What would a civil war soldier carry as far as weapons go on an artillery crew. Ive been looking into a few pistols and rifles but dont want to buy the wrong stuff. Im likeing the look of some of the london pistol repros because I havnt seen anyone with them. Everyone has navys or walkers. Im playing for the south if that helps.
Ok guys need a hand
- Thread starter Gambit88
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I have a friend that portrays confederate artillery in missourri. He uses Walkers, '51 Navy, Dragoon revolvers, etc............. The confederacy used a grab bag type assortment of weapons. Whatever alot of soldiers brought or picked up was used alot of times.
Take a LeMat
and now your KING of your Regiment , any arguments , you know what to do
Period correct and very Southern .
Das Jaeger
and now your KING of your Regiment , any arguments , you know what to do
Period correct and very Southern .
Das Jaeger
Are you thinking of getting into a reenacting unit? You might want to see what they have before getting something and they say, "uh, wait a second there soldier!" 
While the south was a grab-bag, the North was pretty much provided for in terms of guns and uniform.
The Doc is out now.
While the south was a grab-bag, the North was pretty much provided for in terms of guns and uniform.
The Doc is out now.
No matter what you arm yourself with it won't change the outcome of the war!
I read somewhere that the in reality very few London Colts were actually used by the Confederacy.
I read somewhere that the in reality very few London Colts were actually used by the Confederacy.
Take your Southern sugar, molasses, and tobacco, and trade for Northern coffee and an 1851 Colt Navy revolver. Just don't let the officers catch you. Your waistline will appreciate the trade on both accounts.
Addendum: For a rifle, trade for a Smith Artilleryman's Carbine. http://www.regtqm.com/Musket_SmithCarbineArtillery.htm
Addendum: For a rifle, trade for a Smith Artilleryman's Carbine. http://www.regtqm.com/Musket_SmithCarbineArtillery.htm
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Artillery Men for the most part did not use sidearms as their job was to man the gun, not shoot at individuals. However, many often equipped themselves with various revolvers of a variety of makes. So with revolvers, as long as it is period correct, you would likely be okay. I would go for a dragoon or later model Colts over a Walker as they are more likely to have been carried than a Walker. (I have not to date actually seen documentation where a Walker was used in the CW, where there is large documentation on the later models. I am confident it happened, just haven't read any credible source that the Walker was carried/issued.)
Long arms are a little different. Many Confederate artillery units carried a few musketoons, muzzle loaded carbines with barrels of 24-26". They differed from the Calvary version in that they had standard sling rather than a calvary slide bar/ring type sling. Enfields were fairly common. Cook and Brother, Dickson and Nelson, Richmond, and J. P. Murray were the more common makers of Confederate Artilery Musketoons.
In addition, there was an "Foot Artillery Sword" that I am not sure if it is part of the gun crews equipment or carried by individuals. It resembles a Gladiator/Roman Infantry type of sword. It had a short heavy thick double edge blade 18"-24" long with a heavy brass hilt. I believe it was more likely standard equipment to cut a dead horse out of their traces so the piece could continue on with the surviving horses. It might however make a very formidable weapon in close combat.
I don't think the LeMat would do as that was mainly a Calvary/navy weapon. While a unique weapon with Southern association, only about 1500 made it into the country. Many(about half if I remember right) of those were rejected by Southern inspectors as unfit for service.
Long arms are a little different. Many Confederate artillery units carried a few musketoons, muzzle loaded carbines with barrels of 24-26". They differed from the Calvary version in that they had standard sling rather than a calvary slide bar/ring type sling. Enfields were fairly common. Cook and Brother, Dickson and Nelson, Richmond, and J. P. Murray were the more common makers of Confederate Artilery Musketoons.
In addition, there was an "Foot Artillery Sword" that I am not sure if it is part of the gun crews equipment or carried by individuals. It resembles a Gladiator/Roman Infantry type of sword. It had a short heavy thick double edge blade 18"-24" long with a heavy brass hilt. I believe it was more likely standard equipment to cut a dead horse out of their traces so the piece could continue on with the surviving horses. It might however make a very formidable weapon in close combat.
I don't think the LeMat would do as that was mainly a Calvary/navy weapon. While a unique weapon with Southern association, only about 1500 made it into the country. Many(about half if I remember right) of those were rejected by Southern inspectors as unfit for service.
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I'm in agreeance with Hawkeye, with an addition to instead of the Foot Artillery Sword, a nice Arkansas Toothpick or similar period correct large knife would have been found on the sides of the Confederate & possibly some Union Artillerists.
Side arms were not standard but were carried by both sides but mostly of what ever the individule could acquire & afford at the time.
Side arms were not standard but were carried by both sides but mostly of what ever the individule could acquire & afford at the time.
Ditto the knife. I just am so used to everyone having a knife, it sort of fades into the background.
Interesting topic.
I would assume that it would be just as important to defend an over-run field piece as it could be promptly turned around and used against you own side.
So there should have (one would think) be procedures in place to counter this as well as equipment to achieve the outcome????
I would assume that it would be just as important to defend an over-run field piece as it could be promptly turned around and used against you own side.
So there should have (one would think) be procedures in place to counter this as well as equipment to achieve the outcome????
It is combined arms operation. Artillery was placed in the line or just behind the Infantry. As such, you have troops on hand to provide the manpower to defend the artillery. Artillery did get overrun, but for the most part the crews were not expected to use sidearms in their defense but to hitch up and retreat with their gun tube. Troops were often sacrificed to allow the artillery time to withdraw. If the piece was unable to be withdrawn, you were taught to spike the gun and get away to fight another day. Properly spiked, the peice is useless until the ordanance teams could re-drill the vent.
Of course, things did get close sometimes as you might expect. There are recorded instances of the crews using mops, rammers, etc. in defense of their pieces.
Of course, things did get close sometimes as you might expect. There are recorded instances of the crews using mops, rammers, etc. in defense of their pieces.
LOL! Mops and rammers!!! the mind boggles!!!
Hey Johnny Yank just bend over this here piece and we will give you a real thrill!! Don't drop 'em too quickly - it is still hot!
Hey Johnny Yank just bend over this here piece and we will give you a real thrill!! Don't drop 'em too quickly - it is still hot!
Mike OTDP
Member
In theory, the main defense of an artillerist was the cannon. In practice, it was often found advisable to have small arms available. Revolvers, the occasional carbine. As a Confederate, you could carry just about anything.
Personally, I'd get a nice Colt Navy repro and forget about it - unless you wanted something else.
Personally, I'd get a nice Colt Navy repro and forget about it - unless you wanted something else.
thanks for the replys everyone. Yes Im already in a group and they seem to carry everything but the kitchen sink. We have smiths, berdan sharps(one an original documented at gettysburg), Army and navy revolvers, Muskettoons and even some 53 enfields. I just wanted to be a bit more correct on arms so I know what to look into. I have a .44 navy and one of the members of the team has another one in 36 hes gonna give me becuase he doesnt have the time to repair it anymore. Id like to get some sort of long arm but even the repros are oh so expensive. Maybe Ill be like my uncle and get a shotgun.
Just curious. I saw you use a Replica 51 Navy Confederate in 44 caliber. 1851 Colt Navy revolvers were 36 caliber as were all the imitations/copies of the 1851 Colt. What exactly do you have?
The .36 caliber Navy would be more accurate than the .44 caliber one & if'n you are in a Confederate unit a brass framed one in .36 caliber would even be close to accurate.
Hswkeye I do have a .44 navy style revolver, and it looks fine in a holster or set on a table when people dont know what theyre lookin at but Im getting a 36 soon from a guy on the crew. It is a kit like mine but in much better condition and he offered it to me because hes got a few more and doesnt want to repair this one. I was lookin for some sort of cheap longarm. I dont want to pay 5-700 dollars for a repro enfield and ive yet to see a smith for under 700.
Noble we have a guy who carrys a walker, of course hes like over 6 foot and a rather big boy, so he has no problem lugging it around all day. after handleing his I want one..
Gambit
I would suggest a visit to one of the large Re-enactment boards. I have seen several on them fairly cheap. Cheap enough that I could buy them, toss the barrels, and replace with a competition grade barrel. Bought a JP Murray that was about $200. Enfield rifles about $225-350. Never bought a Enfield carbine. Try and find someone that is getting out of re-enacting.
I would suggest a visit to one of the large Re-enactment boards. I have seen several on them fairly cheap. Cheap enough that I could buy them, toss the barrels, and replace with a competition grade barrel. Bought a JP Murray that was about $200. Enfield rifles about $225-350. Never bought a Enfield carbine. Try and find someone that is getting out of re-enacting.
Ok ill look into that. I still think im gonna get a spiller and burr revolver though. Dixie has the kits for under 200.
Gambit
Gambit
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