Why the Henry rifle was little used in the Civil War.

[Darto]

One thing not mentioned is that Abraham Lincoln had a target range on the White House lawn (I believe the only President before or since that did). He tried the Spencer and heartily endorsed it. And then the Union bought lots and lots of them. Only almost a year later before did Lincoln get the chance to shoot a Henry on his lawn. He liked it. But said the like the Spencer better. And the Union has already bought lots of Spencer ammunition.
I read about Lincoln's lawn range in this little 80 page book:

https://www.amazon.com/Winchester-Lever-Action-Rifles-Weapon-Martin/dp/1472806573/

[smle-man]

I think the Spencer was a superior cavalry arm for the technology of the time.

[TRAP55]

Henry tried to persuade Lincoln by giving him this presentation rifle.

https://www.si.edu/object/henry-presentation-rifle%3Anmah_881516

[JPimbo]

Expensive, light calibers, complicated.

[CenterX]

The Spencer had a sharpshooter range of 200-500 yards. The henry repeater was 150-300 yards. in the day- close quarter combat was knives, pistols and swards. Sadly no person respected individual rapid fire weapons as an overall advantage. narrow minded and bull headed????
Col. Custer learned first hand the power of Henry Rifle Power. Also, planes Indians were excellent hunters, fighters and human beings - never respected properly based on European Ignorance.