Spencers at Gettysburg: Fact or Fiction?

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

Just found this article on Spencers at Gettysburg: Fact or Fiction?

Two Flints

[panhead pete]

Good Read Two Flints,

Thanks for posting it.  I have often wondered if there were any Henry Rifles as Gettysburg.  I attended a "Review of the battle of Gettysburg" presented by an official guide and he did not know. 

Happy Trails,

Panhead   

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Pards,
Unfortunately, I cannot locate the references at the moment, as my copies of the Ordnance records are on 35 mm film rolls from the National Archives, and I don't have a film reader...go to the library.  HOWEVER, I seem to recall that Custer's 7th Michigan was armed, at least in part with Spencer BL (breech loading) Repeating Rifles, cal. .52 (.56-56 in modern terminology).  Buford's troopers were primarily armed with (IIRC) Sharps BL Carbines.  Custer's cavalry, I believe, engaged some of JEB Stuart's cavalry, and held one of the ridges on the second day of the battle, until they ran out of ammunition.  I believe they were relieved by infantry, just in time!

Sorry to be so indefinite, but, as I said, I'd have to check through the Ordnance records, as well as books in my library...which occupies several rooms...can't find the book just now.

I appologize for the indefiniteness of this post.

[Arizona Trooper]

I use to do living history at Gettysburg. The 5th and 6th Mich. had Spencer RIFLES, which they got out of the initial deliveries (sn's from ~1000 to ~1600). They were new units that went to the defenses of Washington in January of '63.  When Custer didn't do well at the battles of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville, at the end of June and the start of the Confederate move North, he pulled the the Michiganders into his brigade. They first saw action at Hanover, and then a day later at Gettysburg on the east cavalry battlefield. These are the only documented "for sure" Spencers at Gettysburg.

By the way, I understand that the the reason Custer wound up more or less in charge at Hanover was because Gregg was at a Louis Moreau Gottschalk concert in DC. (Gottschalk was the Elvis of the 1860s)

Buford's cavalry held off the Confederate push through town on the first day and secured the high ground, which formed the foundation of the federal line on the 2nd and 3rd days. His men were armed with Sharps, Burnsides and a lot of Smiths, but no Spencers. I'll have to check my books for more details.

The first Spencer carbines were delivered in October of '63, so couldn't have been at Gettysburg.

[Bead Swinger]

Hi All
As to the writer's question about Spencers in the hands of Gambles or Devin's Brigade, I believe the question was raised because sometime later in mid 1863, they do show up with Spencer Rifles in their hands (not both - I think it was only one of these brigades, but I can't remember which.

Assuming the my memory is vaguley correct , In June 1863, they didn't have Spencer.  In July?  August? September? 1863 they did.  When did they get them?  Again, the assumption has been that they got them after G'burg, when they were pulled out of line for refit prior to Meade's Mine Run campaign. I believe they then traded the rifles in for carbines.