Civil War revolver
Good evening
A few days ago I bought a French model 1854 lefaucheux pinfire revolver, that came from the US along with a lot of various Civil War handguns. The gun is brown patinated all over, but is in perfect mechanical condition and complete. Its serial# 34059 prooves it was one of the 11,833 Lefaucheux 1854 pinfire revolvers purchased in 1861-62 by the Union Army and used in the Civil War (serial # in the 25000-37000 range).
Inside the grips I found a damaged fragment of a very old, handwritten cardboard label, on which the following words can still be read: "...evolver...ied by S Officer (Second Officer ?)Micheaux...Lefaucheux france...D 21? Michigan"
The name "Micheaux" is very common in France and Belgium. I am now looking for more information about a possible 21st Cavalry Rgt of Michigan, D company, and if possible, about an officer of French origin who could have served in that regiment. Any help will be highly appreciated.
thanks in advance
MarcelloB
A few days ago I bought a French model 1854 lefaucheux pinfire revolver, that came from the US along with a lot of various Civil War handguns. The gun is brown patinated all over, but is in perfect mechanical condition and complete. Its serial# 34059 prooves it was one of the 11,833 Lefaucheux 1854 pinfire revolvers purchased in 1861-62 by the Union Army and used in the Civil War (serial # in the 25000-37000 range).
Inside the grips I found a damaged fragment of a very old, handwritten cardboard label, on which the following words can still be read: "...evolver...ied by S Officer (Second Officer ?)Micheaux...Lefaucheux france...D 21? Michigan"
The name "Micheaux" is very common in France and Belgium. I am now looking for more information about a possible 21st Cavalry Rgt of Michigan, D company, and if possible, about an officer of French origin who could have served in that regiment. Any help will be highly appreciated.
thanks in advance
MarcelloB
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Marcello, a couple years ago I researched my stepdad's grandfather who served in the Civil War. I knew he enlisted from the state of Illinois so I believe I simply went in to Google and started, using Illinois Civil War Volunteers as the search subject. Was finally able to locate him in the 40th Illinois Infantry. Even found the physical description they had of him at that time. It will take some looking, but I believe if you go in and search for Michigan Cavalry In the Civil War you can find what you need, if indeed you believe that Micheaux was a cavalryman. What I did have was the town from where the grandfather enlisted, and this may make it somewhat more dificult if you do not. Hope this helps some. 0 -
Unfortunately, t[:(]he U. S. National Parks Service website at http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/
lists only one 21st Michigan Regiment, an Infantry unit, and does not list any soldier with surname spelling Micheaux. There are several soldiers listed with spelling Michaux, but none in a 21st numbered unit.0 -
quote:Originally posted by john carr
Marcello, a couple years ago I researched my stepdad's grandfather who served in the Civil War. I knew he enlisted from the state of Illinois so I believe I simply went in to Google and started, using Illinois Civil War Volunteers as the search subject. Was finally able to locate him in the 40th Illinois Infantry. Even found the physical description they had of him at that time. It will take some looking, but I believe if you go in and search for Michigan Cavalry In the Civil War you can find what you need, if indeed you believe that Micheaux was a cavalryman. What I did have was the town from where the grandfather enlisted, and this may make it somewhat more dificult if you do not. Hope this helps some.
John
thanks very much for the hint - I hope i will find more info on Google
I just assume the guy was a cavalryman because the gun is a "cavalry model" with spur trigger guard - but of course he may have been an infantery or artillery soldier as well.
Thanks again
MarcelloB0 -
quote:Originally posted by hrf
Unfortunately, t[:(]he U. S. National Parks Service website at http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/
lists only one 21st Michigan Regiment, an Infantry unit, and does not list any soldier with surname spelling Micheaux. There are several soldiers listed with spelling Michaux, but none in a 21st numbered unit.
hrf/i
Many thanks for that prompt response - the name could be michaux or Micheaux, it doesn't make any difference in the French pronounciation.
I said "cavalry regiment" just because the gun is the Cavalry Model with spur trigger guard, but that doesn't proove anything. The label says "D 21? Michigan", so I assumed it was company D in any 21st regiment of Michigan - i may be totally wrong on that point, being not familiar with the US army divisions.
Thanks a lot anyway
MarcelloB0 -
Marcello, here's a bit of information on the 21st Michigan:
http://members.aol.com/dlharvey/21stinf.htm
Here's a site with info on Michigan units in the Civil War:
http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?michiga2.htm
There is also a modern "21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry" group of Civil War reenactors. They have an "Ask Us A Question" link on their website. It's possible that they have some more information on the original Civil War 21st Michigan:
http://www.21stmichigan.org/
Good Luck.......0 -
quote:Originally posted by Xracer
Marcello, here's a bit of information on the 21st Michigan:
http://members.aol.com/dlharvey/21stinf.htm
Here's a site with info on Michigan units in the Civil War:
http://www.earthstation9.com/index.html?michiga2.htm
There is also a modern "21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry" group of Civil War reenactors. They have an "Ask Us A Question" link on their website. It's possible that they have some more information on the original Civil War 21st Michigan:
http://www.21stmichigan.org/
Good Luck.......
Wow thank you so much Xracer....I won't fail to contact those people and visit all those sites to find more info on the soldier who carried that revolver.
That old brown patinated gun is about to become one of the most important pieces in my collection. I bought it more to please the seller than myself in the first place, and also because of its low price (_ 350, let's say abt US $ 400). I did not realize it was a true Civil War souvenir until I checked its serial number; and when I found the label fragment inside the grips, I got very excited. I am a collector of Li?ge-made pinfire, and American 19th century handguns with a preference for the Civil War era. Fine 1854 Lefaucheux are quite easy to find here in Europe, but the ones that have been sold to the Union Army are very scarce. Those used by Confederate troops are even impossible to locate, since the serial numbers are unknown and all CS or CSA markings on pinfire guns are spurious. I really do hope I will find more info about the soldier who owned this one. It is now in my cabinet, among other Civil War revolvers. Thanks again to all for your kind help.
MarcelloB0 -
Best of luck to you Marcello.
BTW, that "S Officer" probably stood for "Supply Officer". U.S. Army units don't have "Second Officers"....the second in command would be an Executive Officer or Assistant Regimental C.O. (Commanding Officer).0
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