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Re: 15th Iowa Order book info from National Archives - what did they have...
Actually, with a careful rereading of Ware you'll realize his tongue is firmly planted in his cheek when recounting the "accidentally misplaced" musket story. He stole the musket.
There was no actual correlation between quality of arms initially issued and eventual wartime role of the regiment in question, at least among Iowa volunteers. The Adjutant General of each state (effectively, the "chief of staff" for the state's militia) had the thankless job of acquiring and allocating weapons for his state's volunteers. (Volunteers were technically state volunteers for a period of time before being mustered in as federal troops- sometimes weeks, sometimes days, sometimes minutes.) Adjutant Generals were not (as a rule) informed in advance by the War Department where their states' volunteers were bound. Acquiring suitable weaponry was difficult for Iowa, being a lightly populated state on the frontier, about as far away from Washington as possible. Many Iowa regiments that were headed very quickly into active field service (and in fact, battle) received smoothbore muskets. Iowans present at Shiloh ranged from horribly armed (1816 and 1822 conversions in the hands of the 11th Iowa, for example) to exceptional (enfields for the 12th.)
However, you guys are completely right about the perception of receiving superior arms. It was a great source of anxiety for recruits awaiting weaponry, and the issuing of subpar arms was seen as a slight and a sign that (horrors) the regiment was headed for some backwater. The men of the 15th must have been quite pleased upons opening their crates of m1861s.
Actually, with a careful rereading of Ware you'll realize his tongue is firmly planted in his cheek when recounting the "accidentally misplaced" musket story. He stole the musket.
There was no actual correlation between quality of arms initially issued and eventual wartime role of the regiment in question, at least among Iowa volunteers. The Adjutant General of each state (effectively, the "chief of staff" for the state's militia) had the thankless job of acquiring and allocating weapons for his state's volunteers. (Volunteers were technically state volunteers for a period of time before being mustered in as federal troops- sometimes weeks, sometimes days, sometimes minutes.) Adjutant Generals were not (as a rule) informed in advance by the War Department where their states' volunteers were bound. Acquiring suitable weaponry was difficult for Iowa, being a lightly populated state on the frontier, about as far away from Washington as possible. Many Iowa regiments that were headed very quickly into active field service (and in fact, battle) received smoothbore muskets. Iowans present at Shiloh ranged from horribly armed (1816 and 1822 conversions in the hands of the 11th Iowa, for example) to exceptional (enfields for the 12th.)
However, you guys are completely right about the perception of receiving superior arms. It was a great source of anxiety for recruits awaiting weaponry, and the issuing of subpar arms was seen as a slight and a sign that (horrors) the regiment was headed for some backwater. The men of the 15th must have been quite pleased upons opening their crates of m1861s.
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