7th Tennessee Cavalry, Co. D

CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY!!!!

DID YOU KNOW......

- That the Confederate Richmond Arsenal produced at least two different versions of the Jenifer, two McClellens and one transition saddle for troopers during the war.

- That the west‘s largest saddle supplier, the Atlanta Arsenal produced both the McClellen and the "Texas" saddles at various times even while the official saddle was the Jenifer and before being ordered to switch to the Texas saddle in early 1864.

- That in spite of the fact he freely gave the use of his saddle pattern to the Confederacy in 1861, Walter Jenifer later sued the War Department for patent infringement and actually "won" his case and a sizable award of money!

- That western arsenals had a difficult time providing adequate saddlery forcing western cavalry commanders such as Wheeler, Morgan and others to establish their own unauthorized manufacturing operations.

- That large numbers of trooper's "cloth" saddles were made at western arsenals, especially in Columbus Georgia. Cavalryman universally abhorred them!

- That the Richmond Arsenal issue halter was a simple "single-ring" halter.

- That for most of the war, the halter and bridle as separate items were issued to cavalry troopers from the Richmond Arsenal. Out west, most arsenals made and issued a "combination" halter and bridle. By the end of the war, Richmond also adopted the "halter-bridle."

- That breast straps were NOT a regular item of issue from the Richmond arsenal but were for most western arsenals.

- That a blanket made of Spanish Moss was one of the most common saddle blankets issued in the Confederacy.

- That the most deficient item of issue horse equipments in the entire Confederacy was curry combs and brushes.

- That shortages of iron and leather were a continual burden on Confederate saddle production but the single most devastating cause for the failure in supply was not shortages or even Federal incursions but rather the want of transportation!!

 - That the monthly record for the most saddles produced at the Richmond Arsenal (and its finest quality saddles) were made during the South's final month, March 1865.

- That officers were equipped with saddlery by purchasing them from the Ordnance Arsenals. Three standard but different patterns of (Jenifer) saddles were made at the Clarksville Shops for ANV officers.

- That large numbers of British saddlery was imported for exclusive sale to Southern officers.

- That the central harness shops at Clarksville, Va. produced nearly all ANV artillery saddles and harness.

- That the first pattern artillery saddle was an English based saddle until a pretty good copy of the Grimsely was ordered at mid-war? Or that Southern Artillery collars were often made of Spanish Moss and even corn shucks.

The above and so much more will be covered in the new book out next year "Confederate Saddles and Horse Equipments" by Ken R. Knopp. All of it carefully researched and footnoted from original Ordnance Department correspondence and records in the National Archives.

This work is a culmination of a ten year research effort blending the historical record (most notably from the primary sources in the National Archives), surviving artifacts from the nations finest public and private collections; and modern archeological studies. It contains a detailed history of the cavalry and artillery horse equipment manufactured (Officer's saddles, trooper's saddles, bridles, bits, stirrups, saddle blankets, valises, saddle bags, nose bags, girths, breast straps, martingales, curry combs, brushes) by the South during the Civil War including types, patterns, evolutions and expediencies.

It will also contain full chapters on imported British saddlery, Confederate artillery horse equipments, on iron hardware, leather and, a chronological history of Confederate production of saddlery by the Ordnance Department in the eastern, western and Trans-Mississippi Departments. It is complimented by nearly 200 photos of artifacts including a dozen original artist renditions of long lost patterns!

If you are interested in receiving a flyer about this exciting ground breaking book, please e-mail (or mail) to me your physical mailing or P.O. Box address (snail-mail) and your e-mail address and one will be sent you this spring when its publication date is announced. Thank you!

P.O. Box 1322

Hattiesburg, Miss. 39403