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The 26th U.S. Volunteer Infantry was issued 1898 Krag rifles in July of 1899 before being shipped out to the Philipine's. Somewhere around here I still have a photocopy of the original handwritten list by rifle serial number and also rifle shipping crate that was made by a Captain of that unit. It was sent to me by Frank Mallory upon submitting the serial number of a Krag rifle that I used to have that'd been one of those issued to that unit. Frank also sent me a photocopy of the 26th's Unit Log that was updated every week while that unit was in the Philipine's. Those rifles used by the 26th U.S. Volunteer Infantry have shown up as I've seen several being sold that went unnoticed on Gun broker or other sites over the years.
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Last edited by Fred; 08-25-2013, 07:52. -
As a counterpoint, at least one troop of the 6th US Cav, took around 70 Model 1896 carbines (refurbed at St. Louis in the summer of 1900) to Peking.Comment
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"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. LewisComment
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The 1916 National Defense Act changed the relationship of the Army and the newly designated National Guard.
In 1917, using the powers from that act, the National Guard was activated, called to federal service, discharged, and drafted in one fell swoop. The new federally assigned division designations were used but, outside of regulars, all other troops were draftees. Played holy heck after the war as the National Guard commitment was gone - they'd been discharged.
No National Guard troops served overseas - there weren't any. They'd been discharged and drafted.Comment
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Where did you get that? The units I listed received the guns in November of 1898. I included the date. They surveyed the Militia arms in 1898. Black troops in Georgia still had muskets. The cavalry in one of the north western states was still entirely armed with Spencers. Which means they'd been better armed than the regular army for 30 years.
The Ordnance Department charged the States new prices for rebuilt arms. Using federal money. The amount was fixed and, due to the prices, it was never enough. Some States chipped in and bought newer guns. Illinois bought .50/70s off the surplus market as they were cheaper. The Ordnance Department was at war with the Army. The Army was at war with the militia. No units had Krags. Perish the thought.
The United States Army. Should have been abolished in 1815.Comment
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1st TX: 1896Where did you get that? The units I listed received the guns in November of 1898. I included the date. They surveyed the Militia arms in 1898. Black troops in Georgia still had muskets. The cavalry in one of the north western states was still entirely armed with Spencers. Which means they'd been better armed than the regular army for 30 years.
4th IL: '98.
2nd SC: '96
1st NC: '98.
161st IN: '98.
49th IA: '96.
2nd LA: '98
3rd NE: '96.
9th IL: '98.
2nd IL: '98.
4th VA: '98.
6th MO: '98."We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. LewisComment
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That does make it a TAD clearer!
"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. LewisComment
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That's one of the things that interest me about Krag rifles. They were adopted as part of the big change - America went from being one kind of country to being another kind altogether, and the shift took place really fast. Not all the changes were for the better IMHO.
Hitchcock used to talk about "the MacGuffin" - an object that doesn't do anything on its own but the real story revolves around it. The Maltese Falcon statue is an example. In some ways, the Krag is the macGuffin in a very big story that has not yet completely played out. Not to say they are not interesting, useful and accurate in and of themselves.
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