This original, very interesting, veteran longarm was converted from flintlock to percussion by Samuel Colt’s Firearms Co. of Hartford, CT sometime before the Civil War. After the Mexican War, Colt engaged in the altering of thousands of older, three-band, smoothbore, American-made, flintlock muskets for sale under contract to a number of foreign countries including Russia and Italy.

This longarm made its way South prior to the Civil War and was issued to and carried by Private William Exall of Company F, 21^st Virginia Infantry Regiment. Private Exall was a twenty-two year old from the Richmond, VA area when he enlisted in that city on April, 21, 1861 and mustered into Company F, 21^st Virginia Infantry. Exall served with his unit until the regiment’s third engagement at Bath, Morgan County, West Virginia on Jan 3, 1862. He was wounded in the leg by a gunshot in a skirmish and died the next day of hemorrhaging from an amputation. William Exall may have been the regiment’s first KIA from the unit’s war casualty lists. This hard combat unit went on through all the rest of the war until Appomattox.  Exall was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, leaving his mother, brother and sister as his survivors.

This original, Confederate, ‘attic find’, smoothbore musket is a true “Johnny gun.” How it found its way South is the question. It is known that Colt did not sell any of these altered arms to Northern contractors before the war but many Southern agents plied the New York area in 1861 in search of arms to ship home. This specimen might very well be one of those that went south.

Accompanying the musket is one, hand-written, paper note in ink that reads “This musket and note were purchased at auction (private home) Sept. 1983, Gordonsville, Virginia. Stock cleaned by National Park Service. Contents of note: Sept 12, 1936. My Dear Doctor: Mrs. Foley of the Richmond Civil War Records Office states that there were two Exalls in the 21ast Virginia Regt, one Charles and a William. The latter enlisted April 21, 1862 in Richmond and was killed at Bath, Jan3rd, 1863.  / concluded after reading her testimonial that the inscription on your musket indicates that your musket, after examining it with the utmost scrutiny, have determined that weapon was indeed used by William Exall, late of the Stonewall Brigade.

Musket measures a total of 57” long and is fitted with a 42” long round barrel. Typical of Colt alterations, the lockplate has a drum bolster with clean out screw and the narrow rounded hammer. Musket is in overall very good condition. Barrel is secured to the full walnut stock via three iron barrel bands and only two barrel springs, the upper spring being missing. Upper double band has the high blade front sight and also the bayo lug front sight on the muzzle. No rear sight on barrel, never had one. Iron lockplate is dark mottled gray with scattered rust pitting. Plate is unmarked save for traces of a date “1854” likely re-stamped on lock behind hammer by Colt during the alteration. Barrel shows proofmarks of “V / P / eagle head” on left breech area.  Mechanics strong and crisp. Has the large iron triggerguard but the sling swivel is broken off and missing at the bow. Second sling swivel is attached to the middle band. Triggerguard tang stamped with “I” over “D.” Bore is smooth and dark. Wood stock is in very good condition and appears to have been lightly sanded at one time.

Musket is identified on the right shoulder with period hand carved letters that read “W. EXALL.” Left shoulder stock also carved with the identification markings of “21^st Va / Co. F.” Stock shows one 3” long surface crack at bottom of left side but no other repairs or blemishes. Does show normal dings and dents from age and use. Stock flat also lightly inscribed with a five-point star scratched into wood. Buttplate heavily rust pocked. Iron sideplate is heavily pitted. Lock screws are not buggered. Retains the buttonhead ramrod that has been shortened to 31¾” long.

Longarm comes with copies of the soldier’s Confederate military records (no pension docs), original letters of provenance and researcher’s documents, along with a packet of papers and records from the National Archives in Washington DC and the American Civil War Research Database.

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