I am sure this has been mentioned before but here goes anyway. A friend of mine mentioned to me yesterday a couple of comments made to him about using his Henry rifle at a reenactment by a so called "learned individual". The comments were: 1. "I just see too many Henry rifles at events". and 2. "There were NO brass frame Henry rifles used in the Civil War".
Number 1. There really is not very many reproduction Henry rifles used in reenacting. The closest number of Henry rifles used in reenacting is less than 200 used nationwide. This number is based on communications that I have had with many individuals who own Henry rifles or those that also have friends using Henry rifles. Generally those "learned individuals" have not researched the Henry rifle or when or where they were used. One comment that is generally given is; "We reenact the "Common Soldier". Their definition of the "Common Soldier" usually represents what they choose to reenact without having room for any other impressions. Or they may say that they reenact what the majority of soldiers used. These people are not historians but "selective historians" and only want to give their side of the story.
Henry rifles were used in the Civil War from as early as 1862 throughout the entire war. They were not only used by the Union but also by the Confederacy. The 10 KY Partisan Rangers CS had a company of men (at least 50) armed with Henry rifles as early as August of 1862 when the capture of Clarksville, TN took place. Even at Corinth at least one Confederate was armed with a Henry rifle. By the time 1863 comes around the 66th Illinois Western Sharpshooters were purchasing their own Henry rifles. The 7th Illinois Infantry purchased their Henry rifles in early 1864. The list goes on of regiments and individuals arming themselves with Henry rifles. The government also got into the act of buying Henry rifles by purchasing 1731 Henry rifles and arming the 1st DC Cavalry.
If a reenactor armed with a Henry rifle shows up at an event where Henry rifles were present at during the war there should not be a problem. To those that think there are too many Henry rifles at reenactments I would be interested in how many is too many. At the 150 Bentonville last March there were 35 men armed with Henry rifles in our regiment along with some Spencers and muzzle loaders. Any battle that Sherman's army took part in from 1863 to the end of the war Henry rifles were used since several regiments were armed with them as well as Spencers. Now if a reenactor shows up at an event that was too early or Henry rifles were not used at then they are in the wrong. A Henry rifle at Bull Run would not be correct nor would one at Gettysburg.
As for number 2: This is totally false since most of the Henry rifles used in the Civil War were indeed brass frame Henry rifles. There were over 9,000 Henry rifles used in the Civil War and some say over 10,000. There were less than 400 iron frame rifles ever made the rest were brass frame. The comment made to my friend is typical of those that do not know anything about the Henry rifle and by those wanting to push their own agenda of only muzzle-loaders were used.
Hopefully this will help some out.
Number 1. There really is not very many reproduction Henry rifles used in reenacting. The closest number of Henry rifles used in reenacting is less than 200 used nationwide. This number is based on communications that I have had with many individuals who own Henry rifles or those that also have friends using Henry rifles. Generally those "learned individuals" have not researched the Henry rifle or when or where they were used. One comment that is generally given is; "We reenact the "Common Soldier". Their definition of the "Common Soldier" usually represents what they choose to reenact without having room for any other impressions. Or they may say that they reenact what the majority of soldiers used. These people are not historians but "selective historians" and only want to give their side of the story.
Henry rifles were used in the Civil War from as early as 1862 throughout the entire war. They were not only used by the Union but also by the Confederacy. The 10 KY Partisan Rangers CS had a company of men (at least 50) armed with Henry rifles as early as August of 1862 when the capture of Clarksville, TN took place. Even at Corinth at least one Confederate was armed with a Henry rifle. By the time 1863 comes around the 66th Illinois Western Sharpshooters were purchasing their own Henry rifles. The 7th Illinois Infantry purchased their Henry rifles in early 1864. The list goes on of regiments and individuals arming themselves with Henry rifles. The government also got into the act of buying Henry rifles by purchasing 1731 Henry rifles and arming the 1st DC Cavalry.
If a reenactor armed with a Henry rifle shows up at an event where Henry rifles were present at during the war there should not be a problem. To those that think there are too many Henry rifles at reenactments I would be interested in how many is too many. At the 150 Bentonville last March there were 35 men armed with Henry rifles in our regiment along with some Spencers and muzzle loaders. Any battle that Sherman's army took part in from 1863 to the end of the war Henry rifles were used since several regiments were armed with them as well as Spencers. Now if a reenactor shows up at an event that was too early or Henry rifles were not used at then they are in the wrong. A Henry rifle at Bull Run would not be correct nor would one at Gettysburg.
As for number 2: This is totally false since most of the Henry rifles used in the Civil War were indeed brass frame Henry rifles. There were over 9,000 Henry rifles used in the Civil War and some say over 10,000. There were less than 400 iron frame rifles ever made the rest were brass frame. The comment made to my friend is typical of those that do not know anything about the Henry rifle and by those wanting to push their own agenda of only muzzle-loaders were used.
Hopefully this will help some out.