Identified Spencer Rifle # 5801 with an interesting addition to it.

[38OVI]

I have a group of pictures from the Illinois State Military Museum that I asked help in posting.  The Museum has the "Lincoln Board" that was donated by Spencer's family.  There is also a Spencer Rifle # 5801 carried by William Rodgers of Company "C" of the 98th Illinois Mounted Infantry of Wilder's Lightening Brigade.  They carried their rifles on horseback until they reached their position, dismounted, and then fought as Infantry of foot, two to three men in line with one man  holding the four horses.  Number 4 could also be in line if in a really bad situation, after tying up the horses.  This rifle has a small ring attached to the left side of the stock, but it is not a carbine sling ring set-up. 










                                       (Photos posted by Two Flints)

[Arizona Trooper]

A lot of Wilders rifles have the added "expedient" sling ring. It is made by removing the center bedroll staple from the back of a McClellan saddle and screwing it into the stock wrist. (There are three, so loosing the middle one is no big deal). The ring is often one of the leadstrap rings from down by the rider's knees. There are two on the saddle and you really only need one. The ring on this one looks smaller than a leadstrap ring. I have handled a 123rd Ill Co.A rifle with the same mod. His uses the leadstrap ring.

[Major 2]

The McClellan saddle Staple in the photo is brass and screw on type.
These began to be used on the 1885 McClellan saddle,
 continued in the 1904 and 1928's.
The CW 1859 McClellan saddle staple were wrought iron and hammered in.
Though I have seen wrought iron saddle staple screw attached on CW saddles.
The Cavalry was still using CW McClellan saddle
in 1870's with modifications (Leather covered) over the 59's Rawhide seat, Rigging and Girth type.
I believe Iron staples were still in use thru 1876 and later.

 
 

[38OVI]

   "We were now mounted and our rapid movements soon gave us such notoriety that we were called , 'The Lightning
Brigade.'  It was part of the original plan that when mounted we should be armed with repeating Rifles; accordingly, on the 15th of May {1863}, we turned over our old companions, the Springfield Rifles, and drew the famous Spencer repeating rifles." p 119
   "We had cut it (knapsack) to pieces and remodeled it so as to fit closely and compactly to the cannel of our saddle; our haversack we never carried, and it was fastened to the near side of the pommel; our canteen was hung on the other side of the pommel, as was also a good hatchet.  When on the march our cartridge box was swung loosely to the pommel, and if we had five days' rations, it hung on the right side, and if our rations were out it hung on the left, but it was never fast, so that at any moment we could dismount and sling it over our shoulder.
   The muzzle of our gun, up to the first band, was stuck into a boot on the right side, by the saddle girth, and a strap around our shoulder held it up by our side when riding, and this was the only article strapped or fastened to us. Under our saddle we carried two good sleeping blankets, a 'dog-tent' and a gum blanket.In our cartridge box we carried 40 rounds of metallic cartridges, and in our saddle pockets 40 to 60 rounds more, an extra horse shoe, some nails, etc." pp 441-442.

History of the 72nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry of the Mounted Lightning BrigadeBenjamin F. McGee, Historian, Sgt. Company "I"  1882