The Lorenzes again & the New Jersey Rifle Corps
Reader Jay Hull wrote me after reading my May column discussing the prototype of
.54 caliber Model 1854 Lorenz rifle. Pedersoli stated that sev changes would be present in the production version. Unsurprisingly, the gun will feature the long-range sight rat than the block sight, although both were used on original Lorenzes. I went on to note that the 5t N.J. Regt. of the Second N.J. Bde. was initially armed with Lo renzes. The brigade’s other thre regiments, the 6th, 7th and 8th, carried smoothbore muskets. The idea was that, with a limited su ply of rifled arms available, a gade would get, if possible, one of its regiments armed with rifl and that unit could then be deployed for skirmish duty, where accuracy was more useful. The Jerseymen were with the force that caught up with the Rebel rear guard at Williamsburg on May 5, 1862. In the ensuing
Since 1979, MI has been America’s only publication dedicated to historic photog of soldiers and sailors.
battle, a brutal close-range e counter fought in a rainstorm, the brigade had its baptism of fire. The three smoothbore arm regiments slugged it out with the Confederate rear guard on the Union left while the 5th w deployed in front of the divis as skirmishers. By and large, Jerseymen seemed satisfied wit their Lorenzes. As Jay pointed out, however that satisfaction was far from universal. He reenacts and does living history with today 27th Conn. Inf., and that original regiment had most of its companies armed with Lorenzes. As Jay notes, “many of them were not inspected by a competent inspector and were not 100% functional; to the po that prior to the 27th’s first at Fredericksburg, the men wer told by their brigade commande Colonel Samuel Zook, ‘Boys, if you cannot discharge them, you can use the bayonet.’” The regimental history noted that “scarcely one of these weapons
One of the Trenton marked Model 18 Machine Company and purchased by t (Photos by Tim Prince) was without defects in the most essential particulars.” If my brigade commander told me that if my gun would not fire and that I should use my bayonet, I would be less than enthusiastic going into a fight. In fact, a lot of Lorenzes were made by shady contractors rather hastily and had a bad reputation. Guns of the same pattern issued by the Hapsburg government were far better arms.
With most active members off to the front, and far more attention paid to state soldiers in the field, many state militia organiza tions went into decline during the Civil War. The New Jersey militia, understrength and armed with obsolete smoothbore muskets, was one of them. The Gettysburg emergency drew attention to the sorry state of the N.J. militia and inspired state officials to create the N.J. Rifle Corps in 1863. Although a few units of the old militia were allowed to continue, recruits to the new organization were issued distinct uniforms to emphasize that they were members of an elite organization. Initially, the Rifle Corps was less than a stunning success, with only six companies of the authorized forty organized by the end of 1863, but the corps was deployed to control a riot that broke out between employees of two rival railroads in November. In order to properly arm the state’s Rifle Corps, N.J. purchased several thousand rifle-muskets in 1863 and 1864. Once they arrived in Trenton, these guns were marked “NJ” on the barrel and stock opposite the lock to indicate state ownership. The first two orders, in Jul 1863, were to New York arms merchants Schuyler, Hartley and Graham, for 2,500 and 1,500 Colt “Special Model” 1861 rifle muskets. Shortly after delivery of th initial order, however, the second one was cancelled. It seemed that Colt, or Schuyler, Hartley
and Graham, was trying to dump weapons that had failed federal inspection by selling them off to unsuspecting states. New Jersey had a very sharp quartermaster general, however, and each weapon received was disassembled and carefull inspected by “a competent
ifle muskets made by the Trento tate of New Jersey for the New
Close up of the Trenton lockplate. The factory was not far from the arsenal.
Closeup view of the “NJ” markings on barrel and stock applied at the state arsenal in Trenton.
Opposite the lockplate is the “NJ” markings on barrel and stock applied at the state arsenal in Trenton.
person” at the state arsenal. A report noted that “the inspecto rejected a great number of part The state “allowed the contract in every instance to replace th parts rejected for defects with perfect parts,” although the number of those replacements was not noted. There were no details as to why the second Co
contract was cancelled, althoug one would assume that there was a lack of “perfect parts” to re the inferior ones. Other contracts, for standar Springfield pattern Model 1861 rifle muskets, granted to J.T. Hodge and A.M. Burton of the Trenton Locomotive and Machine
Co. in Trento Manufacturing not cancelled assume that t either suppli or had a read The N.J. Ri initially cre order in 1863 Sergeant Bria
N.J. National up the Corps’ authorization Interestingly training is s
and Middleto f Conn., were so it is safe se contractor satisfactory supply of par e Corps was ed by guberna and I thank S Darling of th
uard for digg ormal legisla ct, passed in marksman ongly stresse
This gun is properly marked “US/TRENTON” with Eagle forward of hammer on lock and “1863” on tail of lock and on barrel flat. Stock is maker marked opposite lock “J.T. HODGE” who was Addison Burt’s partner at the Trenton Locomotive and Machine Co. There are two inspector’s cartouches crisply stamped opposite lock as can be seen in photos. New Jersey Rifle Corps men killed on active service 1. The Rifle Companies orga- will be entitled to pensions. nized under Governor Parker’s order of June 29, 1863, will form one corps, known as Joseph G. Bilby received his the New Jersey Rifle Corps, BA and MA degrees in history which may include up to forty from Seton Hall University and companies. served as a lieutenant in the 1s
and drill four times annual- He is Assistant Curator of the ly, including target practice New Jersey National Guard and at least five hours for each of Militia Museum, a freelance writ the four days; all companies er and historical consultant and are required to attend an an- author or editor of 20 books and nual four-day encampment. over 400 articles on NJ and mil-
captains. the award winning New Jersey 3. Rifle companies may be called Goes to War. into service for a maximum of He has received an award three months in case of “inva- for contributions to Monmouth sion, tumult, riot, resistance County (NJ) history and an Award of process, or the immediate of Merit from the NJ Historical danger of same in any city or Commission for contributions county” to the state’s military history. 4. Substitution is permitted. He can be contacted by email at
