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The last remaining original Civil War era military facility in the Los Angeles area. |
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THE REPEATERS The greatest advance in weaponry of the time was the "repeater", a gun that could be fired many times in succession before the magazine had to be replaced or replenished. Most rifles used in the day were single shot muzzleloaders. "That damned Yankee rifle they load up on Sunday and fire all week!" This quote was attributable to Confederates who came up against Union outfits that used this weapon. The most famous repeater of the war was the SPENCER. This rifle was a .56 -.56 caliber, (later .52 caliber), seven shooter of fairly short range, (around 400 yards). Approximately 106,000 saw service, of which around 12,000 were rifles and 94,000 were carbines mainly used for cavalry. * Civil War Historical Note...
The Spencer Carbine played a pivotal role at the start of the Battle of Gettysburg. On June 30th 1863, Union Brigadier-General John Buford's 1st Division, Cavalry Corps consisting of 2,500 dismounted horse soldiers positioned along McPherson's ridge held back a much larger force of muzzle loader equipped fighting men under the command of Confederate Major-General Henry Heth. Buford's much smaller force of repeater firing cavalry held the advance long enough for the Union foot soldier infantry reinforcements from I Corps under Major-General John Reynolds to arrive and help him hold the line, and thus enjoin the three day epic engagement. Floyd Farrar, Drum Volunteer, March 2001
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