Is this inspection E S A?

[Ferd454231]

A few years ago I bought an L. Pomeroy, 35/40 carried by Andrew Nash of the 44th Ga. He was killed at Antietam. This is born out by records. As you can see from the photos his initials are carved in the stock. The 44 G is on the stock behind the barrel tang. 1844 is on both the lock plate and the barrel opposite the trigger. My question is the inspection mark . Is this an ESA. If so did E S Alin inspect Pomeroy's weapons in the mid 40s? I know he inspected at the Springfield armory in the 50s. I can find no mention of him inspecting Pomeroy weapons in my only source book, Peter Schmidt's US Military Flintlock Muskets Vol. 2. This is not an overriding concern in the larger scheme of things. Its more of an itch I can't scratch. Any help always appreciated. Thanks H

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

I have seen ESA stamped in Pomroy barrels, but I don't know if this is ES Alin.
I wanted to comment on the A N wood carved initials - how can you know these are not to be read when rotated 180 degrees? Then, it would be N V ! Since the 44th Georgia had a soldier named Nathaniel Vincent, those letters wold fit him, too.

 

[Ferd454231]

Dear Jeff,
Hope your part of the state has dried out. N. Vincent was in F company according to my source. Vincent was killed at Petersburg April 2, 1865. Now that is really tragic. My guy was in Co. F and is listed as being KIA at Antietam. It did not occur to me that there could be another EAS running around so that might prove to be the answer. Thanks! H

 

[Grayrock Volunteer]

The correct initials on Pomeroy M1840 proofs are EB for Elizur Bates. To my eye this one has a spurious CSA overstamp.

 

[JOHN42768]

L. Pomeroy on lock plate was Lemuel Pomeroy and appears on the Model 1816,1840 musket.