What is a Mississippi Rifle?

The Mississippi Rifle was the common name given to the Model 1841 Rifle. This rifle was one of the earliest military arms made that had a cap percussion and a .54 caliber rifled barrel. The rifle was shorter than most of the usualy military rifles. The barrel was held on by two bands(including the nose cap) which were brass and it had a brass patchbox.

This gun derives it's nickname of the Mississippi rifle from the Mississippi Riflemen led by Jefferson Davis. The Mexican-American War began in 1846. Davis resigned his House seat in June, and rejoined the Army. On 18 July 1846 he was elected colonel of the first regiment of Mississippi riflemen. In September of the same year, he participated in the successful siege of Monterrey, Mexico. Jefferson Davis later became the President of the Confederate States of America.

The Mississippi Rifle was used in the Civil War but many were re-bored to a larger caliber.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=647

Custermen

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