Author Topic: Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War  (Read 2295 times)

Offline Grenadier

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Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War
« on: June 07, 2017, 06:21:28 AM »
Any known official use of the Henry after the Civil War?

Offline Niederlander

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Re: Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2017, 07:07:10 AM »
Others will chime in, but I sure don't remember reading of any, at least in this country.  Of course, Fisher and Wheatley used them at the Fetterman fight, but they were technically "civilians".  (I believe both served as Captains of Infantry in the Civil War.)
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Offline River City John

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Re: Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2017, 09:31:43 AM »
I seem to recall a photo post Little Big Horn of a picture of officers in front of a teepee with a recaptured Henry leaning against it, taken from an officer casualty that was his private purchase and carried during the campaign. (?)
 Not "official", I know, but considering it was accepted policy that officers could, and did, supplement their arms as they saw fit . . .

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Re: Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War
« Reply #3 on: Today at 05:05:52 AM »

Offline Drydock

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Re: Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2017, 07:40:36 PM »
No official documented use by troops.  Known civilian use at Fetterman, Wagon Box, Little Bighorn, Rosebud.  I believe a civilian scout carried one in the Lava Beds against the Modoc.  
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Drydock

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Re: Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2017, 08:03:32 PM »
"Rifles of the US Army 1861-1906"

Postwar notes on the Henry.   " The Washington Arsenal in 1866 was notified to make available 60 Henry rifles for issue when called for.  It is not clear if they were actually sent to the field.  15 Henry rifles in Feb 1868 were sent to Oregon for issue to the militia.  The State was charged $38 for each Henry rifle sent to them."   

 That is all the known documentation related to US military Henrys post 1865.
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline Trailrider

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Re: Military use of the 1860 Henry After the Civil War
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2017, 05:48:58 PM »
There was at least one at the Beecher Island battle. It was the private property of Lt. Fred Beecher, who had written to his brother to send him one. One of the other Forsyth's Scouts, who went for help carried a Henry, presumably it was Beecher's after he had been mortally wounded.  I would guess that all the Henry's used by the military were privately bought by officers or senior NCO's who could afford them. Ammo would have been hard to come by, so cartridges would have had to have been purchased in some quantity, costing more money.
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