Uniform Regulations for 1870

[Quick Fire]

Were the uniform regulations for the US army in 1870 the ones that were adapted in 1858?

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[Niederlander]

I believe they would have been.  That was sort of a transitional period, so lots of changes occurring. (By changes, I mean mostly due to the adoption of cartridge weapons and methods of carrying ammunition for them.)  A good resource is Doug McChristian's "The U.S. Army in the West 1870-1880".  Both the text and photos are outstanding!

Sent you a personal message, by the way.

[Drydock]

Yes.  Though a few minor updates were promulgated here and there, the first significant revision to the 1858 regulations took place in 1872.

[ira scott]

Drydock Sir!  That "promulgated" is one mighty fine word! If I couldn't half ass figure it out from context, I wouldn't know WTF it meant.

No disrespect intended. only jocularity!

[pony express]

Ira, that's the kind of edjumacated talk the Colonel uses to distinguish himself from the lowly enlisted men....

[River City John]

"Promulgated" is when you register at the doorway to the Senior Prom.


RCJ

[Quick Fire]

Any one know where I can find a copy of the 58 Regs? I used two search engines and came up blank. Also according to Doug McChristian the cavalry in the late 60's and into the early 70's were mostly issued carbine cartridge boxes for the Spencer Carbine. Do any of you know where I can find a pic of them?

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[Good Troy]

Quickfire...I have a pattern for the 1841 and 1859 cartridge boxes.  It looks to be a challenge to make as the front back and sides are stitched at 90 degrees from one another, so the stitches are at an angle to go through the edge....much like the plains hard sole mocs.   

If you want it, send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll forward it to you.  It is in PDF (Adobe) format.

[Quick Fire]

Thanks for the offer GT, but I don't think that those are the one's that I'm looking for. I'm pretty sure that there was a 63 pattern box, but I'm not sure that's the one I'm looking for either. I'll keep researching and see what I can come up with.

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[Niederlander]

Go on e-bay and search carbine cartridge box.  They have boxes AND the books to show you anything you want to know about them.

[Quick Fire]

Thanks Ned. I've searched the boxes but don't know which one to get. Now I'll try the books.

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[Quick Fire]

Well a quick search for a book turned up one by Stephen Dorsey titled "Indian war cartridge pouches, boxes, and carbine boots". I'm going to order this one along with a couple of other books I found. Thanks Ned.

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[Pitspitr]

I have his book on waist belts. It's a pretty good reference.

Here are some links to a few repro cartridge boxes:

http://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=L19
http://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=L38
http://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=L7

I can't speak to their quality, but it gives you something to look at.

[Niederlander]

From what I can tell from doing some limited research, the U.S. carbine cartridge box from the 1858 regulations was used for any of the  .54 caliber carbines, and later for the metallic cartridge carbines as well.  You should be good to go with any of the standard boxes from the sutlers on line.

[Blair]

Burnside came up with a carbine box design  that used a wooden block inset to hold 20 cartridges for Cavalry. It was used throughout the ACW and into the early IW.
Early variations were warn on the waist belt, and later variations could be warn on a shoulder strap with buckles on the bottom of the box, or waist belt.
I don't know when the tin inserts came into play. The tin inserts don't seem to be real common from my experience.
My best,
Blair

[Pitspitr]

The tin inserts were originally to protect the paper cartridges. They were often "lost"

[Quick Fire]

Thanks for all the info gentlemen. Appreciate it.

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[FTrooper]

The 1858 Regulations are he same as the 1861. There are a few minor changes from 1861-1870 but they only big one is that in late 1861 they went back to the sky blue trousers. A couple new ranks were added after the civil war and neck stocks officially abandoned in 1870.

https://archive.org/details/regulationsforununit

As for Spencer cartridge boxes there were three types used and all are know in the post civil war era. One is the standard "1857" cartridge box with the wood block holding individual rounds. There are variations but its pretty standard and was the most common. There was another that looked alot like the 1841 box that held 6 7 round pasteboard boxes of Spencer ammo. Nick Duvall made some at one time and will do so with a bulk order. There is also the famous Blakeslee box made in 6, 10, and 13 tube versions. The 6 tube is uncommon but the one usually reproduced for its simplicity (rectangle form), the 10 tube (hexagon form) was the most common during and after the war. The 13 tube was a rare infantry version.

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Quick Fire]

Thanks for the info FTrooper.

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