The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the Confederate States Army
Book #401
$42.50
620 pp., index, hardcover.
With the exception of religion, there have been more books printed in the United States concerning the American Civil War, 1861-1865, than any other subject. The one title, of a technical nature, that is absolutely indispensable to the serious student of military matters of this period is the Ordnance Manual. These manuals were issued by the United States Army, under dates of 1841, 1850 and 1861 (1st, 2d and 3rd editions) and are veritable one volume encyclopedias of military knowledge. Covered in minute detail are such diverse matters as formulas for paint, the characteristics of various metals, manufacture and inspection procedures for weapons and accoutrements, mathematical tables and how to tie various knots. Illustrations consist of a series of plates, bound together in the rear of the book.
Upon the commencement of hostilities the Confederates printed and issued an Ordnance Manual under the date of 1861. This was simply a reprint of the United States Manual of 1850, with no changes other than the substitution of the letters “C.S.A.” for “U.S.” whenever these initials occur in the text. As the 1850 manual was out-of-date by this time, many changes in artillery, small arms and accoutrements having taken place, a new manual was prepared by the Confederate Ordnance Department in 1862 and issued as the First Edition under date of 1863. This edition was primarily a reprint of the United States manual of 1861, but with much additional data concerning materiel peculiar to the Confederate service. The United States manual of 1861 had been prepared under the direction of Brevet Major T.T.S. Laidley, United States Ordnance Department, the Confederate manual under the direction of Colonel Josiah Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance. In a courtesy typical of the time, credit is given to Laidley, by Gorgas, for the preparation of the basic manual.
Unfortunately for posterity the Confederates did not, at times, follow closely the requirements and specifications set forth in the manual, expediency in procurement being of much more importance than technical perfection. This is confusing to the modern student but he must realize that every Confederate procurement officer was an independent agent and at times, for reasons unknown today, procured ordnance materiel with a wide variance from the requirements set forth in the manual. A few examples of this variance and omission would include the fact that the Confederates did not manufacture the prescribed cartridge box and cartridge box belt plates, neither of these items having any practical value, the prescribed oval belt plate was never made in great quantity, others of varying design being substituted, the sabre belt plate requirements being completely disregarded and a two piece interlocking plates with letters “CS” manufactured in quantity instead. In the matter of artillery an even greater variance will be noted. The manual describes the Model 1861 3 inch rifle as “cast iron” with 5 lands and grooves (the U.S. Model 1861 3 inch rifle was wrought iron with 7 lands and grooves). However the majority of Confederate 3 inch rifles were of bronze and with as many as 15 lands and grooves. The prescribed bronze 24 pounder Coehorn mortar was never made in this metal, an iron version of entirely different configuration was manufactured.
Despite this the manual remains an invaluable tool for those interested in the technical aspects of the Civil War. It is in reality of dual interest, as it is primarily the standard United States manual for this period in addition to being that of the Confederacy. Its reprint makes available valuable information to many who have been previously denied it.
