command on June 13, 14, and 15:
Adjt. J. B. Van Eaton was present always in the thickest of the fight, gallantly discharging his duty. It would be but simple justice to say the same of Captains Smith, Moore, Spangler, Ullery, Snodgrass, and Brown, and Lieutenants Hathaway, Rush, Cannon, Shellenberger, McKnight, Moon, and Boyer; also, Orderly Sergeant [George W.] Fraub. The latter commanded a detachment of Company K through each engagement. Captain Snodgrass received two wounds, but did not leave the field.
Knowing the risk of being censured for making special mention of officers and men where all behaved so nobly, I cannot refrain from calling attention to my sharpshooters. Armed with the Henry rifle, in each engagement they fired almost continuous streams into the enemy's ranks, creating great loss of life. They also, under my own eyes, shot down a number of the enemy's officers.
J. WARREN KEIFER,
Col., Comdg. One hundred and tenth Ohio Vol. Infantry.



HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Glasgow, Ky., October 9, 1863.
GENERAL: I now proceed to give you the particulars of the recent raid made on Glasgow, Ky., by the rebel Col. John M. Hughs.
Lieutenant Kerrick was the first to return and report, which was done on the evening of the 3d instant. Captain Roark returned and reported on the evening of the 5th instant, reporting no rebels in the country, and that Captain Stone was in the country a short distance from town and would be in that evening or early next morning. From these reports I telegraphed to General Boyle that my scouts had just returned and reported no rebels in the country. I should have said that Captain Stone returned on the evening of the 5th instant, but failed to report to me, and I was not apprised of his return until the 6th instant, when I saw him at Fort Hobson, near Glasgow, about 12 o'clock in the day.
The town was attacked on the morning of the 6th instant about daylight. I was in bed and heard the rebels passing through town and in the direction of the fort where my men were encamped; I supposing as they passed through town that they were Captain Stone's men returning. I lay still until my father looked out of the window and said they were rebels, and while he was telling it to me, firing commenced in the square. I had Capt. J. O. Nelson's company as provost guards in the court-house yard. They numbered about 50 men present. As soon as the firing commenced in the square, I sprang from my bed, loaded my Henry rifle, dressed myself, went to the window and saw 15 or 20 rebels ordering Captain Nelson's men into line under guard. I asked them whose command they belonged to; receiving no reply, myself and Lieutenant Chinoweth fired on them, both about the same time. They returned the fire, some of their balls passing through the window into our room.
I am, general, your obedient servant,
SAMUEL MARTIN,
Major Thirty-seventh Kentucky Mounted Infantry.



LOUDON, October 21, 1863.
Major-General BURNSIDE:
SIR: The Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry of my command is out of ammunition for the Union rifle carbine, and there is none here. Also out of ammunition for the Henry rifle, and none to be had. Can it be procured there? If so, I need 21,000 rounds Union rifle carbine cartridges and 2,640 Henry rifles. Answer.
FRANK WOLFORD,
Colonel, Commanding Independent Cavalry Brigade.



Report of small-arms ammunition expended during the campaign commencing May 4 and ending September 8, 1864.
A   Army of the Cumberland, Major-General Thomas.   
B   Army of the Tennessee, Major-General Howard.
C   Army of the Ohio, Major-General Schofield.
D   Total.

Elongated ball cartridges, caliber .57 and .58    A.11,637,560         B.7,908,222   C. 1,794,444   D. 21,340,222
Spencer rifle cartridges    A. 156,739   B. 180,768   C. 52,815   D. 390,322
Henry rifle cartridges    A. 10,240   B. 93,655   C. 23,300   D. 126,195
Colt rifle cartridges    A. 10,760   B. ....   C. 5,000   D. 15,760
Burnside carbine cartridges    A. ....   B. ....   C. 84,000   D. 84,000
Sharps carbine cartridges    A. ....   B. ....   C. 16,000   D. 16,000
Smith & Weston carbine cartridges   A. ....   B. 15,000   C. 68,000   D. 83,000
Ballard carbine cartridges    A. ....   B. ....   C. 30,000   D. 30,000
Merrill carbine cartridges    A. ....   B. ....   C. 10,000   D. 10,000
Colt army-pistol cartridges    A. ....   B. 600   C. 28,720   D. 29,320
Colt navy.-pistol cartridges    A. ....   B. 1,200   C. 3,000   D. 4,200
Target-rifle cartridges    A. ....   B. 7,113   C. ....   D. 7,113
Total    A. 11,815,299      B. 8,206,558   C. 2,115,279       D. 22,136,132

T. G. BAYLOR,
Capt. and Chief of Ordnance. Mil. Div. of the Mississippi.




HDQRS. LEFT WING, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Saint Louis, Mo., November 25, 1864.
COLONEL: I have the honor herewith to submit my report of the operations of this command during the campaign in Georgia, from its commencement up to and including August 19, at which time I was compelled, on account of wounds that day received, to relinquish the command.
General Veatch had just arrived upon the ground, and was being shown the position to be taken by his division, on the right of the Second Division, when the enemy in heavy force charged down upon the right of the Sixty-sixth Illinois Infantry, which was deployed as skirmishers, striking it in flank. This regiment, which is in part armed with the Henry rifle (seventeen-shooters), by a stubborn resistance, and a steady, cool fire, checked the enemy's advance, and gave me time to throw forward to its support, and directly to the enemy's front, the balance the of Second Brigade and part of the Third Brigade. The Sixty-sixth Illinois then fell back gradually to its supports.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. M. DODGE,
Major-General.



HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,
Camp near Jones' Neck, Va., July 14, 1864.
Maj. R. S. DAVIS,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina:
MAJOR: I have the honor to call the attention of the major-general commanding to the accompanying report of men and arms in this division. It will be observed that in addition to the great variety of arms and caliber that there is a great deficiency of the proper arms for cavalry. Repeated requisitions for carbines have been made, but have not been filled. The best carbines for cavalry are breech-loading repeaters, with metallic percussion cartridges. Of this kind Spencer's carbine is preferred, next the Henry rifle or carbine.
Sharps carbine is a favorite arm, but the ammunition in a few days' marching deteriorates so much as to be a serious objection, as ammunition trains can seldom be taken on cavalry expeditions, and therefore only a limited supply can be carried by the men. The same objection exists against all paper cartridges. The issue of Merrill's carbine, made in this command just before commencing the campaign, seems to have been a very defective arm in the manufacture. The Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry started on the 1st of May with 280 carbines; they are now reduced to 117, and this reduction is due almost entirely to defects in the arm itself. The officers report that many burst in the barrel, and other parts give way.
I propose to make such transfer of arms as will give the least variety of calibers in the same regiment; but in order to do this I should first like to know whether any carbines can be obtained to replace the infantry arms that were issued only for temporary use to the dismounted men in the entrenchments, and which it is proposed to turn in. It is also necessary to know what kinds and in what numbers carbines, if any, can be obtained; otherwise the difficulty of variety in caliber may still exist. It will prove the most economical in the end to arm cavalry with the best weapons for its peculiar service. Without a serviceable carbine cavalry is almost useless in the wooded country in which it is required to operate, where the enemy take up positions from which they can only be driven by dismounted men. I trust that something may be done to improve the equipment of this division.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
AUGUST V. KAUTZ,
Brigadier-General and Chief of Cavalry.



COLUMBUS, August 9, 1864.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
Is there an order of the War Department that manufacturers of the Henry rifle shall not fill private orders while manufacturing for the Government. I have heard something of the kind. Agents for manufacturers are all over this State selling these arms to men who are organizing to resist the draft. Such an agent is selling heavy rifles here; sold thirty yesterday. The transactions are private, and civil process will not prevent it. Do you hold the manufacturers under such control that you can stop for ninety days the shipment or furnishing of arms by them for private sale?
The evil is a serious one. Can it be reached?
JNO. BROUGH.


WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington City, August 10, 1864.
Governor BROUGH,
Columbus, Ohio:
The Government has no contract for the Henry rifle. Let me know the name of the agent, where he is, and where his arms are.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.



COLUMBUS, OHIO, August 10, 1864.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:
It is called the New Haven Arms Company, New Haven, Conn. The man here has been before me to-day. He is not an agent, but is selling on commission. He gives me a list of his sales, and agrees to deposit in the arsenal his rifles on hand; protests his loyalty, and that he has not knowingly sold to disloyal men. He says rifles are coming into the State through other men, but he does not know who they are.
JNO. BROUGH.

[major]

Bluesuit01
Thanks for the posting it was interesting reading.  Now I need to get back to work before the boss catches me surfing the net.  "So much good Henry info and so little time to read it all"!
Terry

[Henry4440]

Thx Bluesuit01, interesting reading.