New Carbine Ordered

In July, 1863, General Robert E. Lee ordered that a new muzzle-loading carbine be made for cavalry use. Several ingenious breechloaders had been developed, other than the Richmond Sharps. The Tarpley at Greensboro, Georgia, was being manufactured. A swinging breech design, it is of the mechanical form that the Burton-modified Alender design might have taken, though the actual shape of the missing Alexander model carbine is not known. Alexander obtained a Confederate States patent a month or two after Tarpley patented his gun in February, 1863. Another oddity, bearing no marker’s name and at present not verified as to location of manufacture, is the “rising breech” model; while another with a tipping breechblock and a board stock like the Maynard is variously called “Confederate Maynard” or “Confederate Perry.” These and other small-production weapons proved unreliable and Lee recommended that all efforts be placed on procuring a good supply of standard muzzleloaders of a fundamental Enfield pattern.

By August 5, a new model carbine was ready in Richmond, and A. L. Bargamin was instructed by Downer to convey the model carbine to General Jeb Stuart for his examination, report and, it was hoped, approval. The brilliant cavalry leader of the Army of Northern Virginia mixed arms field trials in with his other duties, when the Federals permitted. On August 14, Bargamin having returned to Major Downer with the results, Downer instructed Solomon Adams to make another model meeting the objections of Stuart’s men. The butt was to have more drop, like that of a Smith’s carbine returned by Stuart as a sample. The length of stock was correct but the barrel was wanted 1 Vi inches longer. Brass bands, Enfield lock. The sights were to be corrected, and “It is desirable that special pains be taken to make a weapon for accurate shooting at a moderately long range that we may be
able in some measure to compete with the Sharps carbine in the hands of the enemy which are very accurate at 800 yards.” The second model made had a sliding ring on a sling bar; this was objected to as the gun, being a muzzle-loader, should not be carried slung muzzle down for fear of losing the charge. Swivels for a sling were to be attached, the cavalryman to carry the loaded arm across his back. “The inspectors of this arm will be rigid in their inspection,” Downer instructed, “allowing no work to pass which will in any way impair the durability and service of this arm.”
The manufacture of the new Richmond .58 carbine was undertaken at a time when the crumbling ramparts of the Confederacy exposed every city to Northern raiders. Perhaps there were those who had not given up hope; maybe a few were not conscious that before them was to be a “last ditch” stand and then utter dissolution. But the dangers of Richmond as a location for this important mass-production works of basic cavalry arms was obvious to all. By the end of April, 1864, Gorgas had instructed Burton and Captain C. P. Bolles to visit several locations offered for the new carbine factory, including Tallassee, Alabama.
“The town of Tallassee consists entirely of the cottages of the factory operatives,” Burton reported, the factory being the cotton mill of Barnett, Micon & Company. Leases were arranged and into one of the buildings, and new sheds put up by the Confederate authorities, the carbine machinery from Richmond was being shifted. By August, 1864, Captain Bolles was able to report progress in setting up the machinery, but materials were in short supply. Not until September 8, 1864, did Burton order bar iron for the barrels at Tallassee. But in spite of not having money to pay the hands, and the dissatisfaction of city workmen transported to a rural existence, Bolles began cutting metal. In February, 1865, the one thing lacking was the stock; but 500 gunstocks were located at Macon Armory intended for rifle-muskets, and these were sent to Tallassee. .
Commanding the C. S. Armory at Tallassee now was Major W. V. Taylor, and in the face of threatened evacuation he began to prepare packing cases for the machinery. Burton informed him (March 22, 1865) “If the removal be effected, it will be to Athens, Georgia, where there is shop room and power ready for your use.” But during all this time, Taylor kept the men at work assembling carbines and by April 3 informed Burton he had 500 carbines ready and wanted
to know where to deliver them. Efficient as ever, Burton acknowledged this the same day instructing him to “turn over and forward at once to Colonel Cuyler, Macon Arsenal, the 500 carbines.”
A Virginian, William New, had been detailed to work at the Tallassee carbine factory. He later said after the War that when the Federal troops occupied Tallassee, “the machinery was destroyed together with all completed guns and material.” Whether any shipment of the 500 carbines to Macon was accomplished is doubtful.
Across an Ordnance Department daily record ledger of the Macon Arsenal Laboratory is a final entry dated: “June 15, 1865. Played out. Done gone, quit. Turned over to U. S. forces, and taken an everlasting receipt.” Thus did the Confederacy fall.