The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition

Some very good points have been mentioned. .. and I thank those who have contributed.

I have since gone back and reviewed the Buresh book page 103, he states that "some of the Philips Brigade" had Henry rifles.

The Lee study interpretation was that all three regiments in the Philips Brigade had them.

The discussion here has led me into thinking, now, that the 1st MSM had "some" Henrys .. which is very possible based on the Lee research..

A very well sourced Wikipedia article was written about the MSM and its weapons:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_State_Militia_(Union)

The conclusion (I edited this for the MSM units at the Mine Creek battle):

1st MSM Cav: Burnside .54 cal
4th MSM Cav: Cosmopolitan 52 cal., and Gallagher 54 cal.
7th MSM Cav: Smith 50 cal.

The Cosmopolitan ammo was found mostly on the extreme western part of the field which is where the 4th MSM would have been. (by the Lee research)

The Smith/Gallagher ammo lines up where the 7th and 4th may have intersected, still somewhat west.

The .44 rimfire ammo is more central/west and would indicate that it was fired/ dropped by the 1st MSM.

The 1st MSM may have had a few of these rifles. I think Buresh makes a case for a least a few rifles to have been Henrys. ( and there is evidence for that in the Lee research)

James Erwin has written a book, "Guerrilla Hunters in the Civil War." He states that some MSM units had the Wesson two-trigger rifle, which has the .44 caliber rimfire cartridges. The Wipedia article state the Wessons were with the 3,5,6, and 8th MSM Cav .. these units were not at the Battle of Mine Creek.

In the book, Cartridges of the World by Frank C. Barnes: The book indicates that “.44 Wesson cartridge and Ballard appear to be identical”

Also, the source book for the Lee study, oates and Dean Thomas, An Introduction to Civil War Arms, has no Wesson carbine listed for reference.

Bruce Nichols has also brought up a pretty good point about the possibility of Ballards actually being in Missouri.

Again, thanks for the comments. I think I now have a much better understanding of this battle.

Messages In This Thread

Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
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Wartime reputation of the Wesson Rifle
Re: Wartime reputation of the Wesson Rifle
Re: Wartime reputation of the Wesson Rifle
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
They were Wesson's
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Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition