Arms of the Mounted Service in the 1850's

[FTrooper]

As a side note, a great source to give you an idea that there was no "norm" the the book "Texas & New Mexico on the eve of the civil war, the Mansfield & Johnston Inspections, 1859-1861" by Jerry Thompson.  Here is my favorite passage to show how poor things were with the Army before the war.

Company G, 1st Dragoons commanded by Capt. Ewell (later a CSA General) at Fort Buchanan, NM Oct 4th, 1859.

"There is, however, a great variety of fire arms, Sharp's, Hall's & the pistol carbine, the rifle (cal. .54) & musketoon-Colt's revolvers of both sizes, & the old Dragoon pistols...His sabers are of the old pattern."

So we see M1852/3 Sharps carbines, Hall's Carbines, unconverted M1841 Rifles, M1847 musketoons, M1851 Colt Navy, Colt Dragoons, M1842 Astons Horse Pistols, and M1833 Dragoon Sabers (confirmed elsewhere) all in a single Company of 56 men (only half, 28, are actually on duty with the company).

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[JimBob]

Thanks for posting that title sounds like a good resource for information on what was actually in use.Found a new copy listed on Alibris for $7.34.

[Hangtown Frye]

Jeeze Chris, all you have to do is look in Mansfield's reports for that info... EVERYBODY knows that!



Good to see you here!

Cheers!

Gordon