Thanks, Two Flints! Fascinating reading. I have not been able to get my confuser to print the article, but have taken the time to read it over in detail. One interesting thing, NOT related to the Michigan brigade, but definitely related to the Spencer M1860 rifle, is the post-War use of the rifles in the Indian Wars. Only one mounted infantry regiment west of the Mississippi was armed with Spencer rifles: the 3rd Infantry. They were mounted, but still listed as infantry. Adjutant of the 3rd Infantry was none other than Lt. Fred H. Beecher. Before he was KIA at the Beecher Island battle, where he had been second-in-command of Forsyth's Scouts. This unit was composed of civilian scouts, technically employees of the Quartermaster Dept., under the command of Maj. George "Sandy" Forsyth.
It is often stated that the scouts were armed with Spencer carbines, but since the scouts were organized at two posts, Ft. Hayes and Ft. Harker, where both 3rd Infantry and 7th Cavalry companies were stationed at various times, and since George Forsyth's narrative of the battle a half-century later called the Spencers "rifles", were these, in fact, M1860 rifles "with triangular bayonet" which Ordnance returns stated were issued to the 3rd Infantry that Beecher issued out of 3rd Inf. stores? The 7th Cav. companies were variously issued M1860 carbines and M1865 Spencer carbines. How they worked the ammo logistics would be an interesting topic for discussion, since the M1860's, chambered for .56-56 ammo could chamber and fire .56-50 rounds, though possibly with less than great accuracy, but not visa versa. The rifles, of course, could also use either. I have pondered this question for years, but have never been able to come to a definite conclusion.
Again, thanks for the article!
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