Logistics Issues with the Union Army....

[Major Matt Lewis]

So I am reading a book on the 1st Maine Cavalry in the Civil War and they seemed to be a bunch of kick but and take names type of folks...But I was VERY surprised to find out the following....

When they left Augusta in the Spring on 1862, they were not issued any type of weapon...When they got to Washington, in March, they were only issued revolvers and sabers...Seems as thought they did not have a lot of teeth at first.  Doesn't mention having Carbines available to them until the fall of 1862 and then it was only 6 per company....

[Books OToole]

Major;

Check out American Military Equipage, 1851-1872, Vol. II State Forces, by Fredrick Todd.

Books

[ColonelFlashman]

The Sabre was Still considered to be the "Arme Blache" @ that time for the Cavalry.
Pistoles were considered a last ditch defencive weapon.