Spencer Bayonet Used at Gettysburg

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Just passing this information along as I found it on another web site.

"A Spencer Rifle bayonet found on Culp's Hill. This is reportedly the only documented relic Spencer bayonet recovered at Gettysburg. Interestingly, the first reported Confederate use of a Spencer was by Sergeant W.O. Johnson, Co. C of the 49th Virginia Infantry on July 3rd 1863. He used a Spencer Rifle in the fighting around Culps Hill at the battle of Gettysburg. This rifle may have been captured from the 5th or 6th Michigan Cavalry, since at that time they were the only Federal troops in the Army of the Potomic to have them as issued firearms. One can only speculate if this same bayonet was from the rifle used by Sergeant Johnson, it is however, a distinct possibility."



Two Flints

[Bead Swinger]

Tw Flints
What's the story behind this photo?  Where'd it come from?  When was the bayonet unearthed?
Here's an article that includes this reference... http://49thvirginiainfantry.com/49th%20Virginia%20Infantry%20and%20Spencer%20Rifles_7-3-1863.doc

It'd be interesting to see what casualties the Michigan Brigade took prior to Gettyburg. Also, I don't think the assertion is true.  They were not the only units with Spencers - I thought the 1st and 7th MI Cav had them as well, but can't remember. Either way, there were NOT that many Union cav casualties, esp. among the Spencer-armed units.  This is odd, as this fellow was in Smith's Brigade, Early's Division, Ewell's Corps and was not engaged until 2nd July. One wonders where he got it from.

You'd think someone had spelled out exactly who got the first lot of Spencer Rifles and when they were issued in 1863. It'd be really great if someone knew the SN of the rifle he had.

[Two Flints]

Hi Bead Swinger,

First of all, I tried your link, but nothing comes up.  Please, do a copy and paste from your source and Email that (link) text to me fsgrand2@fairpoint.net.

The information was listed on an auction web site where the bayonet is currently being shown.  A similar statement appears on page 105 in the book entitled, Civil War Breechloading Rifles, by John D. McAulay. 

See also this web site:  http://49thvirginiainfantry.com/49th%20Va%20History.htm  and on the home page is this:



Also a similar statement is made at this web site:  http://www.civilwarguns.com/spen2b1.html  Just scroll down to paragraph 17, for another reference to W.O. Johnson.

Two Flints

[Mick Archer]

  Howdy Pards!

  Under the initial contract for Spencer Army rifles of December 26, 1861, the following deliveries were made to the Ordnance Department:

500 December 31, 1862
500 January 17, 1863
1200 February 23, 1863
1500 April 13, 1863
500 April 22, 1863
500 April 29, 1863
500 May 9, 1863
500 May 19, 1863
500 May 30, 1863
500 June 9, 1863
500 June 16, 1863
302 June 20, 1863

  The first recorded shipment received by Federal troops was on January 19, 1863 when the first 1,000 were sent to Columbus Ohio for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Independent Companies of Ohio Volunteer Sharpshooters.
    Massachusetts did their own trials, in May of 1863, and ordered 2,000, but they were not finished until September largely due to Spencer switching to carbine production.  An appeal was made to Governor Andrews for the guns, and they were turned over to the Feds on October 2, 1863.
    Sergeant, later, Lieutenant Lombard of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry had a custom/handmade Spencer rifle, and was killed at New Hope Church, VA on November 27, 1863.  What happened to his Spencer is not known.

  Mick Archer

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

After a year of looking through various archives, I found the resting place of Lt. Lombard.  He now rests at the Fredericksburg National Cemetary, Virginia.  Two Flints

[Arizona Trooper]

I'd be very suspicious here. Spencer bayonets also fit Sharps rifles, and Berdan's Sharpshooters were a lot closer to Culps Hill than the 5th and 6th Mich. Cavalry. Also, the 5th and 6th Mich. being cavalry, would not have carried bayonets. Those would have stayed back in the depot in DC, where the rifles were issued.

This appears to be a Drake pattern bayonet, but the same bayonets were made for both Spencers and Sharps military rifles. They were made on English machinery (Greenwood & Batley if I remember right). At the start of the war one set of machinery was sent to Collins in New England, and another to the Confederate government. In the Drake pattern the spine of the blade goes all the way to the back of the crook.

In my article, I sited Johns McAulay's book, "Civil War Breechloading Rifles", which sites the unit history of the 49th. In doing later research, I found that the 49th was never even close to the 5th or 6th Mich. Cav. before Gettysburg. My suspicion is that the 49th's unit history didn't get this right. W.O. Johnson probably picked one up in a later campaign and the unit historian somehow moved it to Gettysburg. The probability of someone from the 49th stumbling into a Spencer, and enough ammo to carry it into battle, in mid-1863 is extremely low.