Buford's Guns at Gettysburg

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I can't find two websites online that seem to agree what guns Buford's troopers used at Gettysburg to delay the Confederate advance on July 1. Can anyone on this forum clear up the confusion? Photos would be nice if anyone has examples in their collection. Many thanks.

 

[rpkennedy]

I can't find two websites online that seem to agree what guns Buford's troopers used at Gettysburg to delay the Confederate advance on July 1. Can anyone on this forum clear up the confusion? Photos would be nice if anyone has examples in their collection. Many thanks.

A mix of:

Sharps Carbines
Burnside Carbines
Gallagher Carbines
Merrill Carbines
Smith Carbines
Colt .36
Colt .44

Ryan

 

[thomas aagaard]

this 15 min youtube video covers it.

 

[121st PA Vols]

A short side note here to mention/remind that 1 in every 4 troopers held a horse, greatly reducing Buford's (Gamble, Devin brigades) strength. Anyone whose been around horses knows that is literally a handful, (4!) especially when the South brought up more artillery (Pegram) giving them at least 20 guns against a single battery of horse artillery.
That was a long-long way to control horse flesh from Knoxlyn-Belmont School House Ridge, 1080 yards (est) west of Herr's Ridge that was a similar distance (slightly less) from McPherson's Ridge. Those brave guys pulled some rough duty that day and deserve all the credit they've received and more.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Somehow I just knew Buford's men were not equipped with repeating rifles capable of shooting 20 rounds before they needed reloading....

 

[Yankeedave]

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

A somewhat related thread:

Sharps vs. Spencer | Small Arms & Ammunition

I thought for sure I would see a thread like this around. Maybe its within another post. I apologize if this is already circulating. Anywho . . . If you were a soldier on the CW battlefield, which weapon would you prefer to be in your hands--the Sharps or the Spencer? And Why? If another...

civilwartalk.com

 

[johan_steele]

And just to nip it in the bud before anyone even thinks it; there were no Spencer carbines with the AoP at the time of Gettysburg in fact no carbines had been delivered to the US at that time. The only Spencers at Gettysburg were Spencer RIFLES in the hands of some of Custer's men who were no where near the battlefield when Buford made his delaying action.

 

[Rhea Cole]

And just to nip it in the bud before anyone even thinks it; there were no Spencer carbines with the AoP at the time of Gettysburg in fact no carbines had been delivered to the US at that time. The only Spencers at Gettysburg were Spencer RIFLES in the hands of some of Custer's men who were no where near the battlefield when Buford made his delaying action.

It is interesting to note that many original Spencer rifles have a wear mark in front of the trigger assembly. The Spencer rifle is balanced on that point. It balanced nicely across a saddle, something greatly appreciated by troopers & mounted infantrymen. The carbine was suspended from a wide shoulder strap which wasn't anywhere near as comfortable.

I can attest that a Spencer rifle will rest comfortably in your palm making it very easy to handle.

 

[Scott1967]

No surprise about the Sharps being the most used carbine it was cheap and reliable , 3x Sharpe's 1855 cost the same as 1x Burnside virtually which is nuts.

 

[rpkennedy]

From the ordnance report:

8th Illinois: Sharps Carbine, Colt .36, Colt .44
12th Illinois: Burnside Carbine, Colt. 44
3rd Indiana: Gallagher Carbine, Sharps Carbine, Colt. 44
8th New York: Sharps Carbine, Colt .44
6th New York: Sharps Carbine, Colt. 44
9th New York: Sharps Carbine, Smith Carbine, Colt. 44
17th Pennsylvania: Merrill Carbine, Smith Carbine, Colt. 44, Colt .36, Remington .36
3rd West Virginia: Gallagher Carbine, Smith Carbine, Colt .44, Remington .36

Ryan