STARR CARBINE ID’D TO A ‘GALVANIZED-YANKEE’ IN COMPANY K, 3rd REGIMENT, ARKANSAS VOLUNTEER CAVALRY (US)

$3,950.00 SOLD

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Item Code: 154-526

Presented is an original Civil War Starr percussion carbine identified and used by Federal trooper Private Alfred M. Hensley of the 3rd Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry regiment (US). Alfred Hensley, considered a ‘galvanized-Yankee,’ was a soldier who had earlier served in the Confederate Army, was captured by the Federals, and later joined the Union Army for service. According to ‘The Horse Soldier’ during its more than forty years of business in the antique military field, this carbine specimen is the first and only firearm ever handled by the shop where a firearm’s previous owner is documented as serving both the Northern and Southern causes during the Civil War.

Arkansas joined the Confederacy in 1861 and most of the state’s population willingly joined the rebel service or were forced into service. On July 17, 1861, Alfred M. Hensley, a twenty-two year-old farmer from Yellowville in Searcy County, Arkansas, joined Company D (Capt. G. W. Campbell), 14th Regiment, (Col. Wm. C. Mitchell) Arkansas Infantry, Army of the West (CSA) for a term of one year. He served with the regiment at Port Hudson until 25 Aug 1862 when he deserted and was absent for almost a year. Alfred was recaptured on July 9, 1863, and according to Hensley, “was carried back (to Port Hudson), court-marshaled, and sentenced to be shot. But Port Hudson, with Hensley’s command, was captured by Union General N. Banks in July 1863. Hensley wrote that he was pardoned and released by Banks.

It appears that Hensley returned to Searcy County and resided there until he joined in the U.S. service at Wiley’s Cove near Little Rock, Ark. on Feb 1, 1864. He enlisted in Company K, 3rd Regiment, Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry (US) for a term of three years. Hensley was present for duty with the 3rd Ark cavalry all thru 1864 and suffered a broken wrist on 30 Sept 1864 while carrying Federal military dispatches from Little Rock to Lewisburg. He was attacked by the enemy, and in the skirmish, his horse fell down breaking his wrist. Hensley mustered out of Federal service at Lewisburg, Arkansas on May 22, 1865 and returned to the state. He applied for and was finally granted a Federal army pension after many rejections. Hensley died at the National Home for D.V.S. in Leavenworth, Kansas on Nov 16, 1926.

The Starr carbine is identified to Alfred M. Hensley via regimental company ordnance records by serial number #11157. The cavalry arm is a fine example of the Starr carbine, a breech loading, .54 caliber, percussion model weapon produced by the Starr Arms Company of Yonkers, New York. The Starr resembled the more famous ‘Sharps’ breechloader carbine of the time but many Union cavalrymen did not think highly of the Starr as they did the Sharps. Manufactured between 1862 and 1865, the Starr percussion carbines were all .54 caliber breechloaders fitted with 21” long round barrels. Carbine employed a split breech, dropping block mechanism that allowed the trooper to insert a linen cased cartridge into the barrel breech chamber for loading. Upward motion of the operating lever / trigger closed the breech, and ignition was activated with the striking of the percussion cap by the external hammer. The weapon measured 37½” long and weighed 7 lbs., 6 oz. Iron lockplate and frame were casehardened and the barrel blued. All brass furniture bears a mellow bronze patina.

This original specimen carbine with serial # 11157 features a two-piece black walnut stock with an 8½” long forend secured by a single, brass barrel band and a 14½” long walnut buttstock with a sub-inspector marked brass buttplate. Left side shoulder stock exhibits nice saddle wear from the sling. No case colors remain and the barrel wears a pleasing untouched mottled plum patina with scattered pinprick rusting. Clear maker stampings on the obverse side of the iron lockplate read, “STARR ARMS CO. / YONKERS, N.Y. in two lines. Barrel surface is lightly marked “STARR ARMS CO. YONKERS, N.Y.” in front of the rear sight. Sub-inspector marks of “_ _ B” appear stamped on the left side barrel breech adjacent to the fore-end. Lock tang is stamped with “Starr’s Patent / Sept. 14th 1858”. A single, iron staple-type sling ring is mounted on the left side of the breech area. Mechanics are crisp and the bore is dusty with light pitting. Wood has acquired a normal share of dings and surface nicks and appears to have been cleaned at one time. Stock exhibits no repairs or cracks. No cartouches are visible. Carbine frame screws are buggered up.

A fine, identified, percussion carbine carried by a soldier who served both the Confederacy infantry and the Union cavalry during the Civil War, and survived. Carbine comes with the soldier’s Federal and Confederate military records from the National Archives in Washington, DC. A carbine specimen that would enhance any Civil War arms display or military collection.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

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