Pa cavalry question

[PaleHorse6]

I live in the panhandle of West Virginia and metal detect around my farm.  I have found a fair amount of Spencer casings and bullets.  I believe there was likely a late war cavalry unit parked on my farm based on some of the things I've dug up.  Is there any listing of AOP cavalry units that were issued Spencers?  I'd like to figure out which unit was here if possible.

Second question, my 3x great grandfather was in the PA cav in 1864 and remained in service several months post war.  My Great Aunt told me that when she was a child he still had his issued Spencer and saber.  I was lucky enough to inherit the saber but the Spencer supposedly went to a great uncle in the 1930s upon my grandfather's death.  Is there any documentation out there for PA cav units being issued Spencers?  I recently purchased an 1860 Spencer carbine SN 52081 and would love to know more.

Thanks!

Drew

[Two Flints]

Drew,

The following Pennsylvania Civil War units were issued Spencer Carbines (and/or rifles).  There may be more but my listing only shows these five units.

148th Penna Volunteer Cavalry
19th Penna Volunteer Cavalry
7th Penna Volunteer Cavalry
105th Penna Volunteer Infantry
14th Penna Volunteer Cavalry

If you can find a Regimental History of each unit it may provide more information as to battle locations, even soldier names assigned to each unit, and casualty information, and serial # information.  Regimental Histories may be found online.  My Spencer Carbine was issued to a MA Civil War unit and there was a Regimental History I found online that provide me with lots of information about the unit, soldiers, battles, and Spencer carbines issued.

Regarding your Spencer Carbine serial # 52081 - it was most likely issued to Company B or G, 14th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry on, or about, March 25, 1865.

Please send me that email.     to fsgrand2@fairpoint.net

Two Flints

[Major 2]

The regimental information as to battle locations may be found in the A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Fredrick Dyer

https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OBkNAQAAMAAJ

[Arizona Trooper]

By 1865 most of the front line AoP cavalry was armed with Spencers. Second line was Sharps and everybody else (generally garrison units) was mostly Burnsides.

As to the local Spencer cases, check with the local historical society. Somebody there will have suggestions on which units were in your area. Another source would be https://wvcivilwar.com/books/ which has a good selection of books specifically on the war in WVa.

[PaleHorse6]

Thanks for the quick replies!  That's some great info and I'm looking forward to digging into it.