Description
This is a very strong example of the big .44 Army pistol made by Colt circa early 1863. All numbers match except the wedge (which is an original numbered Colt piece, just not originally shipped with this particular weapon). Action is tight and crisp and all markings are crystal clear. The walnut grip stock is smooth and free of any chips, cracks or major dings. The cylinder scene is 75%+ visible showing appropriate period use and wear and the bore is well above average for a field issued combat weapon.
The serial number fits tightly in the range of revolvers issued to the 4th Kentucky Cavalry in 1863 according to the Springfield Research database.
The 4th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, was initially organized at Louisville, Kentucky, December 24, 1861 under Colonel Jesse Bayles. The 4th was among the first to veteranize by re-enlisting for 3 years. They were engaged in over fifty battles. In one battle 97 men were killed and prisoners of war were taken. The regiment had duty at Macon and in the Department of Georgia until August and mustered out August 21, 1865.
Company A – Many men mustered in from Louisville, Jefferson County; Camp Anderson, Jefferson County and Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky.
Company B – Many men mustered in from Louisville, Jefferson County and Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky.
Company C – Many men mustered in from Louisville, Jefferson County Kentucky.
Company D – Many men mustered in from Louisville, Jefferson County and Bowling Green, Warren County Kentucky.
Company E – Many men mustered in from Camp Anderson, Jefferson County and Louisville, Jefferson County Kentucky.
Company F – Many men mustered in from men mustered in from Camp Anderson, Jefferson County, Louisville, Jefferson County and Bowling Green, Warren County Kentucky.
Company G – Many men mustered in from Louisville, Jefferson County and Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky.
Company H – Many men mustered in from Camp Anderson, Jefferson County and Louisville, Jefferson County Kentucky.
Organized at Louisville, Ky., December 24, 1861. Moved to Bardstown, Ky., January 6, 1862, and duty there till March. Unattached Cavalry, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army Ohio, to October, 1862. District of Louisville, Ky., Dept. Ohio, to November, 1862. District of Western Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to November, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to January, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to August, 1865.
SERVICE:Moved from Bardstown, Ky., to Nashville, Tenn., March 26, 1862, thence to Wartrace, Tenn., April 8, and duty in that vicinity till July. Action at Lebanon May 5. Readyville June 7. Rankin’s Ferry near Jasper June 18. Shell Mountain June 21. Battle Creek June 21 and July 5. Murfreesboro July 13 (4 Cos.). Moved to Tullahoma July 13, and duty there till August. Sparta August 4 (Detachment). Raid on Louisville & Nashville Railroad August 19-21 (Detachment). March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 22-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-22. Near Perryville October 6-7. Near Mountain Gap October 14 and 16. Duty on southern border of Kentucky till February, 1863. Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., February 9, thence to Murfreesboro and Franklin, Tenn. Expedition to Spring Hill March 4-5. Franklin March 4. Thompson’s Station, Spring Hill, March 5. Expedition from Franklin to Columbia March 8-12. Thompson’s Station March 9. Rutherford Creek March 10-11. Spring Hill March 19. Near Thompson’s Station March 23. Little Harpeth March 25. Near Franklin March 31. Thompson’s Station May 2. Franklin June 4. Triune June 9. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Uniontown and Rover June 23. Middleton June 24. Fosterville, Guy’s Gap and Shelbyville June 27. Expedition to Huntsville July 13-22. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Maysville, Ala., August 21 and 28. Reconnoissance from Alpine, Ga., toward Summerville September 10. Skirmishes at Summerville September 10 and 15. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Moved to Bellefonte, Ala., September 25-30. Operations against Wheeler and Roddy September 30-October 2. Moved to Caperton’s Ferry October 2, and duty there till December 2. Moved to Rossville, Ga., December 2-5, and duty there till January 6, 1864. Scout toward Dalton December 12, 1863. Skirmish at Lafayette December 12. Scout to Lafayette December 21-23. Veterans on furlough January to March, 1864. Near Chattanooga till May, Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September. Duty in rear of army covering and protecting railroad at Wauhatchie, Lafayette, Calhoun, Dalton and Resaca. At Wauhatchie May 5 to June 18. (A detachment at Lexington, Ky., June 10, 1864.) At Lafayette till August 4. Actions at Lafayette June 24 and 30. At Calhoun August 4 to October 12. Pine Log Creek and near Fairmount August 14. Resaca October 12-13. Near Summerville October 18. Little River, Ala., October 20. Leesburg October 21. Ladiga, Terrapin Creek, October 28. Moved to Louisville, Ky., November 3-9. Operations against Lyon in Kentucky December 6-23. Hopkinsville, Ky., December 16. At Nashville, Tenn., till January 9, 1865. Moved to Gravelly Springs, Ala., and duty there till March. Wilson’s Raid from Chickasaw, Ala., to Macon, Ga., March 22-May 1. Six-Mile Creek March 31. Selma April 2. Montgomery April 12. Wetumpka April 13. Fort Tyler, West Point, April 16. Capture of Macon April 20. Duty at Macon and in the Dept. of Georgia till August. Mustered out August 21, 1865.
