Thomas Wright a young teenager starts his Diary in July 1858 America. Northern Kentucky, Mason county near the Town of Dover and Lees Creak. across the Ohio River the town of Ripley Ohio. Hot bed of Abolitionist movement. between befriending a slave...
This one Dennis asked about, use of cartridge ammo. The first cartridge pistol round was made in 1854. Eugene Lefaucheux introduced the Lefaucheux Model 1854, the first to use self-contained metallic cartridges rather than loose, powder, ball and cap. The model 1854 was a single action pin fire revolver holding six rounds. Designed and built in France. The Military model was single action, civilian was a double action.
Many variants of this cartridge and style pistol were built. Smith & Wesson produced the first successful American cartridge pistol, model one was a 22 caliber rim-fire pistol production started in 1857 ran till 1882. Both models were used by both North and South.
Although most of the self-contained cartridge weapons were purchased by the men, a few were purchased by each Army and Navy of the time. The best-known revolver used by both sides the Colt Army and Navy, the south used a variant of the Colt the Griswold & Gunnison 36 caliber revolver model 1851, these all were loose powder cap and ball. After firing the pistol had to be tipped up to let the cap fall free so as not to jam the cylinder with the cap.
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Top picture Lefaucheux model 1854 left side Colt with Loading lever pulled, right side Colt Army revolver
The Pistol
I started with the Pistol, I will use the Colt popular on both sides, Army and Navy. The Army was 44 caliber, Navy was a 36 caliber. Cap and ball revolver. Officers and mounted troops used the revolver. Some Infantry use by officers or if the soldier purchased it. Although it gave you six shots, it was time-consuming to re-load, six chambers. Each had to have powder wad and ball, with a cap.
The soldier either carried extra cylinders loaded or multiple pistols. Some of the Confederate Cavalry Soldiers like the Raiders out west, carried three even four at a time. Quantrill and his mounted cavalry come to mind. The Famous Jesse James rode with Quantrill. The loading process, pour the powder into the chamber, place a wad at the top then ball line the cylinder up to the rod pull the lever down under the barrel and drive the ball in. This had to be done six times then cap the cylinder. Colts cylinder design came from studying navigation at sea. He was fascinated by the ships wheel, how it could be turned and locked in place. This gave him his patent idea. For his revolving cylinder.
Musket Rifle
The Springfield Armory model 1861, mini type musket rifle 58 caliber and it's variants were used by both Armies. The Enfield is one of variants made, also used by both sides. These rifles were cap and ball, although the Armies in the west for the Confederacy did have older type Flintlocks. The Springfield musket rifle effective firing range meaning the most accurate was between 100-400 yards, maximum between 500-620 yards. Rate of fire depending on user was 2-4 rounds a minute. The Springfield was first produced in Springfield Massachusetts, later produced at all United States Armouries. Average cost at the time was 20 dollars produced between 1861-1873, it weighed about 9lbs over all length 56 inches, with flip up leaf sights. With the 18 inch bayonet the rifle was 72 inches long.
