Sam Colt's Dress Blues, A New Find, Sheds Light On Brief Chapter In Civil War

Hartford Courant ^ | May 14, 2011 | DAVID DRUR

[Daffynition]

Excuse the liberal author and bias in this article. [Geesh] He knows not.

[PalmettoMason]

Instruments of "moral reform,'' Colt once sardonically called his artful, deadly devices. How they were used, and by whom, did not trouble him much.

That sentence alone cries out for a "MEGA BARF ALERT"! LOL.

[PalmettoMason]

Oops! That was TWO sentences.

(In before the "attention to detail" police come after me.) Whatchya gonna do when they come for you? BAD BOYS, BAD BOYS...

[EGPWS]

Yep, LOL! "Moral reform"

Every chance they get...

[dljordan]

“That sentence alone cries out for a “MEGA BARF ALERT”! LOL.”

I caught that little sneer too.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Interesting article. At the local historical society last month a guy made a presentation on New England firearms, 1620-1900. He said that during the Civil War the Union actually purchased more rifles and muskets in Europe than they men under arms to prevent them from falling into Confederate hands. Almost all Confederates were armed with muskets, the Union mostly breech loaders and a significant number or companies had repeating rifles. (Armament varied between companies, but within a company it was generally uniform.) So many different arms and ammunition were used that today we would think it a logistical nightmare, every company had a different ammuntion, generally only available from a single manufacturer.

[Daffynition]

Sorry 'bout that...there's little regard in Connecticut for the GREAT legacy of gun manufacturing in this state, let alone how influential Colt was to Hartford and the world. PFFT!

I just thought Civil War buffs would be interested in this find...like so many things *Colt* the uniform will probably get stolen and go missing for a few more generations.

[Nutmegers also hate the Courant ..it's the only game in town since the demise of the *Hartford Times* which occasionally offered a different view point.]

[PalmettoMason]

Thanks for posting this article. Even with the obvious bias, it’s pretty cool to see the pictures of Col. Colt’s uniform.

[driftless2]

Another logical fallacy was the statement that if Colt hadn’t supplied revolvers to the North, the war might have turned out differently. In any major situation, all sorts of variables were employed. If the North had issued Henry rifles to all their troops at the start of the war instead of the Springfield musket, the war might have been shortened considerably as well. But Colt did supply revolvers, and the troops weren’t given Henry rifles as standard issue. (Although some Federal troops had repeating rifles like the Spencer, and a few purchased Henry’s out of their own pocket.) Britain might have come in on the side of the South. All sorts of variables. That’s history for you.

[rockrr]

Thanks for an interesting glimpse into a character who brought us same great weaponry.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

WW II Japan experienced the same problem. A half dozen different kinds of ammo for rifles alone.

[driftless2]

"breechloaders"

I believe the Springfield musket was the standard weapon for the Federal troops. Only about 15,000 Spencer's or Henry's were distributed to them making them highly prized.

[tanknetter]

Almost all Confederates were armed with muskets, the Union mostly breech loaders and a significant number or companies had repeating rifles.

That doesn't strike me as true. Breech loaders and repeaters were mainly carbines used by the Federal cavalry from about the middle of the war on. I don't think they made it into use, or at least widespread use, in the infantry.

They certainly had an impact, tho, even in their limited use. The 7-round carbines used by Buford's cavalry are credited with him being able to hold the ground along the Western edge of Gettysburg (McPherson's Ridge, etc) until Reynolds infantry arrived on the first day. Between that and Ewell's decision that taking Cemetery Hill was "impracticable" were the first elements of a cascading series of events leading to Lee's defeat there.

[mac_truck]

This seems like a straight forward historical interest story about Sam Colt.

Not sure what you’re all hepped up about here.

[Daffynition]

Had to be very exciting time to live...all the inventions and manufacturing going on in NE.

[PzLdr]

Repeating rifles played a large part in the success of Union cavalry from 1863 on. they gave a brigade the firepower of a Confederate infantry division.

[EternalVigilance]

An interesting story. Thanks for posting it.

[Daffynition]

The Colt collection is amazing to see. The Wadsworth has bits 'n pieces and hauls it out occasionally.

[Daffynition]

Art & invention.

[PalmettoMason]

I’d like to see that collection someday.