Did General John Buford’s Cavalry Have Spencer Carbine Rifles? Source: Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
It may be worth noting the Definition of CARBINE:ġ: a short-barreled lightweight firearm originally used by cavalryĢ: a light short-barreled repeating rifle that is used as a supplementary military arm or for hunting in dense brush Here, I will give a few arguments both pro and con about Buford’s men having Spencer carbines the first day of Gettysburg. Buford’s strategic deployment and positioning of his unmounted cavalry that early July 1, morning at Gettysburg also contributed greatly to the Union holding the high ground. Were they using breech-loading Spencer carbine rifles or other weapons? No matter which particular weapon they used, their weapons allowed the Union men to fire at a rate comparable to a larger unit of men. There has been confusion and debate about whether or not John Buford’s unmounted cavalry had Spencer carbines on the morning of July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg. Spencer Carbines Helped John Buford’s Unmounted Cavalry Hold The High Ground …Or Did Buford’s Cavalry Use A Different Carbine? Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.Īs General John Buford’s unmounted cavalry held the high ground for the Union on July 1, 1863, on the outskirts of Gettysburg, they had a technological advantage over the Confederates they were fighting.
