Guns International #: 101552591
Seller's Inventory #: 200881

Category - Burnside Rifles - Civil War Rifles

Category
Burnside Rifles
Civil War Rifles

“SCOTT’S 900” 11th NEW YORK CAVALRY Issued CIVIL WAR BURNSIDE Carbine 1863 With Trooper’s Memoire, Springfield Research Service!

Description:
“SCOTT’S 900” 11th NEW YORK CAVALRY Issued CIVIL WAR BURNSIDE Carbine 1863

With Trooper’s Memoire, Springfield Research Service!

Here we present an antique Burnside 5th Model Cavalry Carbine that has been traced back to Private Charles Gammel (1845-1906) of Companies B & D of the 11th New York Cavalry. This carbine was made circa 1863 by the Burnside Rifle Company in Providence, Rhode Island. This Burnside comes with a great amount of documentation regarding Gammel’s life to include the book he wrote of his experiences during the American Civil War called Carl, the Cavalry Boy. that was published in 1907 by his brother following his death. The U.S. Martial Arms Collector and Springfield Research Services Newsletter: Number 158 from March of 2019 demonstrates from primary sources the issue of this carbine with serial number 2697 to Private Gammel. This collection also comes with a number of copies of primary documents to include muster rolls, pension requests, and enlistment papers. Finally, a copy of the book Scott’s 900: The Story of a Regiment by Thomas West Smith is included as well—this a history of the regiment during the war, told by an enlisted man from Troop F.

There is so much fascinating information here, but this first (and only, very limited) edition of Private Charles Gammel’s memoir is a true prize. Only 300 of these were printed in 1907 and, as the preface states, these were originally intended to be given to friends and family. It is an easy read, chock full of all the little details that give you a sense of who this man was and what his experiences were. There are funny stories along with the frightening or heart wrenching. It begins with his working class father fighting in the Revolutions of 1848 in Prussia, being imprisoned from 1849 to 1851, losing everything, and emigrating to the US (Utica, New York) to restart and rebuild. It took him years, but he managed to bring his family with him, working as an upholsterer and sending money back to Germany. Charles (also Carl, Charley) was the oldest child and went to work at a young age to help support the family. It is clear that he hated New York and initially spoke little English. It wasn’t until he joined his local Turn Verein (also American Turner or Turner Club) that he began to feel at home in his new country. It was at his local club as a boy that he began to be impassioned about anti-slavery and it would change his life. He was thrilled when Abraham Lincoln became President of the United States and marched with the Wide Awakes. When the war broke out, he tried desperately to join the Army but was constantly met with “you are too young, too small”. As you will see from some of these original documents, he was only ever 5’5” at his tallest. He was 16 or 17 years old when he decided he would run away to New York City in order to enlist there, so he did. He left home in July of 1862 and went to the big city by himself. He was rejected several times here too but met an officer that had lived only blocks away when in Prussia. The officer told Charles that he would get him enlisted but it seemed as if the officer really just wanted a servant to take afield. After about 6 weeks away, he left the camp in which he had been staying with this officer and made the long journey back home by foot, boat, and rail—not AWOL, since he had never been there officially to begin with. Soon after his return, his younger brother by two years—but who was bigger and stronger—was accepted into the 14th NY State Volunteers. He (William) would be killed in battle. Carl was persistent in trying to enlist and finally he found a way. It was 26 December 1863, the day after Christmas, when he convinced three of his mates that if he joined, they too would join. He told the recruiter that if they took him, then all four would join at once. “Well,” said the officer, “if all four will enlist, you say you are nineteen and I’ll take you.” He elected to go into “Scott’s 900”, which was the 11th NY Cavalry. And on his story goes as he campaigns and lives in the field in the Deep South. You won’t be able to put it down!

It is a very rare thing to be able to identify a particular arm to a soldier from this period. Not only do we have that, there is a wealth of history we have on this soldier as well!
The overall condition is very good+. The action is excellent. The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There are 2 cartouches on the left wrist that remain visible. The numbers match. The condition of the memoir is very good. The binding is intact as is the cloth cover. A superb piece of history!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 21 inches.

Caliber: .54

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$4635

#200881
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes