** This was originally a post on the Authentic Campaigner (Cavalry Discussion) Forum about 2005 then developed into a full length article for the Camp Chase published in the June 2009 edition. WESTERN CS CAVALRY ARMED & EQUIPPED AS INFANTRY? Or, When the obvious, isn’t so obvious! By […]
Author: Ken R. Knopp
First pattern CS artillery saddle…
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.
Clarksville, VA…
That the central harness shops at Clarksville, VA produced nearly all ANV artillery saddle and harness.
British saddlery…
Confederate Officer’s saddles…
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.
The most productive ……
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.
Not shortages but a lack of transportation…….
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.
Single most lacking item of horse equipments…
That the most deficient item of issue horse equipment in all of the Confederacy was curry combs and brushes.
Saddle blankets made of Spanish moss! Really?…
That a blanket made of Spanish Moss was one of the most common saddle blankets issued in the Confederacy.
Breast Straps NOT common in east but were in west…
That breast straps were NOT a regular item of issue from the Richmond arsenal but were for most western arsenals.
“Halter-bridle” combinations….
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.”
The Richmond Arsenal “issue” single-ring halter…
Saddles made of “cloth”?…
That large number of trooper’s “enamelled cloth” saddles were made at western arsenals, especially in Columbus Georgia. They were universally abhorred by cavalryman!
“Unauthorized” saddle manufacturing in the west…
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.
The Jenifer saddle’s inventor “sued” the Confederacy!…
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!
The Atlanta Arsenal saddle production….
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.
Richmond Arsenal saddle production…
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.
Historical Overview
Each arsenal in the confederacy produced different types of saddlery and equipment. The articles in this section provides detailed information about the most formidable arsenals.
Atlanta Arsenal Annual Reports
ANNUAL REPORT OF OPERATIONS AT THE ATLANTA ARSENAL C S A COMMANDED BY MAJOR M. H. WRIGHT, ORDNANCE OFFICER, DURING THE CURRENT YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 1863.
Sources for the Atlanta Arsenal Information
NATIONAL ARCHIVES, WAR DEPT. COLLECTION OF CONFEDERATE RECORDS-CHAPT. IV, GROUP 109. Records of the Ordnance Bureau, Vol. 8, 9, 19, 78 & 79, 104, 105. Records of contracts and Ordnance stores purchased, received and issued at Nashville and Atlanta 1861-1862. CONFEDERATE ORDNANCE MANUAL- REGULATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT OF ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, C.S.A., Richmond, Va. 1862 PLOUGHSHARES INTO […]
Atlanta’s Horse Equipment Contract Manufacturers
Barber Greenwood & Co.- Cartersville, Ga.: 1862 contracts to Atlanta Arsenal. E.W. Gower-Gunnesville (sp):1862 contracts to Atlanta Arsenal. J.B. Langford & Son-Atlanta:1862 contracts to Atlanta Arsenal. W.G. Turner: 1862 contracts to Atlanta Arsenal. Jesse T. Merritt-winchester, Tenn.: 1862 contracts to Atlanta Arsenal. Kuhn & Turpin-Columbia, Tenn.:1863 contracts to Atlanta Arsenal. Hughs, Pendergrass & Snows- Monroe, […]
Atlanta Arsenal’s Saddle Manufacturing
1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 ATLANTA McClellan: Spring 1862 – Feb 1863 **McClellen/Texas: Feb – Aug 1863 **McClellen Only: Aug 1863-Jan. 1864 Texas Only: Jan. 1864 -End War
Issuances from the Atlanta Arsenal
The following can be considered a complete summary of the horse equipment issued from the Atlanta Arsenal. These figures are taken from the Annual Reports as turned into Chief of Ordnance, Josiah Gorgas from Atlanta commander, Col. Moses H. Wright.