1861 Springfield

[Hardcase]

This is something that's been on the back burner for several years and will probably stay there for a while longer (I've got other irons in the fire), but I was thinking about it, so I figured I'd better check while I have it in mind.

I have my great great grandfather's 1861 Sprinfield that he carried in Company G of the 27th Michigan Infantry Regiment during the "War of the Rebellion". When he mustered out in 1865, he had the opportunity to either buy the rifle or just took it - we're not too clear on that - because the regiment was disbanded.

My great grandfather, my grandfather and my father have all fired the rifle. I think that the last time was probably in the early '50s, maybe late '40s. My dad gave it to me around five or six years ago. It's in quite good condition, especially for a rifle that was made in 1862. It's the one rifle that my people actually took good care of (the other irons in the fire that I mentioned are all of the other rifles that have needed some TLC to get them back into fighting form without destroying their value.)

So obviously I'd like to shoot this rifle every now and then. I know that the charge of the day was 60 grains of 2Fg and a .58 minie ball. But that was 60 grains of 1860s' era 2Fg and an 1860s' ball. Does that still hold true for today?

Any other hints?

 

[4V50 Gary]

60 grains FF is good. Post of a pic of the gun when you have a chance. Do you have the service record and pension record of your relative?

 

[Hardcase]

I'll get pictures as soon as I get a new battery pack for my camera. One of my cousins has copies of his records. I've also been able to find out a fair amount online from Ancestry.com. Michigan kept pretty good records of the regiments that they raised back then.

They were attached to Grant's army, participated in taking Vicksburg and in the East Tennessee campaign. They covered a lot of nasty ground in a fairly short amount of time, took part in some brutal battles and ended up with a casualty rate of over 30%. Somehow everybody from my family made it through four years of service - from 1861 to 1865. The regiment paraded in Washington, DC in the spring of 1865 and was mustered out in July of 1865.

Less than a year later, my great great grandfather got married and started having kids.

My dad has photos of him with the rifle in the early 1900s.

 

[Wleoff]

My great-great-grandfather, William M. Barnes, was with Company C of the 37th Alabama Infantry Regiment at Vicksburg. He later fought at Missionary Ridge in East Tennessee, along with another gg-grandfather, James Francis May, in the 33rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry Regiment under General Pat Cleburne. James fought in six battles where his regiment lost over 60%, including Chicamauga, Perryville, and the worst, Franklin.

Six of my eight gg-grandfathers fought for the Confederacy. Only two were killed during the war. I wish that I still had one of their rifles.

 

[59sharps]

It will handle the load you mention, w/ 3fffg or 2ffg. Not sure back then that it was called 2ffg I think itwas 60grn of musket powder.
for a nice target load try 42 - 48 grn 3fffg or 2ffg. for accuarey you will need to play w/ the charge in that range. good out to 100yrds. minnie will need to be .001- .002 under bore. I do not shoot more than that so I do not know what works beyond that. also it will shoot about 6" or so high at 50 yrds w/ the original sight. try the N-ssa board for more help.

 

[Hardcase]

No pictures of the rifle yet - never, never, NEVER buy a digital camera that uses a proprietary battery pack! Just a word to the wise. However, I thought that you guys might like to see a picture of the original owner: Sgt George Dunn. He was a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post 24 in Fenton, Michigan.

I've made great progress on his other rifle, an 1884 Colt Lightning in .38-40. All that's left after some very careful active rust removal is to install a replacement rear sight elevator. I found one in Seattle and it's on the way. It should be a shooter, too.