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The 1861 Springfield I bought finally showed up at my door today. This is the oldest US military arm that I currently own and just being able to hold it brings a chill to my skin. This is a real deal 1862 dated Civil War rifle-musket that has seen it's share of action.
I wonder what battles it may have seen: Shiloh, the bloodiest day of the war up to that time. perhaps it was at Gettysburg and defended Little Round Top when Joshua Chamberlain, his troops out of ammunition, ordered his men to fix bayonets and charge the Confederate attackers that out numbered him. Could it have been there when the very same Chamberlain ordered his men to salute their beaten foe at Appomattox Courthouse?
Perhaps it had been captured by the Confederate forces and been on the other side of so many bloody battles.
Unfortunately, there is no real way say exactly where it has been in the 152 years since it was manufactured at the US armory at Springfield. I can say that it now has an honored place in my modest collection of US military arms, where it will be treasured for the part it may have played in the history of this country.
I wonder what battles it may have seen: Shiloh, the bloodiest day of the war up to that time. perhaps it was at Gettysburg and defended Little Round Top when Joshua Chamberlain, his troops out of ammunition, ordered his men to fix bayonets and charge the Confederate attackers that out numbered him. Could it have been there when the very same Chamberlain ordered his men to salute their beaten foe at Appomattox Courthouse?
Perhaps it had been captured by the Confederate forces and been on the other side of so many bloody battles.
Unfortunately, there is no real way say exactly where it has been in the 152 years since it was manufactured at the US armory at Springfield. I can say that it now has an honored place in my modest collection of US military arms, where it will be treasured for the part it may have played in the history of this country.
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