Original Unit
History of the
96th Pa.

Early Organization

Of Battlefields
& Bitter Feuds

Arms of "Ye
Gallant 96th"

The Return Home

Colors

Image Gallery

Letters & Diaries

 

Muster Rolls
Field & Staff
Officers
Regimental
Band
Co. A
Co. B
Co. C
Co. D
Co. E
Co. F
Co. G
Co. H
Co. I
Co. K
Regimental
Losses

 

Living History
Organization

Who are We?

Uniform

Equipment

Photos

Event Calendar

Further Reading

The Stuff Page

Links

Contact Us

 

Guestbook
View | Sign

By Cpl. Stu Richards

Harpers Ferry muskets, Austrian muskets, Enfields, Towers, and Springfields were all used by the 96th Pennsylvania during its three years in the Army of the Potomac. All of these arms are written about in diaries, letters, and company ordnance returns. When and where each of these arms was utilized is another interesting aspect of the history of the 96th.

According to Bates, the 96th received their first arms at the arsenal in Washington where the regiment was encamped at Kendall Green outside of Washington. Sgt. Lewis Luckenbill wrote in his diary on Thursday, November 14, 1861: "We was marched to the arsenal to receive our arms." In another interesting account from David Ward's thesis on the 96th, an observer states: "The regiment received Harpers Ferry muskets, but could only take them if they promised to use the arms for drill only. Later they could exchange them for the latest approved muskets." This statement creates some interesting speculation. Were these muskets so old and dangerous that they posed a serious danger to the shooter if fired, or were they just incapable of firing? I guess we will never know for sure. This musket was probably the old 1842 as was also issued to the 5th Wisconsin in Washington in early August. Pvt. James Anderson remembers "We received old Harpers Ferry muskets, the first arms we received. Many of the men were disappointed and refused to take them and got into the guard house for their pains." Needless to say the 96th used their Harpers ferry muskets for 55 days until they turned them in for the latest approved musket, the Austrian rifle musket. On January 7, 1862 at Camp Northumberland, Sgt. Luckenbill again penned in his diary a short note: "Received new Austrian muskets." This Austrian musket was probably the Austrian "Lorenz" rifle musket. The Lorenz, or 1854 model, was the most widely used of the Austrian imports and was probably .54 caliber, being the most common of calibers used. Its weight was eight pounds and it was almost 53 inches long. Another mention of the Austrian rifle comes again from David Ward's thesis, stating that the Schuylkill Countians exchanged their old Harpers Ferry smoothbores for new Austrian made rifle muskets. Although the men liked the appearance of the new weapon, they believed that only a test in battle would prove their worth. That test would come on May 7, 1862 at West Point on the Peninsula, where the 96th would have its first major engagement, and then again on June 27, 1862 at Gaines Mill in a fierce battle. In all of these engagements, the Austrian rifle musket was used. After these battles, the 96th was employed in picket and fatigue duties. When on the 21st of July, 1862, Sgt. Luckenbill wrote: "Today we received our new arms the English rifle." And Ward's thesis gives the location of the exchange: "The regiment moved their camp at Harrison's Bar, there the Schuylkill Countians exchanged their Austrian muskets for new Enfield rifles." From mid July on through the engagements at Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Gettysburg, Salem Heights, Spotsylvania, and finally their muster out on September 22, 1864, the 96th used the Enfield rifle.

While looking over some ordnance returns for Company C, I came across an invoice for two Springfields, 30 Enfields, and four Towers dated October 1, 1862. I mentioned this to Sgt. John Morrow at one of the Roundtable meetings, and it brought up some interesting questions as to what type of musket was a Tower. Were they just another issue of the Enfield, or some other type of weapon? Sgt. Morrow thought the Towers were the short two band Enfields, and would be carried by NCO's because of their ease of carrying at shoulder arms. Well, apparently Sgt. Morrow was correct, because on further examination of later ordnance returns from March 1863, the four Tower muskets previously mentioned were now called Short Enfield rifles .577 caliber. Also I found a statement of losses for Company C after the fight at Salem Heights. It states that six Enfields and two Towers were lost in battle. Both Towers (short Enfields) were charged to two NCO's who were killed in the fight.

Finally to put the Tower, short Enfield story to rest, the remaining two Towers in Company C were exchanged on June 12, 1863, making all arms on hand Enfields. As for the two Springfields carried on the returns, who knows, maybe they were picked up on the field, or even issued for some reason. I have yet been able to find out. However, they were also turned in on June 12, 1863.