Description
Seldom encountered early 3rd Model (note no frame screw on right side of receiver) and serial number 8659 with breech serial number 8349, clearly contemporary with field use. This weapon is fine functionally with a strong bore and tight action. It is unusual in that the rear sight is from a Model 1859 Sharps carbine and it clearly has been like that for well over a century. This carbine turned up in an estate sale in Connecticut with no known family history other than it had been in the same family forever. All metal parts are a nice smooth gray brown age patina and the walnut stocks are in very good condition as well. Very solid early Civil War issued cavalry weapon documented by Springfield Research Service as likely to have been issued to the 6th Illinois Cavalry in late 1862.
Organized at Camp Butler, Ills., November 19, 1861. Moved to Shawneetown, Ills., November 25, and duty there until February, 1862. Moved to Paducah, Ky., thence to Columbus, Ky. Regiment divided, five Companies, “A,” “C,” “D,” “E” and “F,” moved to Trenton, Tenn., March, 1862, and duty there operating against guerrillas until September, 1862. Action at Wood Springs, near Dyersburg, Tenn., August 7. Near Dyersburg August 18 (Co. “E”). Rejoined Regiment at Memphis, Tenn. 5 Companies, “G,” “H,” “I,” “K” and “L,” at Columbus, Ky., until June; then moved to Memphis, Tenn. 2 Companies, “B” and “M,” at Paducah, Ky., and Bird’s Point, Mo., until September, 1862. Rejoined Regiment at Memphis, Tenn. Attached to District of Columbus, Ky., and Memphis, Tenn., Department of the Tennessee to November, 1862. District of Memphis, Tenn., 13th Army Corps, (Old) Department of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Grierson’s First Brigade, Cavalry Division, Department of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps to March, 1863. 1st Brigade 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps to May, 1863. Cavalry Division 19th Army Corps, Department of the Gulf to August, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee to December, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps to April, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps to July, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, District of West Tennessee to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi to July, 1865. Department of Alabama to November, 1865.
SERVICE – Action at Coldwater Station, Miss., June 21, 1862 (Cos. “G,” “H,” “I,” “K,” “L”). White Oak Bayou June 23. Expedition from Memphis to Cuba August 10-11 (2d Battalion). Scout toward Holly Springs September 5-6. Olive Branch September 6. Expedition from Memphis to Coldwater and Hernando, Miss., September 8-13. Coldwater Creek September 8. Cockrum’s Cross Roads September 9. Coldwater Bridge September 10. Coldwater R. R. Bridge September 12. Scout to Colliersville, Tenn., October 21-24. Shelby Depot October 23. Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign November, 1862, to January, 1863. Tallahatchie march November 26-December 12, 1862. About Oxford December 1-3. Water Valley Station December 4. Coffeeville December 5. Ripley December 23. Middleburg, Tenn., and near Bolivar December 24. At LaGrange, Tenn., until April, 1863. Expedition to Covington,Tenn., March 8-12. Covington March 9-10. Scout from LaGrange to Saulsbury March 21-23. Davis Mills Road, near LaGrange, March 24. Expedition from LaGrange to Macon March 28-April 3. Summerville and near Belmont March 29. Gierson’s Raid from LaGrange to Baton Rouge, La., April 17-May 2. Garlandsville, Miss., April 24. Union Church April 28. Brookhaven April 29. Wall’s Post Office May —. Robert’s Ford, Comite River, May 2. Coldwater May 11 (Detachment). Salem May 14 (Detachment). Reconnaissance from Baton Rouge, La., May 13. Scouts on Clinton Road May 14. Expedition from LaGrange, Tenn., to Senatobia, Miss., May 21-26 (Detachment). Senatobia May 23 (Detachment). Action at Plains Store, La., May 21. Siege of Port Hudson, La.. May 24-July 9. Clinton June 3-4. Near Holly Springs, Miss., Juno 16-17 (Detachment). Jackson Cross Roads, La., June 20. Moved from Port Hudson to Memphis, Tenn., July 19-28. Duty at German, town, Tenn., until November 28. Expedition to Hernando, Miss., August 16-20 (2 Companies). Near Panola August 17. Operations against Chalmers, in North Mississippi and West Tennessee October 4-17. Germantown and Mt. Pleasant October 11. Ingraham’s Mills, near Byhalia, Miss., October 12. Quinn and Jackson’s Mill October 13. Wyatt’s October 13. Germantown, Tenn., October 16. Expedition from Germantown to Chulahuma October 22-24. Operations on Memphis and Charleston R. R. November 3-5. Colliersville, Tenn., November 3. Moscow November 5. Operations against Lee’s attack on Memphis and Charleston R. R. November 28-December 10. Louisville, Tenn., November 28. Saulsbury December 3. Wolf Bridge, near Moscow, December 3-4. Lafayette December 4. Scout from Memphis, Tenn., December 10 (Co. “M”). Operations against Forest and Chalmers until February, 1864. Colliersville, Tenn., December 27-28, 1863. Coldwater, Miss., December 29. Scout toward Hernando, Miss., January 3, 1864 (Cos. “I,” “K”). Smith’s Expedition from Colliersville, Tenn., to Okolona, Miss., February 11-26. West Point February 20. Okolona February 21. West Point February 21. Ivey’s Hill, near Okolona, February 22. At Germantown until March 30. Regiment veteranized and Veterans on furlough March 30 to May 11. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., and duty there until July. Guard R. R at Colliersville to July 10. Coldwater River July 22. Smith’s Expedition to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Tallahatchie River August 7-9. Hurricane Creek and Oxford August 9. Hurricane Creek August 13-14 and 19. Repulse of Forest’s attack on Memphis August 21 (Detachment). At White’s Station, Tenn., until October 1. March through West Tennessee to Clifton October, thence to Pulaski, Tenn. Expedition from Memphis to Moscow November 9-13. Nashville Campaign November-December. Shoal Creek, Ala., November 11. On line of Shoal Creek November 16-20. Lawrenceburg, Tenn., November 22. Campbellsville November 24. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Shelbyville November 28. Columbia Ford November 28-29. Mt. Carmel November 29. Franklin November 30. Expedition to Glasgow, Ky., December 5-13. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. West Harpeth River December 17. Spring Hill December 18. Rutherford Creek December 19. Columbia December 20. Linnville, Buford’s Station and Richland Creek, December 24. Anthony’s Gap, near Pulaski, December 25. March to Gravelly Springs, Ala., and duty there until February, 1865, and at Eastport, Miss., until July. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., thence to Decatur and Montgomery, Ala., July 3-25. Duty at Demopolis, Montgomery, Opelika and Tuskegee, Ala., until November. Mustered out at Selma, Ala., November 5, and discharged at Springfield, Ills., November 20, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 60 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 8 Officers and 328 Enlisted men by disease.
