A Springfield Rifle-Musket

Private John Chase, Co. G, 6th Regiment, Vermont Infantry, 2nd Division, 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

 

 

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

John J. Chase's DETACHMENT MUSTER-IN ROLL, dated September 22nd, 1862.

 

Camp Griffin was established in the fall of 1861 at a Virginia site about four miles from the "Chain Bridge" which crossed the Potomac River above Washington, DC. On October 24th, the 6th Vermont Infantry arrived in camp, completing the "Old Vermont Brigade".

courtesy: Military History Institute

 

Unit combat recognition was greatly enhanced by a system of distinctive badges in the form of insignia applied to equipment and clothing. Some of these same badges are still used in today's US ARMY.

 

All corps badges were arranged with a sequence of RED, WHITE, and BLUE for first, second, and third division respectively. Pvt. Chase's 2nd Division used the white cross.

from Gen. Hooker's CIRCULAR, March 21, 1863

 

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Vermont 6th CORPS pennants and a ragged color, from an old photograph.

 

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

 

 

Private John Chase's Springfield US Model 1863 Rifle Musket

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

 

An original Springfield US Model 1863 Rifle Musket in original condition and configuration in the Springfield Armory collection

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

 

 

 

 

This is the weapons price list from General Orders 101, stating that a musket costs $6.00.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

 

Pvt. John J. Chase's mustering-out of the Army, 19 June 1865.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

John J. Chase's DETACHMENT MUSTER-OUT ROLL, dated June 19th, 1865, in the "Defences of Washington, D.C.". Note that he was last paid 31 December 1964. Recorded is his wounding 19 October 1864 (at Cedar Creek, Virginia) and $6 taken out of his pay "for gun & equipts retained under G.O. 101 W.D.".

Many thousands cheap surplus weapons were released into private hands through General Orders 101, providing rifles, pistols, carbines, and muskets that found their way into the hands of Americans in the decades following the Civil War. As a result, commercial sales of new weapons plummeted driving many makers out of business.

 

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS