By Charles Pate
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Anderson Troop Colts n the Vol. 18 No. 5 issue of NSTCW in 1991, author Tony Mor- In the summer of 1862 Capt. Palmer and a number of The Union de- reale had an exceptionally interesting article entitled “Stone’s River his men were dispatched to Philadelphia for recruiting pur- feat at the Battle of IRevolver: 1 of 100 to J.C. Grubb & Co.” The article related his ex- poses. They succeeded in raising an entire regiment, which First Manassas on perience of finding and researching an artifact he unearthed at a Stone’s became known as the Anderson Cavalry. Palmer, eventually July 21, 1861, was The Colt New Model River site: a Model 1861 Colt revolver, referred to at the time as the elevated to colonel, commanded the regiment, and several far more significant navy number 2876 was New Model Colt navy. of the officers of the Anderson Troop joined him in the than the casualty list alone might imply, for it made clear one of a shipment of Using the still legible serial number on the brass trigger guard—3097— Anderson Cavalry, which also became known as the 15th the fact that the Union army required far more men and 100 sent to Philadel- he obtained the Colt factory shipping information, which showed that Pennsylvania Cavalry and the 160th Pennsylvania Cavalry. weapons—and needed them soon. It also became clear phia dealer J.C. Grubb the revolver was one of 100 such revolvers shipped to Philadelphia As with the Anderson Troop, the Anderson Cavalry boasted that, contrary to what the Union army leadership had earlier autumn 1861 and firearms dealer Joseph C. Grubb on November 2, 1861. He then at- some of the most affluent and influential of Pennsylvania thought, volunteer cavalry regiments were needed in signifi- subsuquently issued to tempted to identify the owner of the pistol, logically assuming it was citizens. cant numbers. men in the Anderson purchased by a Pennsylvania soldier who participated in the Battle of The Anderson Troop continued as a separate and inde- In response to this situation, thousands of volunteers Troop. For a look at its Stone’s River. He came up with two likely prospects, both officers from pendent entity until mustered out in March 1863 and never soon answered the call to cavalry service. But, due to an excavated counterpart Philadelphia who were also majors in the 15th Pennsylvania (Anderson) became part of the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, although it 1860 law that had been passed prohibiting the purchase of from the same ship- Cavalry. is sometimes inaccurately cited as having done so and the patented arms, at the start of the Civil War the Ordnance ment, found near the Based on my research at the National Archives and at the Colt fac- two names—Anderson Troop and Anderson Cavalry—are Department’s stock of revolvers was so low that it could not Stone’s River battle- tory, I think Mr. Morreale may well be right. But the story is compli- sometimes found used interchangeably, even in period ac- even fully arm the few regular army regiments that needed field, see pps. 30-31. cated, and there is at least one other possibility. counts. The confusion is understandable, but the Anderson to be reequipped. Consequently, in the autumn of 1861 The Colt was with First, it is necessary to understand the background of the 15th Penn- Troop and the 15th Pennsylvania (Anderson) Cavalry were the Ordnance Department took steps to obtain Colt’s full the well-used holster sylvania Cavalry, which had its roots in the Anderson Troop, an inde- separate units. production capacity for the Model 1860, or “New Model when purchased. pendent cavalry company raised in autumn 1861. An elite group, the army,” revolver, and the department also contracted with Courtesy the Charles Anderson Troop was under the command of Capt. William J. Palmer he relationship between the J.C. Grubb shipment of Pate Collection; photos, and served as escort to Gen. Robert Anderson, Gen. William T. Sher- Colts and Capt. Palmer dates back to his period of Paul Davies. man, Gen. Don Carlos Buell, and Gen. William S. Rosecrans. Tservice with the Anderson Troop. by Charles Pate 26 | North South Trader’s Civil War | Vol. 38 No. 4 2014 Vol. 38 No. 4 2014 | North South Trader’s Civil War | 27 other manufacturers and sought to purchase revolvers in He has the articles. Please telegraph him.” Europe as well. Obviously Capt. Palmer was anxious to get the pistols William Jackson Palmer, However, the need was so pressing that it could not be and frustrated by the lack of a response from Gen. Ripley. shown here, was captain supplied through these means, and in light of the demand, The T.A. Scott referenced in his telegram was Thomas A. of the Anderson Troop and the Ordnance Department scoured the open market to pur- Scott, who had been not only been given a commision as subsequently colonel of the chase all the arms considered serviceable from any source colonel earlier in the war by Pennsylvania’s Gov. Andrew Anderson Cavalry, 15th Penn- that had them. Curtin but had also been appointed assistant secretary of sylvania Volunteer Cavalry. He On August 6, 1861, US Army Chief of Ordnance Gen. war by Abraham Lincoln. By referencing Scott, Capt. Palm- received a Medal of Honor for James W. Ripley telegraphed Ordnance Department officers er may have intended to let Gen. Ripley know that while he a January 1865 action at Red in major east coast cities and instructed them to buy all avail- was but a captain, he had some powerful friends. Hill, Alabama. able swords, pistols, and carbines suitable for cavalry and Gen. Ripley did as he was asked and telegraphed Lt. Opposite, Lt. Thomas send them to Washington as soon as possible. Lt. Thomas Treadwell, telling him to fill the order that was on file at his Treadwell of the Frankford Treadwell of the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia was one arsenal. Arsenal, who shipped the lot of the officers receiving these telegrams. In the Colt shipped 100 New Model navy revolvers to of 100 Colt navies to Palmer following four months, Treadwell purchased Grubb on November 2, 1861, and the records in November 1861. Photos 795 Colt revolvers, all from Philadelphia show no other shipments to Grubb that courtesy the US Army Heritage dealer J.C. Grubb, one of Colt’s allies could be the pistols issued to Capt. Palm- and Education Center. and the largest firearms merchant in er. Treadwell ordered the pistols from that city. Grubb on the 5th and inspected them In August, Treadwell forwarded the following day. The revolvers, as the arms he bought to Washing- well as sabres, appear to have been ton, in accordance with Rip- issued almost immediately. On ley’s direction, but Ordnance November 3rd, Capt. Palmer Department correspondence wrote a friend to say that he had records show he was also issu- been in Philadelphia for the past ing some of the Colt revolvers few days and that “I believe, I locally, especially after con- at last see daylight in regard to cern about the capital’s security arms—and expect to have pistols abated somewhat. One of these and sabers at ‘Camp Kentucky’ by issues was to William J. Palmer, Wednesday next [November 6th].” captain of the Anderson Troop. On the 8th, Treadwell ordered On November 1, 1861, Capt. from Colt 10,000 Colt navy cartridg- Palmer telegraphed the War Depart- es to be delivered to Palmer at Carlisle, ment saying that Grubb had 100 Colt Pennsylvania, where the Anderson Troop revolvers available for his company but was in the process of organizing. The car- Grubb would deliver them to Frankford Ar- tridges were delivered on the 20th. senal if a requisition for Palmer to have them was Initially Treadwell had not supplied Colt holsters, not made immediately. Palmer asked for a telegram to be but on November 13th he told Palmer the holsters were sent instructing Lt. Treadwell at the Frankford Arsenal to being made and, on the 26th, that they had been shipped. hold the revolvers for his company. Unfortunately, he did not identify the supplier in any of his Palmer’s telegram was forwarded to the Ordnance De- letters. partment for action, and Ripley replied to Capt. Palmer, The nonexcavated Colt navy revolver with serial number asking him what he wanted from Lt. Treadwell and telling 2876 featured here has, like the excavated example, been him to make his requisition to the ordnance office for the verified by Colt’s archives to have been in the shipment of stores. Palmer replied the next day, saying he was sending a 100 to J.C. Grubb. It was recently purchased with the com- detailed requisition that evening and providing a duplicate mercial holster illustrated with it. Both have obviously seen to Treadwell, and again asked that the ordnance office tele- considerable use. graph Treadwell. He subsequently telegraphed again that he had not re- Tony Morreale put forth the theory that his Stone’s River ceived a response from Ripley’s office and had consulted excavated example may have been lost due to its onetime with Treadwell and left a requisition with him. He again owner being incapacitated in the battle. The Anderson requested the that Ripley telegraph Treadwell. On the 5th, Troop was present there, but they were serving as escorts Palmer telegraphed yet again, reporting that Treadwell had and as far as is known they suffered no casualties. However, not “received the order Col. T.A. Scott spoke to you about.