laststandonzombieisland

“During the Civil War, from 1 January 1861 through 30 June 1866, the national government purchased:

3,477,655 muskets, rifles, carbines, and pistols,

544,475 swords, sabers, and lances,

2,146,175 complete sets of infantry accouterments,

1,022,176,474 small arms cartridges, and

1,220,555,435 caps for small arms.” – Hartzler, Yantz & Whisker.

An impressive amount of munitions for any military of any age. When you take into account that the peacetime strength of the U.S. Army in 1860 was 16,000 and the Marines just another 3,500, it is even more so.

Springfield model rifled muskets stacked by the Soldiers from Company B of the 7th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment, fighting for the Union. July 1861