August 17, 1864 Dinwiddie to Col. J. L White at Selma, NAWDCCR. “I send you by express a saddle tree for model. Its shape however is not exactly what is called for the Ord. Manual, nor have I one at hand which is exact except some which are not ironed. The general form and character […]
Arsenals & Depots
Inspection of Selma Saddles
On Sept. 8th 1863 Major W. S. Downer writes Chief of Ordnance, Josiah Gorgas regarding inspection of saddles from Selma: “I have received a saddle + saddle tree from Selma Arsenal and would respectfully report that on examination I find while the workmanship is good enough but that the shape of the saddle tree is […]
Selma Arsenal Pattern Saddle & Horse Equipment
As for horse equipment, it is believed the Selma Arsenal was a significant provider to the western armies though records are sketchy. While primarily known for its iron and general ordnance production it did contract with local manufacturers to supply many other equipment needs. The most prolific of these was the N. Smith Company of […]
The Selma Arsenal
With its relative safety and convenient proximity to significant resources including iron, timber, labor, railroad lines and year round water transportation, the little cotton town of Selma Alabama grew during the war to become a great center of Confederate manufacture and business. The Selma Arsenal began operation sometime in the Spring of 1862 initially with […]
Saddles of the Trans-Mississippi (Texas Arsenal and Districts)
In spite of the frontier-like state of civilization various Ordnance Arsenals, depots and manufacturing centers were established in Trans-Mississippi Texas. San Antonio already contained a fairly significant pre-war U.S. Arsenal and other major arsenals or depots were erected in Tyler, Marshall and Houston. Other important ordnance facilities or manufacturing centers were located in cities and […]
Saddles of the Trans-Mississippi (District of the Indian Territory)
The Indian Territory District comprised the areas of Indian Reservations established by the U.S Government prior to the war and known generally today as the State of Oklahoma. After a series of false starts and largely through the efforts of Albert Pike and several prominent Indian leaders, many of the inhabitants of several of the […]
Saddles of the Trans-Mississippi (District of West Louisiana)
Except for the Red river campaign of early 1864, cavalry played an extremely minor role in the operations of this district. Largely garrisoned by artillery and infantry troops defending its many waterways the ordnance facilities here were taxed to the extreme to supply just the bare essentials for their needs. Still, ordnance facilities like those […]
Saddles of the Trans-Mississippi (Arkansas)
Very little information of any kind particularly concerning horse equipment manufacture has survived from Little Rock Arsenal. Surviving returns show only repair of a few horse equipment including twelve valise saddles in May 1863, 15 more in June and eleven in July. No other detailed information is known. SOURCE: (Misc. Record Book, Sept. 1862-April 1865, […]
Saddlery in the Trans-Mississippi Confederacy
Illustrating the history of Confederate saddle manufacturing and supply in the Trans-Mississippi presents a challenge. Relevant records and information from Ordnance facilities there are exceedingly rare. It seems the farther an Arsenal was located from Richmond, the fewer records were kept, or at least survived and thus one can only speculate in broad terms when […]