Black Powder, White Smoke — December 2016

Black Powder, White Smoke

One of the best things about writing this column is the information you get in response when you write about something interesting and unusual. Reader R. J. Boquette, aka “Sailor Bob” wrote me regarding my column on the “spare cylinder myth.” Bob did not contest my view that cavalrymen did not carry extra cylinders for use on horseback, but he did relate an interesting story, which gives us not only an extra revolver cylinder use account but provides a perspective on naval land operations during the Civil War. I will quote him directly, as he sums it up very well.

“For many years I have attended the Mansfield, Ohio, Civil War Collectors Show…Every year a gentleman by the name of Jerry Rinker would set up a collection of original Civil War Navy artifacts. His collection was so vast that every year he always had another large sampling that had never been seen before. Everything he brought in for display was unique and extremely rare, and of good quality. He was in his eighties when he died. He had been collecting for some 65 years, and was considered by his peers to have the most knowledge of anyone in that field.”

“One particular item was an arsenal marked black leather fuse box. Inside was a wood block insert. This piece of wood had been milled with two identical circular indentations. Jerry said these held extra loaded cylinders for either an 1851 Colt Navy or 1861 Colt Navy. When sailors and Marines went ashore as a Landing Party either to forage for food or make raids on enemy positions, six shots was all they had. To supplement their fire power extra loaded cylinders could be utilized in a fire fight. The spare cylinders probably came from the extra revolvers stored in the ship’s armory…The one he showed me clearly had the dirty marks of two cylinders with all six chambers imprinted on each insert.”

Bob is an old hand with Civil War studies and firearms use with the USS Michigan Marine Guard, and ML- HEA (Michigan Living History Education Association). He is also a veteran of 25 years as an N-SSA Shooter, although he does not compete anymore; and a member of the Sons of Union Veterans, & Sons of Veteran Reserve U. S. Grant Camp 67.

The story makes sense. How widespread the practice of carrying extra cylinders was in Navy landing parties is unknown at this point, but if anyone was going to do it, sailors would be the most likely. They had access to spare cylinders, which could be removed from extra guns in a ship’s armory to issue to the landing party, and the fuse boxes that could be converted to carry them safely.

Not exactly firearms related, but interesting to me nonetheless, is the recent release from Parabon Nanolabs of Reston, Virginia, describing the company’s Pentagon sponsored program to recruit the families of soldiers missing in action, so that, as the company puts it, the samples can be “analyzed to develop innovative kinship and ancestry algorithms and associated laboratory methods to extend familial matching beyond current capabilities.” In other words, the project seeks to be able to identify the remains of soldiers from the DNA of distant relatives if no immediate family members are available. The company concluded that “The enhancements made possible by this research will assist in the identification of the toughest missing personnel cases by matching DNA from distant relatives to that of deceased Service members, including those from long past conflicts, such as World War II.” After reading that I wondered if they will extend the research back to the Civil War, when so many soldiers who died were classified as “unknown.” Those interested in participating in the study can sign up to be considered at: https://snapshot.parabon-nanolabs.com/kinship-signup.

Christmas is just around the corner, and for those of you looking for something unusual for your uniform history loving family member or friend, there is a new book out by Anthony Gero, who is a well-known scholar of the subject. Gero’s latest work is: Excelsior’s Citizen Soldiers: The Uniforms and Equipage of the New York State Militia, 1787-1847.

The subject is not exactly Civil War, but it provides a good look at the militia system that eventually produced the volunteer armies of the Civil War.

The book is profusely illustrated with 70 original drawings of New York state uniforms, including four full color illustrations. It also includes copies of the state’s uniform regulations from 1786 through 1837, plus an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

Excelsior’s Citizen Soldiers has gained some significant endorsements, including from Joseph Thatcher, Curator Emeritus of the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Rene Chartrand, Curator Emeritus of Canadian National Historic Sites.

Currently the book is limited to a 135 copy first edition, and sells for $49.95 plus $10.00 shipping. It is available from Anthony Gero direct, at 6329 East Lake Road, Auburn, New York 13021. Those who prefer to use a credit card rather than send a check or money order can order Excelsior’s Citizen Soldiers from Downtown Books & Coffee, 66 Genesee St., Auburn, NY 13021 by calling 315-515-3411.