Pony Express

[Jack Wagon]

Since Spencer carbines were carried early on by some of the riders, I thought this might be of some interest to SSS members. My son and I recently helped clear a portion of the original Pony Express Trail through the Sierras for the 2012 NPEA re-ride. My friend Dave drew a particularly tough section that had to be ridden at one in the morning on a moonless night. Upon scouting the trail we found it was overgrown with brush and blocked by dozens of down pine trees. We recorded the experience the best we could and posted to you tube. This is the link if you have an interest in the Pony Express. JW     

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Jack Wagon,

Being involved with the Living History at the Sacramento Museum, all this was 'local' and I really enjoyed it ...

It really brought out how much preparation goes into these rides ...

TTFN and Thanks!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Thanks for the post.  I have ridden some chunks of the Tevis Cup trail across the Sierra.  Tough riding!  I went down under my horse and broke three ribs along the American River below Michigan Bluff and had to ride out.  OUCH!

[Jack Wagon]

Lookin' good Wad, We just moved up to the foothills east of Sac a few weeks ago. While in Old Sacramento we visited the California military museum and Sutter's Fort, both first rate. We'll keep an eye peeled for you next time we're in Old Sac. Tuolumne, I feel your pain. Although I am not a horseman, I know from clearing the trail that decomposed granite is treacherous stuff.  JW

[matt45]

... and just to add controversy (not meaning to rain on parades).
Since the Pony ran from 1860 to Oct of 1861, I would tend to think that the use of Spencers would have been problematical. 

[St. George]

There's that - plus, the Spencer's a boat anchor, for weight.

Given the small size of the Pony Express rider, and the trade-off in order to carry more mail, the only firearms documented seem to've been small-framed Pocket Colts.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[matt45]

It only makes sense- where does the reference in Orphan's Perferred come from (at the beginning) that the first rider was carrying a Sharps?  I couldn't find the reference in the bibliography.

[Jack Wagon]

   This is the link to reference of Spencer use by Pony Express riders. As stated in the article, may be legend, but an interesting read.   JW  http://www.xphomestation.com/weapons.html

[Two Flints]

At the beginning of the service, Pony riders carried two revolvers, a bowie-knife and a rifle, plus a horn to sound his coming. All of this hardware proved too heavy for the express rider to carry, so most of it was discarded for the greater part of the Pony's existence, finally settling upon was a single pistol, with an extra loaded cylinder occasionally carried. It was also the rule of the Company that a rider should never fight unless compelled to do so. The speed of their mounts was the primary defense against Indian attack.

The revolvers of the express rider traditionally have been identified as Navy Colts, which would have been of the 1851 model, then in popular use. The Colt "Navy" pistols were so named more for the naval scene engraved on their cylinder than for their use by that branch of the service. This huge pistol was a six-shot, percussion fired, .36-caliber weapon, with an octagonal-shaped barrel. It was not an automatic, but had to be cocked for each firing.

Practically speaking, a number of different types were seen along the trail. Original equipment was purchased at both ends of the line and identical firearms in quantity could not have been expected from the widely separated suppliers.

Another possible gun could have been the Wells Fargo model Colt, a short pocket pistol made mainly with a three-inch, octagonal shaped barrel. Like the Navy Colt, it was percussion fired and a five-shot revolver, but used a lighter, .31-caliber ball. Some 200,000 guns of this model had been manufactured and were available by 1860, and their use by stage coach messengers would tend to suggest their adoption by the Pony Express.

Early in the Pony's life the Army near Salt Lake City furnished guns for protection against marauding Indians, and at about the same time Finney, at Carson City, asked for the loan of 20 dragoon pistols.

It has often been reported that the riders initially carried a Spencer carbine strapped the their back. Although a number of historians who have written about the Pony Express mention the Spencer carbine, current research shows that the carrying of the Spencer carbine may be just another of the many legends that have been perpetuated about the Pony Express.

Kate Carter (1960), states that the rider's outfit included "a pair of Colt revolvers in his holsters, sometimes a dagger and a Spencer rifle, which was later discarded because it proved too cumbersome."
Glenn D. Bradley (1913), states that the riders always went well armed. "At first a Spencer carbine was carried strapped to the rider's back, besides a sheath knife at his side. In the saddle holsters, he carried a pair of Colt revolvers. After a time their carbines were left off and only side arms taken along." Bradley is credited with as having written one of the best pioneer treatments of the Pony Express. He is considered generally reliable, with the advantage of proximity of the writer to eyewitnesses.

Lee Jensen (1955), states that the Expressmen's equipment included "a Bible, a pair of Colt revolvers, a sheath knife and a Spencer carbine."

William Lightfoot Vischer (1908), states that the arms of the Pony Express rider were limited to revolver and knife to keep the weight at a minimum.

Arthur Chapman (1932), states that at first the riders were armed with carbines, as well as two revolvers per man. The carbines were soon discarded, as were the extra revolvers. The usual armament was one "navy" revolver. Occasionally a rider carried an extra, loaded cylinder for his revolver, in case of a fight with several opponents at close quarters. Even this extra weight was begrudged.


The Spencer rifle, was an extremely heavy gun, made by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company of Boston. However, the Spencer was not patented until March 6, 1860, less than a month prior to the Pony's inaugural service, and it was not placed into service until December 1861.
Many of the Pony Express riders in later years in their memoirs reported the use of weapons on the trail:


Pony Bob Haslam rode regularly between Lake Tahoe and Buckland's Station in Nevada. Once he recalled that when asked to make an extra long ride when his relief rider refused to continue, he was ready to ride "... after adjusting my Spencer rifle, which was a seven-shooter and my Colt revolver, with two cylinders ready for use in case of emergency."
Jay G. Kelley, who rode between Cold Springs and Sand Springs in Nevada, remembers that once on the trail his was expecting trouble from some Indians waiting in ambush. He prepared for it by dropping his bridle reins on the neck of the horse, putting his Sharps rifle at full cock, and keeping his spurs into the pony's flanks, went through the forest like a "streak of greased lightening."

Thomas Dobson, who rode for Major Egan between Ruby Valley, Nevada, and Deep Creek, Utah, recounted once that when some Indians pursued them they were glad that they had pistols while the Indians had only bows and arrows. No mention was made of having a rifle.

Howard Ranson Egan, who rode between Shell Creek and Butte Stations, remembered once when being threatened by Indians, that he rode straight through them "with pistol in my hand". Again, no mention of having a rifle.

Jack Keetley, remembers that when the riders left St. Joseph they always rode out of town with silver mounted trappings decorating both man and horse and regular uniforms with plated horn, pistol, scabbard and belt. Again, no mention of having a rifle.

William Henry Streeper, who rode between Diamond Springs and Smith Creek in Nevada, remembers that "we had guns and pistols, and sometimes used arrows in self defense. I carried a pair of pistols, but never had any trouble."

"Uncle Nick" Wilson, who rode between Schell Creek and Deep Creek, remembers that if the riders did not have a revolver, they had to get one from the company and would be charged forty dollars out of their wages for it.

In her biography of Amos Wright (1981), who rode out of Salt Lake City, Geneva Ensign Wright quotes Major Eagan as having said after swearing in the new riders, "Here's a pair of Colt revolvers, a holster, a dagger and a Spencer rifle. They'll be charged to your account. You'd better know how to use any or all of them." This is most likely just a fictional account of a statement by Eagan.


While riders of the Pony Express preferred the Model 1851 Colt Navy pistol, a .36 caliber six-shooter, a few carried the big .44 Dragoon Colt, 106 having been furnished by the army and 25 by citizens of Sacramento. The army supplied 60 of the .54 caliber Model 1841 "Mississippi" rifles for use at the Pony Express relay stations. The riders also preferred the light Sharps carbines when it was necessary for them to carry a shoulder arm.
Following the Pah Ute Indian uprising William F. Finney, an official of the Pony Express in California appealed through a Sacramento newspaper for weapons, stating: "What is needed are twenty-five Sharps rifles and as many dragoon pistols."

In a letter of July 18, 1860, Col. C. F. Smith, in response to a request from an agent of the Pony Express, said "In view of the circumstances I let him have 106 Army sized revolvers and 60 'Mississippi rifles and some ammunition for the same. The Commander of the Department has been heretofore in the habit of selling this kind of rifle, no longer in the hands of troops, to emigrants and discharged soldiers."



With 106 caliber .44 Colt Dragoon pistols obtained from the government at Camp Floyd and 25 more from Sacramento, along with the 60 Model 1841 "Mississippi" rifles and 24 Sharps carbines, there was added a formidable arsenal to the previous equipment of the riders and station attendants throughout the Utah-Nevada trouble areas.

The .44 caliber Dragoon pistols were fine for the station attendants but too heavy (weighing over 4 pounds) for the riders who preferred Colt's lighter .36 caliber Navy six-shooters. In September, 1860, the Army advised the Pony Express that they might exchange the .44 Dragoon pistols for .36 Navy pattern Colt pistols. They also indicated that the purchase price for the Mississippi rifles was $13.25. Today such rifles bring over $100 as collectors specimens.

Source: James E. Serven, Conquering the Frontiers