Arming And Equipping The US Cavalry 1865-1902
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 10:22 am
<b>Arming and Equipping The United States Cavalry 1865-1902
By Dušan P. Farrington</b>
Published by Andrew Mowbray Publishers.
Firstly I must say I have tried to look at this book from a non-biased view, as the Author is a very good friend of mine.
The copy I have is one of a few early copies, which I managed to obtain from Stuart Mowbray at “Man at Arms” for which I am very grateful. Though I believe the book is now available.
My first impressions are that it is well presented, easy to use and most informative with much new research. The book is very well indexed, with extensive “Notes and References” and “Bibliography” which is always a great help to the researcher/collector.
The book is large hard back with a colour dust cover showing some arms and accoutrements. Importantly for a book of 600 pages that will see much use, it is very well bound.
The illustrations are black and white, which although colour is sometimes nice I tend to think that black and white are sharper for detail. The period photographs have been very well reproduced to help illustrate detail, a job well done by the publisher.
The book is divided into six chapters each dealing with the development, production, testing and redesigning etc. of arms and then their support accoutrements during each time period examined. This is well supported in many ways, such as by the use of tables, reports, commentary or anecdotes. These are a personal favourite of mine in the book, the accounts of use brings the accoutrements or weapons to life, such as Capt. Keyes having to borrow forty revolvers for an inspection, or Maj. Hardin experiencing problems with his sharps during an engagement. These are used to a greater extent in chapter 5, as they are drawn from the records of the 1884 Cavalry board.
The tables mentioned above are a useful source for not only showing which arms and accoutrements were in use but they also show the duty stations of many companies or troops of the entire 10 regiments at a given date. This is information that is not often found in one single publication.
The book may seem slightly unbalanced as Chapter 5 is far larger than the other chapters, but there is a reason for this as it contains much new information on previously lesser covered areas of cavalry arms and equipment. For example the Hotchkiss carbines are covered including a near complete listing of serial numbers.
Development and production of early Mills belts is also strongly detailed in this chapter, this includes a look at the very first contract with the legendary Mills. Including those belts with coloured edges, even an example of the actual yellow yarn sent to Gen. Benet in 1881 for approval is shown (perhaps the one time colour would have been useful).
With the introduction of the Mills belt into a previously well thought out accoutrement system brought unforeseen implications and these are examined in detail (including discussion of the number and placement of eyelets in these belts) in the accoutrement section.
Chapter 6, “Beyond the Borders” covers the period from 1890-1902, included is an in depth examination of one particular carbine that saw service in the SAW as well as the detail of the development, trials, adoption and assessment of the smaller calibre carbines and revolvers and their accoutrements that were carried into the new century.
Of interest was the Mills belt re-dying fiasco, which was news to me and is something that I had not seen published before now.
Carbine slings and sockets are also covered in the book and of particular interest to me the carbine boots, which are examined in Chapter 5 along with carbine scabbards in Chapter 6, I must say there is some very interesting information on this subject with some great period pictures of early example carbine scabbards in use.
The author does not claim to give us all the answers on every item but in my view comes close to providing them, as mentioned before the extensive “Notes and References” provide a pointer as to where information has been gained. He is not shy of encouraging the reader where possible to add any factual content or interpretations.
In a week of having the book I had used it a number of times to research various pieces and consider it very good value for money.
Personally I do not hesitate in saying that this book sits proudly along side such books as Randy Steffen's "The Horse Soldier" series, "US Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge Boxes" by E.S. Meadows and "Army Blue" by Langellier.
Kurt.
By Dušan P. Farrington</b>
Published by Andrew Mowbray Publishers.
Firstly I must say I have tried to look at this book from a non-biased view, as the Author is a very good friend of mine.
The copy I have is one of a few early copies, which I managed to obtain from Stuart Mowbray at “Man at Arms” for which I am very grateful. Though I believe the book is now available.
My first impressions are that it is well presented, easy to use and most informative with much new research. The book is very well indexed, with extensive “Notes and References” and “Bibliography” which is always a great help to the researcher/collector.
The book is large hard back with a colour dust cover showing some arms and accoutrements. Importantly for a book of 600 pages that will see much use, it is very well bound.
The illustrations are black and white, which although colour is sometimes nice I tend to think that black and white are sharper for detail. The period photographs have been very well reproduced to help illustrate detail, a job well done by the publisher.
The book is divided into six chapters each dealing with the development, production, testing and redesigning etc. of arms and then their support accoutrements during each time period examined. This is well supported in many ways, such as by the use of tables, reports, commentary or anecdotes. These are a personal favourite of mine in the book, the accounts of use brings the accoutrements or weapons to life, such as Capt. Keyes having to borrow forty revolvers for an inspection, or Maj. Hardin experiencing problems with his sharps during an engagement. These are used to a greater extent in chapter 5, as they are drawn from the records of the 1884 Cavalry board.
The tables mentioned above are a useful source for not only showing which arms and accoutrements were in use but they also show the duty stations of many companies or troops of the entire 10 regiments at a given date. This is information that is not often found in one single publication.
The book may seem slightly unbalanced as Chapter 5 is far larger than the other chapters, but there is a reason for this as it contains much new information on previously lesser covered areas of cavalry arms and equipment. For example the Hotchkiss carbines are covered including a near complete listing of serial numbers.
Development and production of early Mills belts is also strongly detailed in this chapter, this includes a look at the very first contract with the legendary Mills. Including those belts with coloured edges, even an example of the actual yellow yarn sent to Gen. Benet in 1881 for approval is shown (perhaps the one time colour would have been useful).
With the introduction of the Mills belt into a previously well thought out accoutrement system brought unforeseen implications and these are examined in detail (including discussion of the number and placement of eyelets in these belts) in the accoutrement section.
Chapter 6, “Beyond the Borders” covers the period from 1890-1902, included is an in depth examination of one particular carbine that saw service in the SAW as well as the detail of the development, trials, adoption and assessment of the smaller calibre carbines and revolvers and their accoutrements that were carried into the new century.
Of interest was the Mills belt re-dying fiasco, which was news to me and is something that I had not seen published before now.
Carbine slings and sockets are also covered in the book and of particular interest to me the carbine boots, which are examined in Chapter 5 along with carbine scabbards in Chapter 6, I must say there is some very interesting information on this subject with some great period pictures of early example carbine scabbards in use.
The author does not claim to give us all the answers on every item but in my view comes close to providing them, as mentioned before the extensive “Notes and References” provide a pointer as to where information has been gained. He is not shy of encouraging the reader where possible to add any factual content or interpretations.
In a week of having the book I had used it a number of times to research various pieces and consider it very good value for money.
Personally I do not hesitate in saying that this book sits proudly along side such books as Randy Steffen's "The Horse Soldier" series, "US Military Holsters and Pistol Cartridge Boxes" by E.S. Meadows and "Army Blue" by Langellier.
Kurt.