I'm looking for any fact i can get about civil war sabers (swords)?

Question

Any info is very appreciated. Even facts like "many soldiers had one" (is that true?) is fine with me. Please help me!

Answer 1

"In the American Civil War, the sabre was used infrequently as a weapon, but saw notable deployment in the Battle of Brandy Station and at East Cavalry Field at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Many cavalrymen - particularly on the Confederate side - eventually abandoned the long, heavy weapons in favour of revolvers and carbines."

"Sabers are also worn by U.S. Marine Corps and Army Officers, as well as NCOs in those services. They are not practical weapons, now being relegated to ceremonial use."

"Sabre" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabre

"There were four types of mounted forces prevalent in the Civil War."

"Cavalry were forces that fought principally on horseback, armed with carbines, pistols, and especially sabers. Only a small percentage of Civil War forces met this definition—primarily Union mounted forces in the Eastern Theater during the first half of the war. Confederate forces in the East generally carried neither carbines nor sabers. A few Confederate regiments in the Western Theater carried shotguns, especially early in the war."

"Irregular forces (partisan rangers or guerrillas) were generally mounted forces. There is little commonality as to their weapons—in general, any available were used. The Confederacy produced the most famous irregular leaders, including John Mosby, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and John Hunt Morgan (although the latter two did employ traditional mounted infantry tactics in some campaigns)."

"Sabers were used more frequently by Northern cavalrymen. They were terror weapons, more useful for instilling fear in their opponents then as practical offensive weapons; Confederate cavalrymen often avoided them simply because they considered sabers to be outmoded, unsuitable for the "modern" battlefield. (There were instances in the war in which Union cavalrymen taunted their opponents to "Pick up your sabers and fight like gentlemen!") The American cavalry saber was lighter than the typical European saber, the latter being similar to the older U.S. Model 1840 "wrist breaker". The curved blade of the saber was generally sharpened only at the tip because it was used mostly for breaking arms and collarbones of opposing horsemen, and sometimes stabbing, rather than for slashing flesh. (A notable exception to this was the saber of Nathan Bedford Forrest, which was sharpened on both edges.)"

"Pistols, which Southern cavalrymen generally preferred over sabers, were usually six-shot revolvers."

"Cavalry in the American Civil War" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalry_in_the_American_Civil_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalry_in_the_American_Civil_War

"On the other hand it is held by the principal cavalry leaders who have seen service in the field--Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, Generals French, Hamilton, and Baden-Powell (of Boer War fame), De Negrier and Langlois of France, and Von Bernhardi of Germany, and others, (1) that while the method of using modern cavalry has changed, the arm itself is more important in war than ever; (2) that its scope is broadened; (3) that its duties require a higher order of intelligence and training of its personnel--officers and men, and (4), above all, that it is quite possible to turn out a modern horse-soldier, 'armed with saber and rifle, who will be equally efficient, mounted or dismounted."

"In the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee, bodies of horsemen, similarly armed, were readily formed, who, if ignorant of cavalry maneuvers, yet with little preparation became the finest mounted infantry the world has ever seen; distinguishing themselves in numerous affairs, notably at King's Mountain, South Carolina, September 25, 1780, where two thousand sturdy "Mountain Men," hastily assembled under Colonels Sevier, Shelby, and Campbell, surrounded and almost annihilated a force of twelve hundred men (one hundred and twenty being regulars) under Major Ferguson, of the British army. Marion, the partisan, led a small brigade of mounted infantry, who generally fought on foot, although at times charging and firing from the saddle. There were also small bodies of cavalry proper, using the saber and pistol, with effect, against the British cavalry in many dashing combats."

"The trials of many of the newly recruited organizations, until the beginning of the third year of the war, are illustrated in the following extract from a typical regimental history: ("History of the Tenth New York Cavalry") Captain Vanderbilt describes in graphic terms his first experience in escort duty (December 10, 1862):"

"Please remember that my company had been mustered into the service only about six weeks before, and had received horses less than a month prior to this march; and in the issue we drew everything on the list--watering-bridles, lariat ropes, and pins--in fact, there was nothing on the printed list of supplies that we did not get. Many men had extra blankets, nice large quilts presented by some fond mother or maiden aunt (dear souls), sabers and belts, together with the straps that pass over the shoulders, carbines and slings, pockets full of cartridges, nose bags and extra little bags for carrying oats, haversacks, canteens, and spurs--some of them of the Mexican pattern as large as small windmills, and more in the way than the spurs of a young rooster, catching in the grass when they walked, carrying up briers, vines, and weeds, and catching their pants, and in the way generally--curry-combs, brushes, ponchos, button tents, overcoats, frying-pans, cups, coffee-pots, etc. Now the old companies had become used to these things and had got down to light-marching condition gradually, had learned how to wear the uniform, saber, carbine, etc.; but my company had hardly, time to get into proper shape when "the general" was sounded, "boots and saddles" blown."

"Within a year in the rough school of war, these same helpless recruits became fairly efficient cavalry, at home in the saddle, able to deliver telling blows with the saber, and to ride boot-to-boot in battle charges."

"It was here that General Buford delayed the advance of a division of Confederate infantry for more than two hours, winning for himself, in the opinion of a foreign military critic, (The Comte de Paris in "The Civil War in America.") the honor of having "with the inspiration of a cavalry officer and a true soldier selected the battlefield where the two armies were about to measure their strength." The important actions on the third day comprised that in which Gregg prevented Stuart from penetrating the right rear of the Union line (largely a mounted combat with saber and pistol), and the affair on the Emmittsburg Road that same day where Merritt and Farnsworth menaced the Confederate left and, according to General Law, (in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War) neutralized the action of Hood's infantry division of Longstreet's corps by bold use of mounted and dismounted men, contributing in no small degree to the Federal success."

"Cavalry of the Civil War, Its Evolution and Influence" : http://www.civilwarhome.com/civilwarcavalry.htm

"Unwilling to betray my own nervousness by a faltering voice I was content to return his stare for a minute in silence and then said to him ‘Drop your saber!’ I did not tell him to ‘return’ I was unwilling that the point of that formidable blade should be removed, even for a second from its earthward direction. He did not instantly obey. I said: ‘If you don’t drop it I’ll shoot.’ He dropped it. I told him then to unbuckle his sabre belt and hand it to me. He did so. I buckled it around me with scabbard and pistol that were on it. I ordered him to dismount which he did and to hand me his sabre which I returned to its scabbard. I then took him back up the hill, he holding to my stirrup leather...."

"Who Captured Union Colonel Percy Wyndham?" : http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/american_civil_war/6443537.html

Answer 2

Civil War Sabers

Answer 3

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A saber is a specific kind of sword is all, it is characterized by a single edge slightly curved to improve slashing which is the way that it is mostly used, particularly effect from horse back, and the sweeping strokes. However it was popular even with the artillery in Napoleonic times. The word saber can also be used to describe one of the 3 categories of fencing blades within that blade. A fencing saber however is very different from the historical blade. Swords are just pretty much any single bladed hand weapon more than about a 14 inch blade. It is a very general word and a huge catch-all category. The commands that you are wanting are more for the troops, not for the swords itself. You will have to either do some research to find out specific commands, as they vary from army to army.

Answer 4

Wall hangers then and now were not usually carried into battle for parades usualy or getting picture made some did carry them but i knew a guy in Nam.that carried Two switchblades !! most did not

Answer 5

Sure, for more information on Civil War SABRES, see -
the 1840 sabre, "Old Wristbreaker" for starters.

Answer 6

Well, it depends..