Remington New Model Army

Topics related to Pre - 1898 Remington Pistols
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vr1967
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:48 pm

Remington New Model Army

Post by vr1967 »

I recently received my 3rd great grandfather’s Remington New Model Army that he brought home from the Civil War.
From what I have found, I believe it was made in April 1863 due to the SN 20031. Got no hits on unit in Frank Mallory’s 1995 book.

Micajah Wilkinson, first served in the 2nd Mississippi Infantry, Quinn’s State Troops, them Powers’ Cavalry Regiment after Quinn’s disbanded in early 1863.

The revolver was passed to my great great grandfather and down thru his oldest daughter’s line, where it was carried around the world with a cousin during his 30 plus years in the Air Force. This included being in Japan, England, and 2 tours in Vietnam. Now it is back in SW MS after a 100 year hiatus.

Grip, barrel, trigger guard, and cylinder SNs match. Can’t make out cartouche. Holster is worse for wear, but look Confederate

Virgil
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billt
Posts: 258
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2003 6:42 pm

Re: Remington New Model Army

Post by billt »

Hi Virgil,
That is a nice piece of history you have there. You are correct it was made in April of 1863. It looks like the cartouche may be that of George Palmer. If you go to the Soldiers and Sailors database at the National Parks service and look up Micajah Wilkinson under Confederates from Mississippi you will find a M Wilkinson listed as having served in the 2nd Mississippi Infantry, Quinn’s State Troops. I believe from there you can go to the National Archives and get his service records. They would be a nice thing to go with your family heirloom.

Bill
vr1967
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:48 pm

Re: Remington New Model Army

Post by vr1967 »

Thanks Bill on the cartouche. I suspected GP.

I have copies of both his records from Quinn’s and Powers’ Cavalry along with about 60 letters him, his brothers and their wives wrote to each other throughout the war. Two brothers were in the 7th Mississippi Infantry Regiment with one being killed at Shiloh April 6, 1862, other was transferred to 9th Battalion Mississippi Sharpshooters not long after and the other brother was in the 33rd Mississippi Infantry

Here is the wallet and some money he brought home. (Top 3 bills came from reunions, bottom 7 are real)
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Cloverleaf
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 3:59 pm

Re: Remington New Model Army

Post by Cloverleaf »

Outstanding heirloom.
The gun AND the story!
aardq
Posts: 439
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:02 pm

Re: Remington New Model Army

Post by aardq »

Very nice collection. That would make for a very nice display. Do you know when or where he got the gun?

Thanks,
Dan
vr1967
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:48 pm

Re: Remington New Model Army

Post by vr1967 »

Thanks for the compliments

The only close hits from Frank Mallory’s work (only had access to the 95 version, but I know there is some updates) is serial numbers 18024 & 19632, which were sent to the 16th Indiana Infantry and 21132 which went to the USS Mackinan, showing a lost cylinder

The 16th Indiana was at the siege of Jackson (MS) that Powers Cavalry was involved in, but again, no clue if the pistol was sent to the 16th, but I’ll continue to research
vr1967
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:48 pm

Re: Remington New Model Army

Post by vr1967 »

Found this in the Southern Historical Society Papers. Is this too close to an April 1863 dated revolver to make it in the field?

Vol 33 (pg 87-89 i think)


The enemy were pursued for several miles, many being killed and captured. The wagons were then brought back with the prisoners to Freeman's, and next day, under a guard, sent to Johnson's Army at Jackson, Miss. May 2, 1863, a courier from the front rode up to Colonel Power's headquarters and imparted to him news of great importance. Shortly thereafter, Major Stockade ordered his battalion to make preparations for a forced march. At 4 o'clock p. m., the command fell in and proceeded in the direction of Port Hudson. As night approached the command turned into a plantation road, and from this road into the woods, where the command proceeded in single file to ride on in silence, the men having been enjoined to make no noise. Just before daybreak a halt was [88] made, after the column had debouched into a public road. Colonels Powers and Stockdale then rode down the line and gave instructions for every man to examine his arms and see that guns were freshly capped; that the command would move by fours, the ranks to be kept closed, and the men to strictly obey every order of their officers. Lieutenant Dan Williams, of Hoover's company, a penniless soldier, had command of the advance guard, with instructions to capture the videttes and pickets; the battalion being just behind, ready to charge the moment the first shot was fired by the enemy. Shortly after the battalion moved down the main road, Lieutenant Williams returned with a prisoner, a young Swede, who could only speak a few words of broken English. From him Colonels Powers and Stockdale learned that the Fourteenth New York Metropolitan Cavalry Regiment was in camp about one-half mile further on; that it was a full regiment, numbering over 800 men, all foreigners, none of them having been in the United States three months, and they had just reached Banks' Army from New Orleans three days before. Stockdale's Mississippi battalion numbered 250 man, yet Powers and Stockdale determined to make a supreme effort and annihilate this Federal regiment. Lieutenant Williams succeeded just at dawn of day to capture the outer videttes: the command then closed up, and, as the inner outpost was reached, broke into a trot, and as the Federals fired broke into a gallop and reached the Federal encampment at the same moment with the guard. The enemy's tents were pitched to the right and left of the road bordering the woods; the colonel's and other staff officers' quarters being at the far end of the encampment, on a slight elevation. The enemy were
taken completely by surprise;
many of the men were still sleeping—no time was given them to get their arms and make a stand, even if they had any such inclination. Stockdale's men swept through this camp like a hurricane, firing into the tents, right and left, and yelling at the same time like demons. These Swedes were so demoralized and panic-stricken that they practically offered no resistance, throwing themselves face downward on the ground, many on their knees, begging for quarter or praying in a foreign tongue to be spared.
The prisoners were hurriedly got together, disarmed and dismounted, and sent under a guard of 150 men back to the Confederate [89] lines. The prisoners, through an interpreter, were given to understand that any attempt to resist or escape would meet with death. Colonels Powers and Stockdale, with the remainder of the battalion, remained in the enemy's camp to gather up all wagons, arms supplies, etc., and to destroy the tents. All of which was done. As we were about to leave the camp, Grierson's Cavalry, which was encamped three miles away, appeared in line, with skirmishers thrown out in advance. Colonel Powers having accomplished his object, retraced his steps back to Freeman's. Grierson did not follow.
This brilliant affair resulted in the total destruction of an entire cavalry regiment, the taking of 700 prisoners, including the Lieutenant Colonel and Major, the capture of 1,600 new army pistols with large quantities of ammunition, 800 cavalry sabers, as many Mc-Clellan saddles, and other accoutrements, a large quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores; eight wagons with mules, two fully equipped ambulances and other property. Captain James M. Ferguson, Adjutant of the battalion (now a resident of New Orleans) was among the first to reach the enemy, and after the fight to collect and set the men to work gathering up the arms, etc. Captain Ferguson filled one of the ambulances, hitched it up, and, with the enemy's battle flag in hand drove out of the camp as the Confederates were abandoning it. The entire battalion was then armed with army pistols and sabers. All other saddles having been discarded for the new McClellan trees. Enough horses were captured to mount Colonel Griffith's Arkansas troops, and to furnish mounts to many new recruits and other dismounted men.
aardq
Posts: 439
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:02 pm

Re: Remington New Model Army

Post by aardq »

Very interesting story, thanks for sharing it. to answer your question, yes, this battle was too close to the manufacture date for the gun to be there. The gun was probably made the last week of April, so virtually impossible to be sent into the military distribution system and be issued to a soldier in time for a battle the 3rd of May.

No telling when, where, or how he got the gun. He may have traded for it, bought it from someone, or it was given to him, or he picked it up on a battlefield.

You have a great piece of family history, enjoy it, preserve it, and pass it on.

Daniel
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