The Spencer: Revolution In Weaponry

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Please read and enjoy another great article entitled, The Spencer: Revolution in Weaponry - Goodbye to The Single-Shot Musket, written by W. Eugene Sloan.  This article also appeared in the Civil War Times Illustrated magazine, 1984.  Two Flints

[Arcey]

Ain't interested in ownin' a Spencer myself, just me.

Have to say I enjoyed the two articles 'n thanks for postin' 'em.

[Bead Swinger]

Q: Did Buford's men have Spencers on the First Day at Gettysburg?

This fella says yes, and claims that Buford's men had Spencers at Gettysburg (See center of pp33). I've read lots of other articles claiming otherwise. The issue records I could come accross indicated that Buford's NJ men got them, but was unclear as to when - implying that this was after the battle but before Mine Run.

What's the real story? Does anyone know?  If Buford's boys had ANY Spencers, then McPherson's Ridge would have been loaded with copper remains - SOMEONE would have found some. Or someone would have dug up Spencer lead as well.

Thoughts welcome - and references too if you have any.

[Two Flints]

Bead Swinger,

Came across this footnote..."84. One of the great debates that has arisen is whether Buford's men were armed primarily with the Sharps or the Spencer carbine. Legend has it that they were primarily armed with the seven-shot Spencers. Historical evidence indicates that none of Buford'& men was armed with Spencers. Neither the Ordnance Returns of the Army of the Potomac nor the official reports of Buford or his brigade commanders support this contention. As such. the author agrees with the conclusions drawn by William G. Adams, Jr., that none of Buford's men were armed with Spencer repeating carbines during the Gcttysburg Campaign. See for a more detailed analysis, William G. Adams, Jr., "Spencers at Gettysburg: Fact or Fiction",Military Affairs,vol.29.no. l,pp.41-43. The evidence indicates that only two regiments of Custer's brigade of Kilpatrick's division, the 5th and 6th Michigan. were issued Spencer repeating rifles by the time of the Battle of Gettysburg. The myth that Buford's men were armed with Spencers is without foundation."...the preceding footnote was added to the following Internet report found at this link: 

http://www.gdg.org/Research/People/Buford/witt4.html  Go to this link and look for footnote 132 click on it and then scroll up on the footnote page until you get to footnote #84

Two Flints

[Steel-eye Steve]

Q: Did Buford's men have Spencers on the First Day at Gettysburg?

This fella says yes, and claims that Buford's men had Spencers at Gettysburg (See center of pp33). I've read lots of other articles claiming otherwise. The issue records I could come accross indicated that Buford's NJ men got them, but was unclear as to when - implying that this was after the battle but before Mine Run.

What's the real story? Does anyone know?  If Buford's boys had ANY Spencers, then McPherson's Ridge would have been loaded with copper remains - SOMEONE would have found some. Or someone would have dug up Spencer lead as well.

Thoughts welcome - and references too if you have any.

McAulay's Carbines of the US Cavalry 1861-1905 has Buford as having Sharps (3rd & 8th Ill., 8th 6th & 9th NY, 6th Penn and 1st, 2nd, 5th & 6th US), Sharps & Hankins (9th NY), Smith (17penn), Merrill (17th Penn) and Gallagers 3rd WV. This listing comes from around the time of Brandy Station in early June 1863.