Description
This is a well used combat weapon that, as many I have seen over the years, has had the metal painted with black enamel. This is usually seen on weapons displayed in Grand Army of the Republic Civil War veteran posts and is easily removed is so desired. It has light to moderate pitting on the metal parts but all markings, including the serial number, are clear and legible. The action functions properly and the government inspector cartouche is visible in the stock, which has a coating of varnish. The top bar screw is a replacement and the hammer screw is missing. There are some hairline cracks in the buttstock but overall the weapon is solid and sound. The cavalry saddle bar is not present (some early examples do not have them) which makes it an “artillery” model in the trade, but in reality they were all cavalry weapons. This is a very inexpensive example of a popular military carbine with a solid service record. Numbers recorded in the Springfield Research Service database put this weapon in the range of other known examples issued in late 1863 to the 3rd Maryland Cavalry.
The unit was organized at Baltimore, Maryland on August 8, 1863 to January 9, 1864 and attached to the Cavalry Reserve, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to January, 1864. Unattached, Defenses of New Orleans, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to March, 1864. District of LaFourche, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. District of Morganza, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1864. United States forces, Mobile Bay, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1865. District of Southern Alabama, Military Division of West Mississippi, to May, 1865. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, West Mississippi, to June, 1865. Dept. of Mississippi to September, 1865.
SERVICE:
Duty in the Defenses of Baltimore, Md., till January, 1864. Ordered to New Orleans, La., thence to Madisonville. La., and duty there till March, 1864. Expedition to Franklinton February 1-3. Flemming’s Ford, Madisonville, February 11. Ordered to Brashear City March 14 and duty there till June. At Morganza till July. Expedition to the Atchafalaya May 30-June 5. Morgan’s Ferry Road June 9. Ordered to New Orleans, La., July 1. Dismounted July 7. Sailed from Algiers for Mobile Bay, Ala., August 5. Siege operations against Fort Morgan August 9-23. Capture of Fort Morgan August 23. Post duty at Dauphin’s Island and in District of Southern Alabama till March, 1865. Campaign against Mobile March and April. Garrison duty at Fort Gaines till April 30. Ordered to New Orleans, La., April 30, and duty there till June. Ordered to Natchez, Miss., June 20. Duty there and in the Dept. of Mississippi till September. Mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., September 7, 1865.
