From the category archives:

Weapons

An Excursion into the West 1834

August 29, 2010

Niles Weekly Register, Vo. 89:389 August 2, 1834 UNITED STATES DRAGOONS. [from the Army and Navy Chronicle] The regiment of dragoon is now completed to its establishment, and all the companies have marched to Fort Gibson, where the head quarters have been established during the winter. This regiment is composed of ten companies, of about [...]

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Captured Mexican Items at Santa Cruz de Rosales

December 10, 2007

Following the capture of the town of Santa Cruz de Rosales in 1848, the Army inventoried the captured Mexican ordnance. Below is a copy of this report. City of Chihuahua March 26, 1848 The Board met pursuant to the foregoing orders, and soon after the reception of the captured property, as was practicable, and up [...]

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Sharps Carbines in New Mexico

January 25, 2007

In February of 1854, the government shipped 30 M1851 Sharps Carbines to the Department of New Mexico for field tests. The following letter (found in Nat’l Archives microfilm number 1120, roll 3, at 1125) briefly discusses the trial of one such weapon and the distribution of carbines amongst the various commands. ********************************************************************************* Headquarters Fort Defiance, [...]

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Love’s artillery

August 22, 2006

In August of 1847, the Army command at Santa Fe decided to convert Company B, 1st United States Dragoons, into a field artillery battery. The company had only recently arrived at Santa Fe and was composed of, in the main, new recruits. Lt. Jone Love, its field commander, drew weapons, mules, tack and equipage from [...]

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