WAR DEPT. COLL. OF CONF. RECORDS, GROUP 109, “CITIZENS FILE” NATIONAL ARCHIVES, WAR DEPT. COLLECTION OF CONFEDERATE RECORDS-CHAPT. IV, GROUP 109. Records of the Ordnance Bureau, Vol. 90, 91, 91 _ Records of correspondence form the Richmond Arsenal. CONFEDERATE ORDNANCE MANUAL- REGULATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT OF ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, C.S.A., Richmond, Va. 1862 Selma: Her Institution and […]
Selma
Saddle Manufacturing at the Selma Arsenal
1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 Jenifer: Spring 1862-Aug 1863 **McClellan Aug 1863 – End of War ** Includes issue of cloth covered saddles SELMA PRODUCTION NUMBERS: (Summary from major contractors only) 25 3,508 ? ? ?
Smith, N. – Selma, Ala
N. Smith was a large producer of every facet of, and obviously high quality cavalry and artillery horse equipments to the Selma Arsenal from August 1862 through June 1864. Very complete records of this company exist from March 1863 to March 1864 indicating this company had contracts for horse equipments and supplies totaling over $491,700! […]
Sample Saddle Sent to Selma Arsenal
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 […]
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 […]