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LOT 215
Historic Documented Engraved 3rd Veteran
Volunteer Infantry U.S. Type II Martial New
Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle -
Serial no. 7278, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl.,
blue finish, varnished walnut stock. This is a historic Henry
lever action rifle that was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company
for the U.S. Ordnance Department in 1865 with Springfield Research Service (SRS)
letter. In April-May 1865, the Ordnance Department purchased 637 Henry lever action rifles from the New Haven Arms
Co. These late production U.S. Contract rifles are generally referred to as “Type II” rifles to distinguish them from the 800 “Type
I” U.S. Contract Henry rifles purchased in 1863 to arm the 1st D.C. Cavalry Regiment (Type I rifles have Ordnance inspection
marks, Type II rifles do not have Ordnance inspection marks). The Type II rifles were issued to the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer
Infantry (VVI) regiment. The 3rd VVI was one of nine Veteran Volunteer regiments recruited in early 1865 to serve as an elite corps of experienced infantry. The
VVI regiments were issued Sharps, Spencer or Henry rifles. As an enlistment incentive, VVI soldiers were allowed to retain their rifles on discharge. The 3rd VVI was
organized in February 1865 at Camp Stoneman, District of Columbia, and was stationed in the Shenandoah Valley and Washington defenses before it was mustered
out of service at Camp Butler, Illinois, in July 1866. The SRS letter that accompanies the rifle states that Henry Rifle serial no. 7278 was issued to Corpl. Louis Heiligmann,
Co. B, 3rd VVI. Corporal Heiligmann’s service records indicate that he was born in Wurttemberg, German, and previously served in the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry before he enlisted in the 3rd VVI on March 29, 1865, at age 28. His occupation is listed as a cabinet maker.
Heiligmann was discharged from the 3rd VVI at
Madison, Wisconsin on March 29, 1866. The SRS
letter states that it can be assumed that Corpl.
Heiligmann kept this Henry rifle when he was discharged. This rifle has a blue barrel with integral magazine and the distinctive
Henry brass receiver and crescent buttplate. The hammer and lever have a casehardened finish. The barrel has the late nickel silver
squareback front sight blade and dovetail mounted folding leaf rear sight. The rear sight has a 900 yard center notch and retaining screw at
the top of the leaf. The receiver lacks the rear sight dovetail found on early production Henry rifles. The brass buttplate is the second pattern
with sharply pointed heel. The buttplate has a hinged trapdoor and the trap contains the late pattern four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod
issued with Henry rifles in this serial number range. The straight grain black walnut stock has a varnished finish. The left side of the stock
has a factory sling swivel and the left side of the barrel has a factory screw-
fastened loop for a sling hook. Sling swivels were standard features on Type II
U.S. Henry rifles. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the late style two-line
legend “HENRY’S PATENT.OCT.16.1860./MANUFACT’D. BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.
CO.NEWHAVEN.CT.” using all serif letters. The serial number is stamped on the
top of the barrel behind the rear sight, on the left side of the lower receiver tang,
inside of the upper tang inlet of the stock and on the inside of the buttplate
below the trapdoor.
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