I figured the best way to find out was to determine just what was in the US arsenals at the time and after a little digging below is what I was able to find. Still not definitive as to what the 311 long-range rifles were but now we know they were 58 cal. pattern 1859.
ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., January 30, 1860.
Maj. A. MORDECAI, Watervliet Arsenal:
SIR: You are hereby required to issue to Capt. J. Gorgas, Charleston Arsenal, the following ordnance stores, viz: 2,000 percussion rifles, caliber .54, with appendages. To Capt. J. A. J. Bradford, North Carolina Arsenal, 2,000 percussion rifles, caliber .54, with appendages.
The within rifles will be held in readiness for issue at such time as you may be called upon by the Quartermaster’s Department. Copy of a letter to that department from this office is inclosed herewith for your information and government.*
H. K. CRAIG, Colonel of Ordnance.
ORDNANCE OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 2d, 1860.
Major-General JESUP, Quartermaster-General U. 8. Army:
SIR: I have to request that transportation may be provided for the following number of boxes of muskets and rifles to be supplied to the arsenals at Fayetteville, N. C., Charleston, S. C., Augusta, Ga., Mount Vernon, Ala., and Baton Rouge, La., by direction of the Secretary of War:
| Boxes. |
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From Springfield Armory to Charleston Arsenal | 750 |
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From Watervliet Arsenal to Charleston Arsenal | 100 |
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From Springfield Armory to North Carolina Arsenal | 1,250 |
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From Watervliet Arsenal to North Carolina Arsenal | 100 |
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From Springfield Armory to Augusta Arsenal | 1,000 |
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From Watertown Arsenal to Augusta Arsenal | 100 |
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From Springfield Armory to Mount Vernon Arsenal | 750 |
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From Watertown Arsenal to Mount Vernon Arsenal | 100 |
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From Springfield Armory to Baton Rouge Arsenal | 1,500 |
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From Watertown Arsenal to Baton Rouge Arsenal | 100 |
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Total | 5,750 |
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Each box contains 20 arms, weight about 300 pounds, and occupies about 10 cubic feet. The transfers of these arms may be made from time to time as may be most suitable for economy and convenience of transportation, and they will be held in readiness for delivery from Springfield Armory and Watervliet and Watertown Arsenals at such times and in such parcels as may best suit the arrangements which your department may make for their transfer.
Respectfully, &c.,
H. K. CRAIG, Colonel of Ordnance.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Raleigh, April 2, 1861.
Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:
SIR: I have the honor, agreeably to instructions from His Excellency Governor Ellis, to address you with regard to the quota of arms due this State from the General Government.
Governor E., having been notified as usual that the quota of arms due North Carolina was subject to his draft, drew the entire quota in long-range rifles (pattern of 1859) with sword-bayonets. No notice having been taken of the latter, he made a second application, and was {p.64} informed on the 4th of February last, by the Chief of the Ordnance Department, that orders had been issued to the U. S. Armory at Harper’s Ferry to forward to his address “334 long-range rifles with sword-bayonets and appendages,” being the equivalent of 453 muskets, the quota due North Carolina. Up to this date nothing further has been heard from them, and application is now made directly to you, sir, in the hope that you will cause the matter to receive proper attention without further delay.
With much respect, yours, &c.,
GRAHAM DAVES, Private Secretary.
States and Territories. | Long range rifles, caliber .58-inch. | Percussion rifles, caliber .54-inch. | Colt rifles. | Hall carbines | | | | |
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No. | Price. | No. | Price. | No. | Price. | No. | Price. | |
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Massachusetts | 100 | $17.43 | | | | | | |
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New York | 429 | | | | 1 | $42.50 | | |
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New Jersey | 100 | | | | | | | |
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Virginia | 50 | | | | | | | |
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North Carolina | 311 | | | | | | | |
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Louisiana | 104 | | | | | | | |
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Mississippi | 212 | | | | | | | |
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Tennessee | 1 | | | | | | | |
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Kentucky | 80 | | | | | | | |
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Indiana | 170 | | | | | | | |
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Illinois | 1 | | | | | | 1 | $17.00 |
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Wisconsin | | | 40 | $12.88 | | | | |
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Iowa | 12 | | | | | | | |
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California | 115 | | | | | | | |
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Washington Territory | | | | | 2 | 42.50 | | |
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Kansas Territory | 10 | | | | | | | |
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New Mexico Territory | | | 220 | 12.88 | 10 | 42.50 | | |
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Pennsylvania | 42 | 17.43 | 40 | 12.88 | | | | |
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Total | 1,728 | | 300 | | 13 | | 1 | |
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