Arming the Glorious Cause: Confederate Arms by Whisker, Hartzler, Yantz

Collector Bookstore Notes:

Confederate guns were made by diverse industries who became improvised gun makers. This title assists with correct identification via hundreds of large, close-up photos.

Publishers Description:

When the hostilities began in 1861 the individual Southern states issued a call for weapons to arm their troops. All types of weapons were sought. By authority of the Confederate government seizure of Federal armories within the seceded states was an immediate source. Arms from abroad were eagerly sought, but the heavy Union blockade would soon limit this avenue. Young patriots enlisted and, with not enough weapons were encouraged to bring their own. Arms from the Kentucky rifle and double-barreled shotguns to single shot pistols and knives were pressed into immediate service. This publication illustrates the ability of those in neighboring industries to join the few gunsmiths in an all out effort of arms productions. The South was not an industrialized society, having neither the material resources nor the man power of the North. Most operations were on a small scale and their output was limited.

The realm of Confederate firearms was a broad scope, but today specimens are scarce and they are limited by rarity. Because of today's increasing high values there is no common Confederate gun, almost all were in service and surviving examples in any condition are few and very desirable. Arming the Glorious Cause is about primary Confederate firearms, but included are some secondary pre-war muskets, rifle-muskets, rifles, carbines, and pistols. Also pieces by Southern makers or agents, authentically inscribed captured firearms, along with a sampling of bayonets, swords, and cannons are wonderfully illustrated.

The workmanship and quality of material is not commensurate with those manufactured in the North or in Europe. Some are awkward in appearance, while others are primitive and are sparsely or poorly marked. Due to the many unmarked weapons early writers have taken the 1860 unidentified firearms and tended to mislabel them as Confederate. There is also misidentification of pre-war arms that have been placed into this category. C.S.A. weapons have been the subject of many abuses over the years. The term crude indeed does apply to some Confederate manufactured swords, but it should not be a synonym for all Southern-made firearms.

It is not uncommon to examine Union and foreign long arms that currently bear an incorrect Southern lock plate. C.S.A. pistols that are missing parts many times are replaced with plentiful Federal segments. The definitive details, due to the dearth of original weapons, will now enable a collector to recognize the authenticity of many pieces that are cast off as genuine. The authors, through the sparse information on makers and scarce examples from a conquered, burned and looted nation, are pleased to present this amount of authentic examples. Most collectors are pleased to see Southern pieces in any condition. Great effort through providing extensive collections from all over the country provide illustrations that are in fine and mint condition, which is extremely rare. Not only are numerous views, details, and individual characteristics presented, but the quality of these photographs have never before been seen in print.

Daniel D. Hartzler