Some more interestingColt Walker "factoids"

[elhombreconnonombre]

It is documented that of the first 500 military Walkers shipped to México 6 were reported stolen, 394 were issued to. Col. Hay's Rangers and 100 to Lt. Claibourne's Co. C Dragoons. At the end of hostilities 191 Walkers were returned by the Rangers to the Ordnance depot in Vera Cruz, consisting of 109 damaged and unservicable revolvers and 82 servicable revolvers. The Dragoon regulars retained their Walkers. I have learned that 125 Walkers were reported lost in battle by the Rangers, leaving 78 Walkers retained by individual Rangers after they were mustered out.
I have also learned that rather than being shipped directly to the Baton Rouge armoury, the last 500 military Walkers may have been actually been shipped to Vera Cruz, but never issued, since hostilities had ended. These 500 Walkers less 40 ,representing two shipping cases of 20 Walkers plus accoutrements each, were reported as stolen plus the 82 servicable revolvers were then sent to the Baton Rouge armory then to the Ordnance depot in San Antonio for distribution to federalized Rangers and US troops on the frontier. In April of 1850 the Walkers were sent back to San Antonio to be replaced by what is now called the Dragoon holster pistol. The Walkers remained there until 1861, when Texas troops of the CSA took posession of all military supplies and forts in Texas. These supplies and arms were distributed to Texas troops for service in the CSA.

 

[Old Fuff]

Hey Hombre….!

Sorry to be so late, but if you and your loyal followers click on this link you still might get to see:

The William A. Gary collection of original Confederate revolvers, that was reputed to be the finest ever assembled.

If that doesn’t do the trick then the Robert Allen collection of Remington handguns might attract your attention.

And I understand that among the junk there is supposed to be an early full-stock Hawken….

Probably a whole lot more, but move fast before the action is all over.

www.littlejohnsauctionservice.com

Little John’s Auction Service
1201 W. Katella Ave.
Orange, CA. 92867

 

[mec]

That is very interesting. It's the first time Ive seen the part about the 1860 issue to the Texans. This one has "Bullrun" scratched on the left grip panel though it's not legible in the picture.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Up until I learned of the possible unknown number of reissued Walkers to Texas Confederate troops I had assumed that few Walkers were used during the ACW, since they were rather heavy and cumbersome and had been replaced in general use by Navys, Armys, and Dragoons. I have come across info indicating that Gen. Ben McCulloch had his Walker when he was killed in battle. Also, I have a couple of old journals of CSA vets who describe the jubilation of the new recruits in Dallas when the wagon trains of supplies and arms arrived from San Antonio. " Of the fellers who lined up to get a pistol....most were able to get a single shot pistol, but a few were lucky in drawing an old time Colt six shooter"...a Walker perhaps...quien sabe?

 

[mec]

more good information. I am saddened to hear that Ben McCollough got killed. I didn't know that.

 

[swathdiver]

One wonders if Walkers might still be found at the battlefield today via metal detectors?

 

[Crawdad1]

most were able to get a single shot pistol,

That has always interested me. How fast in real time did new developments reach the frontier and how readily were they accepted. This time period between invention, delivery and acceptance by the average population both rural and urban must have left the average Westerner holding a vast array of differing firearms. The majority of which were probably muzzleloading smoothbores but solid concrete data is hard to come by, that is until you get a nugget like Elhombre just posted.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Another nugget to ponder. There was an independent unit of mounted Texas Rangers of undetermined size or specific unit designation under Gen. Beauregard at the First Battle of Bull's Run. Maybe thats where that Walker came from in the pic mec posted above...quien sabe?

 

[mykeal]

McCulloch was killed at the battle of Pea Ridge, AK, an event that began the downfall of the CSA in Arkansas. McCulloch's second in command, Brig. Gen. James McIntosh, was killed a few moments later attempting to recover McCulloch's body. Another staff member, Col. Hebert, was captured in the same attempt, and the Confederates essentially were leaderless. The Union won the battle and proceeded to rout the CSA in Arkansas.

We used to live in Wichita and made several trips to Arkansas for black powder events and gear in the 70's (that's 1970's). I stumbled on Pea Ridge on one of those trips and spent a lot of time learning about it; it was the first Civil War battle I studied in any detail. I was fascinated with walking the battleground. People were still finding artifacts laying in the woods back then.

 

[mec]

McCulloch was an interesting character. He wanted to form a buffer state in northern mexico and arranged for purchase of the fluted cylinder colt armies after secession.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Mykeal
My gggpaw served in the 19th Texas cavalry in the Red River campaign.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

I reread a journal of a CSA 6th Texas Cavalryman who was present at the battle of Elkhorn Tavern, aka battle of Pea Ridge, lamenting the death of McCulloch, et al. At least the Texas troops were successful in their primary purpose during the ACW: keeping federal troops out of Texas until the end of the war.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I've always wondered if Walkers were used in the ACW.

 

[4v50 Gary]

It's possible, but unlikely that Walkers saw the Civil War. First, limited #s meant that replacement parts were few and far between. Second, abundance of newer, lighter guns meant the heavy Walker could be relegated to a sideshow.

It would be neat to find a memoir, diary or journal showing some Texas cavalryman carried one during the war. I'm not big into cavalry actions and Joe Bilby (author of Civil War Guns) would probably know a lot more about this.

 

[AJumbo]

I'vee seen a period photo of an older man, a Confederate volunteer, posing proudly with his Charleville flintlock musket; I imagine that for Rebel volunteers, being armed may have been a ''run what you brung" proposition. I wouldn't be surprised if privately-owned Walkers found their way onto the field, but I seriously doubt they'd have been issued by the Union. I sure wish I knew what those ''old-time Colts" referenced above were, though.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

IMHO the only M1847 holster Walkers that might have been used by Union troops during the ACW would have been a civilian model presented to general officers and high ranking staff officers presented during the Mexican War and handed down/given to a serving relative of that officer, OR perhaps a battlefield pickup lost by a Texas CSA soldier, OR one of the 46 Walkers reported stolen during the Mexican War. I think that the report that ex Ranger Gen. Ben McCulloch, CSA, wor one was out of the norm, given the weight of the pistol for belt wear for non mounted CSA troops. My gggpaw mustered into the 19th Texas Cavalry at Dallas with his own shortened sxs Birmingham made 12 gauge and a pair of 1851 Colt's. The Walker he obtained during the Mexican War stayed home.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Most likely the San Antonio ordnance depot had a mixture of Dragoon revolvers, 1851 Navys, perhaps a few Walkers, even some 1860 Armys, but most likely old single shot pistols like1836 Flintlocks and Astons from the Mexican War, and M1855 single shot pistols.