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LOT 1227
Historic, Civil War Production, U.S.
Martially Inspected New Haven Arms
Company Henry Lever Action Rifle with
George Madis Letter - Serial no. 3253, 44
Henry RF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/brass
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in October
of 1863, this solid representative example of a
Civil War production, U.S. martially inspected,
New Haven Arms Company Henry rifle. The
Henry lever action rifle has become one of the most highly sought
after 19th century American arms due to its connections to both the
Civil War and westward expansion. Many of these advanced rifles were
purchased by the federal government for use during the Civil War, like
this example. Many more were purchased privately by soldiers for use during the war, and many of both later
found their way into the untamed west in the hands of anyone who desired rapid firepower. This 1863 production
Henry’s serial number falls between two Henrys documented as carried by the 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran
Volunteers, these being number 3220 and number 3297 (p. 75 “The Historic Henry Rifle” by Wiley Sword). Given
the U.S. inspector’s marks present on this rifle, it was almost certainly one of those originally earmarked for the
1st D.C. Cavalry Regiment, many of which were stored and not issued to the regiment. Many of the rifles in this
block were later issued to the 3rd Regiment U.S. Veteran Volunteers. The U.S. inspector mark “HC” is on the right
of the frame and barrel, and the “C.G.C.” inspector’s mark is on the right of the barrel. These rifles were part of a
government order for 800 rifles on 30 December 1863, and it appears these 800 all came from the 3000-4000 serial
number range, and are the only Henry rifles which bear the “C.G.C.” government inspector’s markings, per “The
Story of Benjamin Tyler Henry and His Famed Repeating Rifle” by Les Quick (pg. 146). The 1st D.C. Cavalry was the
only federal unit entirely armed with Henry rifles during the Civil War. Commanded by politically connected Col.
Lafayette Baker, the 1st D.C. Cavalry initially served on provost duty in the District of Columbia under the direct
orders of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and was assigned to combat Confederate partisan rangers operating
in Northern Virginia. In May 1864, the regiment was reassigned to the Department of Virginia and saw action in
operations around Richmond and Petersburg.
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