April of 1861 found both the Union and the Confederacy totally unprepared for the conflict in which they were about to be engaged. Volunteers flocked to the colors, but arming them would soon become a serious problem. As the armies grew in size, the stocks of existing weapons were soon nearly exhausted. It would be months before the domestic production of arms would ease the shortages. Indeed, Confederate production would never reach sufficient levels. As the war progressed, the realization that it would not be over quickly demanded a solution to the problem. The only remedy was to purchase arms abroad.
Soon Union and Confederate agents were in Europe and, along with various state agents, arms dealers and speculators, were bidding against each other attempting to obtain arms. Among the Union officials sent to seek arms abroad were General John Fremont, Ordnance Department agents George Schyler and Marcellus Hartley, and the Ministers to Belgium and France, Henry S. Sanford and William Daton. In addition, before the purchase of European arms was suspended, seventy Northern firms or individuals would supply arms to the Ordnance Department. Confederate purchases were directed by Major Caleb Huse, Edward Anderson, Commander James Bullock, and Captain James North.
Early Union efforts in purchasing were a mixed success. Although many high quality arms were obtained, competition between buyers caused many arms to be overpriced. Lack of purchasing instructions contributed to many older obsolete arms being obtained and poor inspections allowed arms of dubious quality to be acquired. There were charges of incompetence and fraud. However, order was slowly restored. As the war progressed, obsolete and overpriced arms were rejected. Better inspections would assure only quality arms were accepted.
Unlike their Union counterparts, Confederate agents using their skills (and with a certain amount of luck) were able, from the beginning, to concentrate their efforts in obtaining only the better quality English and Austrian arms. Their more limited monetary resources dictated a more conservative approach. Thus, in many instances, they succeeded in buying first class arms with very little money. As the war continued, fierce competition with Federal agents and inadequate finances hindered their abilities. The increasing effectiveness of the Federal blockade further decreased deliveries to the Southern armies.
Total Purchases
Union purchases were reduced in late 1862. By the beginning of 1863 only British Enfield rifle muskets were being imported. The last shipments were received in July of 1863 when purchasing ceased. A total of 1,366,795 long arms and 14,373 revolvers had been obtained at a cost of over 18 million dollars. For the balance of the war, the production of Springfield rifle muskets would be more than sufficient.
Confederate purchases would continue throughout the war, although hampered at times by inadequate finances. When the war came to its final conclusion, warehouses were still stocked with war material awaiting shipment through the blockade. Records are sketchy and incomplete, but an estimated 500,000 or more arms were obtained for the Southern cause.
The arms imported made a significant contribution to each side's war effort. Without them, General Johnston would not have been able to attack at Shiloh. McClellan's Peninsular Campaign would not have proceeded. Indeed, as late as July of 1863, of the Army of the Potomac's 241 regiments at the battle of Gettysburg, 128 regiments (53 percent) were armed completely or partly with foreign arms. These were chiefly Enfield and Austrian Lorenz rifle muskets as well as a few French models. The percentage of foreign weapons was even greater in the Western armies.
In the Confederate army, the Enfield was so numerous it became considered the standard infantry arm. At the surrender of Vicksburg, General Grant instructed his regiments equipped with older obsolete arms to exchange them with recently captured Confederate Enfields.
As the war continued, the poorer quality arms were removed from service and placed into storage, but the English Enfields and Austrian Lorenzs would serve both North and South right through to Appomattax. Clearly, the war would have been a far different conflict without the importation of European weapons.
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© Copyright 1995 The American Civil War Society
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