During the American Civil War, an assortment of small arms found their way onto the battlefield. Though the muzzleloader percussion cap rifled musket was the most numerous weapon, being standard issue
Drawing of a Civil War soldier loading a muzzleloader rifle
Historical reenactors demonstrate muzzleloading techniques from the prone position.
This collection contain smoothbore flintlocks converted into percussion muskets, some with their barrels rifled
Contract carbines as they were known at that time: Cosmopolitan, Sharps, Gallager, Smith and Burnside
Spencer repeating rifle
Videos
The Spencer repeating rifle was a 19th-century American lever-action firearm invented by Christopher Spencer. The Spencer carbine was a shorter and lighter version designed for the cavalry.
Rifles in the American Civil War
…standard issue for the Union and Confederate armies, many other firearms, ranging from the single-shot breech-loading Sharps and Burnside rifles to the Spencer and the Henry rifles - two of the world's first repeating rifles - were issued by the hundreds of thousands, mostly by the Union. The Civil War brought…
Spencer carbine, magazine tube, and cartridges