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The last remaining original Civil War era military facility in the Los Angeles area. |
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WeaponsOn display in this case are the weapons commonly used by soldiers and officers during the Civil War. Center of Case - Swords and Sabers Swords (straight blades) with sharkskin handle; was used mostly by officers. Saber (curved blades). Look how far you have to pull it out; was used by Cavalry. The first six inches of blade are sharp, but the rest of the blade would be dull so as not to stick into enemy's bone and pull you off your horse. Old "pre-civil war" rifles brought from home, muzzle loaders and converted flintlocks; primary Civil War rifles.Guns introduced during or after Civil War. Most popular were the 1861 & 1863 Springfield and the Enfield is a British import. The 1863 Springfield rifle is at top of right case and weighs almost ten pounds. Displayed are two kinds of bayonets: the blade and a triangle. The blade was unpopular because it was heavy and awkward; the triangle was designed to make a hole where ever it hit.The difference between musket and rifled musket:
Right Side of Case - Spencers Repeaters, these shot seven rounds and were described as "That damn Yankee rifle you could load on Monday and shoot till Sunday." The magazine loads in the stock of the gun. The longer Spencer is a rifle, the two shorter are carbines, which were given mostly to Cavalry since they were easier to load and had a shorter barrel, which made it easier to shoot from a horse. The Infantry soldiers were not given repeaters for two reasons:
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