This example of a U.S. Model 1841 Rifle was manufactured by the Whitney Arms Co. of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1851. The rifle has a browned barrel, brass blade and fitted open rear sights, casehardened lock and hammer and brass furniture with the distinctive large brass patch box and the correct iron ramrod with a brass tip. The lock plate is marked: "N. HAVEN/1851" behind the hammer and "E.WHITNEY/US" in front of the hammer. The left side, breech end of the barrel is marked "US/GW/VP", the left flat is marked "STEEL", the barrel tang has "1850", and the buttplate tang is marked "U.S." The varnished walnut stock has two oval inspection cartouches on the left flat. The Model 1841 was continually modified and saw extensive service with both Federal and Confederate forces during the first years of the Civil War. The patch box is crudely scratched with a heart and "Elmer W Lee". Information provided by the consignor and included with the rifle discusses two E.W. Lees that served in the Civil War. One was a lieutenant in the 4th Alabama Reserves who was taken prisoner of war and paroled in May 1865, and the second a private in the 2nd Louisiana who was killed in action on August 29, 1862. Also included are muster records for both.