Posted on 04/13/2016 8:13:59 AM PDT by w1n1
One tangible connection to the human cost of the Civil War can be found in the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Ky., in the form of a beautifully engraved Henry repeating rifle, serial number 19. The original owner was Connecticut native George Dennison Prentis, who was the editor of the Louisville Journal from 1830 to 1860 and a staunch abolitionist. After succession, he was an outspoken advocate of the Union even though his newspaper was absorbed by the pro-Confederate Louisville Morning Courier. On July 14, 1862, he wrote a report for the newspaper that praised the Henry.
It is very likely that his Henry was a gift from the manufacturer. The Connecticut-based New Haven Arms Company hoped to make the Henry the standard-issue rifle of the Union Army and sought favorable endorsements in hopes of securing government contracts. As a matter of fact, a similar engraved rifle was presented to President Abraham Lincoln.
Ultimately, 1,731 Henry rifles were sold to the US Government for a $63,943 (about $50 each). Far more (approximately 10,000) were bought by individuals and state regiments like the 66th and 7th Illinois and the 97th Indiana. The rifles were highly prized on the battlefield. Confederates described the Henry as "that darn Yankee rifle that they load on Sunday and shoot all week." Read the rest of the Prentis Henry Rifle story here.
Notice the sheet brass repair at the “wrist”. This was the weakest part of the stock as it had been drilled & inletted as well. Breakages were common.
Quite a piece of Civil War history.
Succession? I believe the word he was looking for was “secession”. It never fails to amuse me how many of the current crop of writers and journalists can’t spell to save their ass. Spell check has made them lazy. And despite spell check, they still can’t get it right!
CC
Early evil high-capacity a-s-s-ault rifle!
Up until 1956, American citizens had better rifles than the US Army, yet the army never considered itself “outgunned” by it’s citizens.
“Succession” vs. “Secession”: The Confederate States seceded. No one succeeded President Jefferson Davis.
Current crop of writer intelligence is not on something I would stake a defence, but the real problem is lack of editors. For all intents and purposes, skilled editing is as dead as classical liberalism and chivalry.
Secession?
George D. Prentice/Quotes
Much smoking kills live men and cures dead swine.
A bare assertion is not necessarily the naked truth.
Was this a .44-70 rifle? Or a straight up .45? A very good size magazine for those calibers.
It fired a 44 Rimfire and had less power than the later 44=40 - but Lordy, you could pump out those rounds pretty fast!
Believe it was a .44 rimfire, Not a high power round
Beautiful
Fortunately Davis didn’t succeed either.
I have one in .45 Colt to go with my SA Army. That way I have to carry only one box of ammo out for the rifle and pistol.
The Henry copies made by Navy Arms in Italy were prohibited from being imported into the US by the Clinton Assault Rifle Ban. Idiocy.
Held sixteen rounds in the magazine. No wonder it was “that damyankee rifle you loaded on Sunday and fired all week”!
Much faster firing than the Spencer repeating rifle.
Henry makes some fine rifles.
L
There were about 10 Henry rifles at the Battle of Allatoona Pass. Years ago when the land there was private we found a couple dozen unfired Henry shells there. Very cool!
With the exposed underlug follower, they made for decent civilian rifles but were not made for the rigors of combat. The magazines were open to exposure to sand, mud, grit, and dirt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.