1860 Spencer Rifle at Gettysburg

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Nice short account by Capt. O E Hunt,currently an instructor at West Point.

http://npsgnmp.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/weapons-at-gettysburg-the-spencer-repeating-rifle/

[wormey]

Thanks for posting this.  This topic pops up frequently.  An otherwise good book THEY MET AT GETTYSBURG, by General Edward Stackpole makes the claim that Bufords men were armed with Spencer carbines (page 121-122) .  I had brought this to Judge Fox`s attention just last week and he correctly ( as usual) set the matter straight!  I own an 1860 spencer carbine that no doubt saw service, but certainly not at Gettysburg.  On the other hand I am also the proud owner of an 1859 sharps carbine that very well may have been there!!  The old adage that once a lie is put into print it is perpetuated forever is frequently brougt to the forefront to old geezers like me who enjoy this unfortunate period in our history.  The record must be perpetualy corrected when errors are put into print.  Thanks for doing us all a service by posting this article.  Wormey, Boiling Springs, S.C.

[Bead Swinger]

Nice article.  I thought the Michiganers had more rifles among them .

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[Tuolumne Lawman]

Oops, I mis-quoted.  Tom Holbrook was the author, and the West Point instructor was only mentioned.