Description
This is a superb original example of the famed Spencer Rifle as carried into many battles during the Civil War. The Spencer was often called the gun that you loaded on Sunday and shot all week! They are best known for use by Wilder’s “Lightning Brigade” for their outstanding firepower exhibited at the Battle of Hoover’s Gap. This fine weapon is clearly marked and fully functional in all respects and has no repaired or replaced parts. The metal has very light salt and pepper oxidation and the walnut stock is fine having only one crack in the buttstock near the magazine loading tube, which is very common on all Spencers that were used in the field. This example, #8252, falls directly in the known issued examples #8238 and #8267, both documented as issued to the 8th Indiana Mounted Infantry in 1863. You will NOT be disappointed with this gem!
The 8th Indiana Cavalry Regiment served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment mustered into service as the 39th Indiana Sharpshooter’s State Militia Regiment at Indianapolis on August 29, 1861. At Chickamauga, on 20 September 1863 they were assigned a position on the extreme right flank. Laiboldt’s Brigade of Sheridan’s Division was on their left and Wilder’s Brigade was on their right. Col. Thomas J. Harrison of the 39th Indiana Mounted Infantry’s after action report stated, “…The struggle was brief, but desperate; yet the enemy was unable to withstand our Spencer rifles, and gave way, running in disorder before both Col. Wilder’s and my commands.”
On October 15, 1863, the unit was renamed the 8th Indiana Cavalry and took part in Rousseau’s Opelika Raid, and fought at Brown’s Mill and Lovejoy’s Station in the Atlanta campaign. Ordered to Kentucky and duty at Muldraugh’s Hill, Camp Nevin, Nolin Creek and Green River until February, 1862. Attached to Wood’s Brigade, McCook’s Command, at Nolin, Army of the Ohio, October–November, 1861. 6th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to December, 1861. 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862. 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1863. Unassigned Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. Designation changed to 8th Cavalry October 15, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Kilpatrick’s 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Wilson’s Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to July, 1865.Transitioned to mounted infantry in April 1863, which allowed them to employ highly effective Spencer repeating rifles. The regiment served in Sherman’s March to the Sea and the Carolinas campaign before being mustered out of service on July 20, 1865.
Detailed Battles
Shiloh (1862)
Siege of Corinth
Pursuit of Bragg through Kentucky
Stone’s River (1862-1863)
Tullahoma Campaign (Middleton, Liberty Gap, Winchester) (1863)
Chickamauga (1863)
East Tennessee Expedition
Rousseau’s Raid (Alabama) (1864)
Chehaw Station, Alabama
McCook’s Raid (around Atlanta)
Kilpatrick’s Raid (Georgia)
Lovejoy’s Station (1864)
Jonesboro
Flint River
Waynesboro
Buckhead Church
Brown’s Cross-Roads
Reynolds’ Plantation
Aiken
Averasboro (1865)
Bentonville
Raleigh
Morrisville
Franklin (detachment)
Pulaski (detachment)
Casualties
At Shiloh: 2 killed, 34 wounded
At Stone’s River: 31 killed, 118 wounded, 231 missing
At Averasboro: 14 killed, 59 wounded
Original strength: 1,208
Gains by recruits: 902
Reenlistments: 305
Desertions: 56
Unaccounted for: 137
