Largest Civil War battle where the Spencer Carbine was used?

[Jim W]

Group,

I have a couple of questions that I have been trying to determine the answers to.

What is the most known battle that Spencer Carbines were used in? I find them mentioned at Yellow Tavern but not much else?

Is there any artwork depicting Union Cavalry with them? I have been looking but don't see any.

Many thanks for any input!

[Two Flints]

I'm thinking that General Sherman and his Georgia Campaign resulted in the largest collection of Spencer armed cavalry units to fight the Confederates.  But, I'm sure my  idea will be questioned.

A print of General Custer with Spencer armed soldiers.



Two Flints

[Cap'n Redneck]

If you're not exclusively looking for carbines, there's Wilder's Mounted Rifles with their Spencer rifles at Chickamauga, Sept. 19th.-20th. 1863.

As for artwork:
The book "Don Troiani's Civil War", page 171, has a painting of a member of the 3rd. New Jersey Vol. Cav. levering a round into his Spencer carbine.

(The book "Don Troiani's Civil War Soldiers" contains no Spencer artwork, only the "fake news" on page 141 that Wilder's Mounted Rifles were armed with Henry rifles instead of Spencer rifles...) 

[Two Flints]

Also, eleven Spencer armed regiments were at the Battle of the Wilderness under General Grant . . .

[Jim W]

I am looking just for Carbine, not rifle use.

On another forum someone mentioned  Trevilian Station.

I used this to do some Google-fu and found a painting called "Distinguished Gallantry" that is close to what I am looking for. I'd like something a little more "sweeping" than this one if that makes sense?

"Distinguished Gallantry" https://www.gallon.com/shop/civil-war/distinguished-gallantry-limited-edition-print/

[mgmradio]

There were definitely Spencer's at Trivilian station. Found a bunch of cartridges on the retreat route.

[matt45]

I'm on the road right now, so don't have access to my books, but...
Am I right in stating that most of the infantry units equipped with Spencers were equipped with the carbines, since there were so many more of them.  It strikes me that is in either Bilby's A Revolution in Arms, or Marcot's book

[Jim W]

Well, as an update to this. I wanted to find the painting with the Spencer carbine, as my wife and I were doing a bit of decorating after our battlefield "road trip". The photos are ones I took on the trip, and I felt the painting tie in well. The mannequin was the best way I could think of to display the Model of 1860 saber, and when appropriate, I "hang" the Spencer from the sling, and put the Model of 1863 Remington in the holster to display them.

I'm not sure if a guest would think this is cool or creepy, but I felt a bit like a teenager run amuck doing the room!

[Trailrider]

The only thing I know "for certain" is that Custer's Wolverines were armed with Spencer rifles at Gettysburg.  The 54th Mass. were armed with Spencers at the Battle of Olustee, but I don't know if they were carbines or rifles.

[Two Flints]

Trailrider,

Only mention I found on the 54th and their weapons came from their Regimental History,
"History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865

READVILLE CAMP. The 54th was made ready . . . and . . .  "On April 30, the regiment drew nine hundred and fifty Enfield rifled muskets and a suitable number of non- commissioned officers' swords."

Trailrider, where did you find the mention of Spencer firearms and the 54th?  Would appreciate a link.

Two Flints

[Major 2]

The 54th Mass. Inf. was indeed armed with Enfield's at Olustee.

[38OVI]

The 56th Massachusetts had members armed with Spencer Rifles.  " Mother, may you never See the Sights I Have Seen"  1018 members in January 1864 - in 1865, there were 10 combat soldiers left who had been with the unit in all battles and skirmishes who had never been absent, sick or wounded.  There was the 11th who was killed in their last battle of the war. The biographies at the end of the book list some men and their rifle serial numbers, which were regimental property.

[Two Flints]

If I'm not mistaken, the book  "Mother, May You Never See the Sights I Have Seen," deals with the 57th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers.  On page 14 reference is made to their issued weapons:

As with uniforms, the arms and equipment drawn by the enlisted Personnel
of the 57th were mostly of the standard patterns. The regulation model
1863 Springfield .58 caliber rifled musket, issued to the regiment on Saturday,
March 5, 1864, were distributed to the men on the following Monday, was
the firearm used by Companies A through I.  "The boys are much pleased
with the weapons reported the Massachusetts Spy on March 9. The leather
accoutrements - waist belt with brass U.S. buckle, cap box, cartridge box with
a brass U.S. box plate and shoulder strap adorned with a brass eagle breastplate,
and triangular bayonet and leather scabbard - were also of the regulation
patterns. Painted black canvas knapsacks with 57 (MVM), 57th Massachusetts
Volunteer Militia stenciled in two-inch white letters across the front,
haversacks made from similar material, and wool-covered tin canteens were
also standard issue. To protect against the theft of these items, each man in
the various companies was numbered in alphabetical order, and the number
assigned each individual was marked on his rifle and all pieces of clothing and
equipment.  It was also common practice for soldiers to print or stencil their names or initials on their gear.



The book is an excellent read and very detailed.  A must read!!!

Two Flints

[Trailrider]

Trailrider,

Only mention I found on the 54th and their weapons came from their Regimental History,
"History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865

READVILLE CAMP. The 54th was made ready . . . and . . .  "On April 30, the regiment drew nine hundred and fifty Enfield rifled muskets and a suitable number of non- commissioned officers' swords."

Trailrider, where did you find the mention of Spencer firearms and the 54th?  Would appreciate a link.

Two Flints

I can't recall and I may have misread the number of the regiment armed with Spencers.  My bad!

[38OVI]

Sorry, right book, wrong regiment. It has been a number of years since I read it, but I own it, so no real excuse.  I did send a list of serial number I found in the biographies at the end of the book several years ago.