Carbine slings were an essential piece of cavalry gear. Slung over the left shoulder, the sling carried a snap-hook on a roller bar connected to a ring on the carbine, preventing its loss while in action or when riding rapidly. The soldier still largely bore the weight of the carbine, but it would be prevented from flailing about by thrusting its forestock through a small leather socket attached to the saddle rigging by the rider’s right leg.

This is the early style carbine sling, in black buff leather, now oxidized to brown, with the brass buckle secured by a straight line of stitching only. (This was later altered to a three line “box stitch” and finally to that stitching reinforced with rivets.) This is complete with brass “bat-wing” belt tip riveted to one end, the two-pronged buckle firmly in place, and snap-hook joined by links to a roller bar running along the inside of the sling. As is correct for this early pattern, neither swivel nor buckle is marked and the sling has no visible marking either, since they were likely simple ink markings if marked at all. It is also worth stating the sling is full length and all original. (Some surplus slings, with the metal parts removed for salvage have been restored over the years with a mix of original and reproduction parts.)

Written lengthwise inside the sling in period script is “John S Mays.” This is likely John S. Mays of the 11^th Indiana Cavalry, though we do find three men named “John Mays” listed in mounted units with no middle initial listed (1^st Michigan, 3^rd WV, and 3^rd TN Mounted Infantry.) John S. Mays of the 11^th Indiana was from Salamonie, Indiana, and was mustered in as private in Co. B of the 11^th on 2 February 1864. He was discharged 19 September 1865 at Fort Leavenworth, KS.  The regiment spent May and June 1864 as part of the Military Division of the Mississippi and then served in the Department and Army of Ohio and Cumberland, before returning to the Division of the Mississippi for the rest of its service from November 1864. They lost 2 officers and 11 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi, and was actively engaged in the Nashville Campaign, pursuing Hood to Gravelly Springs, Alabama. In May 1865 it was sent to Missouri and then to Kansas, where it was stationed in detachments along the Santa Fe Trail. On Sept. 1 it was ordered to Fort Leavenworth and mustered out Sept. 19. Given Mays’s dates of service, the sling likely saw prior service before being issued out again to him, but there are no other identifying marks.

The sling is solid and flexible. There are some minor stains and dirt from use. The brass has a nice mellow tone. The hook, link and roller bar show mix of gray with some crusty brown. It displays very well and would add immeasurably to a cavalry collection, particularly with the early construction, making it liable for use throughout the war and even in the prewar army.  [sr]

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