Page 86 - Auction84-Book2

Historic Engraved and Documented Henry Lever Action Rifle Carried by David Padgett, Co. K of the 66th Illinois Western Sharp Shooters
THE SQUIRREL TAILS ENGRAVED ON THIS HISTORIC RIFLE ARE SIGNIFICANT, AS THEY REPRESENT WESTERN SHARPSHOOTER PADGETT'S ORIGINAL MEMBERSHIP IN THE 3RD OHIO SHARPSHOOTERS (THE SQUIRREL TAIL REGIMENT)
AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE HISTORIC HENRY RIFLE BY SWORD
and
SIMILAR RIFLE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE WINCHESTER BOOK BY MADIS
LOT 1189
Historic Engraved, Inscribed, Documented 66th Illinois Infantry New Havens Arms Co. Henry Rifle - Serial no. 2287, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 inches bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in April 1863 and owned by David Padgett, Company K, 66th Illinois Infantry (Western Sharpshooters). This rifle was one of an estimated 250 Henry rifles privately purchased by members of the 66th Illinois Infantry. Most of these rifles are believed to have been purchased in early 1864 using the $100 re-enlistment bonus paid to veterans in November 1864. This rifle is engraved with the owners name “DAVID PADGETT” on the left sideplate above a ribbon bearing the unit markings “Co. K 66th ILL. W.S.S.” enclosed in a rectangle with scroll and feather border. The left front of the receiver is decorated with a United States flag. The right sideplate is engraved with a stylized spread eagle with an olive branch and arrows with rectangular double-line borders and simple scroll work. The right front of the receiver is engraved with several ‘squirrel tails’ commemorate Padgett’s original membership in the 3rd Ohio Sharpshooters (“Squirrel Tail Regiment”) which had two companies incorporated in the original Western Sharpshooters. The Western Sharpshooters was a specially raised unit of marksmen recruited by Colonel John Birge from Illinois, Missouri and Ohio organized in St. Louis in November 1861. The Western Sharpshooters was re-designated the 66th Illinois Infantry in November 1862. The regiment was initially armed with Plains Rifles manufactured by H.E. Dimick of St. Louis. The Dimick rifles were ineffective infantry weapons and were replaced by many members of the regiment with Henry rifles. The 66th Illinois used Henry rifles to great effect during the Atlanta Campaign where it was under fire for 120 days, participated in fifteen actions and lost 225 officers and men killed and wounded. This rifle is listed by serial number on page 67 of “THE HISTORIC HENRY RIFLE” by Wiley Sword. 66th Illinois Henry rifles with similar engraving are illustrated in “THE HENRY RIFLE” by Les Quick (serial no. 1672/Co. D), “THE WINCHESTER BOOK” by George Madis (serial no. 2523/Co. D) and “WINCHESTER ENGRAVING” by R.L. Wilson (serial no. 2582/ Co. A). Included with the rifle are copies of David Padgett’s pension requests dated 1898 and 1913. The rifle has the distinctive Henry brass receiver and buttplate with octagon barrel and integral 15-shot magazine. The barrel has a square-back, nickel-silver, front sight blade, dove-tail mounted, folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard marking at the top of the sight blade elevation bar with rounded ends and large diameter brass magazine follower.
84