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Did You Know?

First pattern CS artillery saddle…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the first pattern artillery saddle was an English based saddle until a pretty good copy of the Grimsley was ordered at mid-war?  Or that Southern Artillery collars were often made of Spanish Moss and even corn shucks.

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Clarksville, VA…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the central harness shops at Clarksville, VA produced nearly all ANV artillery saddle and harness.

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British saddlery…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That large numbers of British saddlery were imported for exclusive sale to Southern officers.

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Confederate Officer’s saddles…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That officers were equipped with saddlery by purchasing them from the Ordnance Arsenals.  Three standard but different patterns of (Jenifer) saddles were made at the Clarksville Shops for ANV officers.

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The most productive ……

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the monthly record for the most saddles produced at the Richmond Arsenal (and its finest quality saddles) were made during the South’s final month, March 1865.

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Not shortages but a lack of transportation…….

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That shortages from iron and leather were a continual burden on Confederate saddle production but the single most devastating cause for the failure in supply was not shortages or even Federal incursions but rather the want of transportations.

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Single most lacking item of horse equipments…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the most deficient item of issue horse equipment in all of the Confederacy was curry combs and brushes.

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Saddle blankets made of Spanish moss! Really?…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That a blanket made of Spanish Moss was one of the most common saddle blankets issued in the Confederacy.

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Breast Straps NOT common in east but were in west…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That breast straps were NOT a regular item of issue from the Richmond arsenal but were for most western arsenals.

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“Halter-bridle” combinations….

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That for most of the war, the halter and bridle as separate items were issued to cavalry troopers from the Richmond Arsenal.  Out west, most arsenals made and issued a “combination” halter and bridle.  By the end of the war, Richmond also adopted the “halter-bridle.”

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The Richmond Arsenal “issue” single-ring halter…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the Richmond Arsenal issue halter was a simple “single-ring” halter.

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Saddles made of “cloth”?…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That large number of trooper’s “enamelled cloth” saddles were made at western arsenals, especially in Columbus Georgia.  They were universally abhorred by cavalryman!

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“Unauthorized” saddle manufacturing in the west…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the western arsenals had a difficult time providing adequate saddlery forcing western cavalry commanders such as Wheeler, Morgan and others to establish their own unauthorized manufacturing operations.

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The Jenifer saddle’s inventor “sued” the Confederacy!…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That in spite of the fact he freely gave the use of his saddle pattern to the Confederacy in 1861, Walter Jenifer later sued the War Department for patent infringement and actually “won” his case and a sizeable award of money!

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The Atlanta Arsenal saddle production….

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the west’s largest saddle supplier, the Atlanta Arsenal produced both the McClellen and the “Texas” saddles at varous times even while the official saddle was the Jenifer and before being ordered to switch to the Texas saddle in early 1864.

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Richmond Arsenal saddle production…

October 19, 2008November 17, 2017 Ken R. Knopp Did You Know?

That the Confederate Richmond Arsenal produced at least two different versions of the Jenifer, two McClellen patterns and one “in-between” transition saddle for troopers during the war.

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Ken R. Knopp

Historian and Author Ken R. Knopp has published a collection of his research and findings in three comprehensive books and dozens of previously published articles. The articles & photos are copyrighted and NOT available without written permission.

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