This weapon is the 2^nd type Merrill with no patchbox and year of production behind the hammer. The overall condition of the weapon is very good. The walnut stock is complete and shows signs of use but no major dents or cracks. It is the kind of stock one likes to see on an issued weapon. Some character but no damage. Inspector’s cartouche opposite the lock is still very visible and initials at center can be clearly seen. Buttplate, trigger guard and single barrel band are made of brass and are semi-bright. Buttplate is stamped “US” behind tang screw. Trigger guard and barrel band are lightly stamped “41.” Left side of stock, opposite the lock, has sling ring and bar. Lockplate and hammer show some light signs of casehardening. It is stronger on top of the hammer. The lockplate itself appears to have been lightly cleaned. It is marked forward of the hammer “J. H. Merrill Balto., Pat. July 1858, APL. 9, May 21-22-61” in three lines. Behind hammer is date of “1863.”

Action is crisp and works perfectly. Original nipple is present. There is a build up of residue at the base of the nipple. The breech lever has been cleaned but the mechanism works well and is marked “J. H. Merrill Balto., Pat. July 1858” in two lines. Toward the back of the breech lever is the serial number “13289.” Just forward of the breech lever is the 3-leaf, flip up rear sight. To the left of the sight on the barrel is the “VP” and eagle head inspector’s stamp. This stamping is a little thin along the edge. Barrel is semi-bright with very light scattered mottling over its surface. Bore is very clean and bright. Rifling is good. Lastly, all screw heads look to have original finish and only the small rear sight screw shows any wear. 

This weapon is identified by serial number to James G. Williams of the14^th Kansas Cavalry. James G. Williams was born in London, England. It is not known when he came to the United States or where he was living when he enlisted. We do know that he was 19 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and working as a miner when he enlisted in Company A, 14^th Kansas Cavalry at Leavenworth on July 31, 1863 for three years. The regiment was not officially organized and mustered in until Nov. 20, 1863. Prior to that date some of the Companies already organized were available for duty.

On Oct. 3, 1863 General James G. Blunt, Commander of the District of the Frontier, left from Fort Scott, Kansas on his way to Fort Smith, Arkansas with a mounted escort and 8 wagons carrying members of a band and the district headquarters property. The mounted escort included about 100 men from the 3^rd Wisconsin and 14^th Kansas Cavalry. On Oct. 6, 1863, near Baxter Springs, the group was attacked by Quantrill’s Guerrillas. 

Seeing riders approaching in Federal uniforms Gen. Blunt assumed them to be Union cavalry but, to be safe, he sent wagons and non-combatants to the rear and formed 65 of his men in a line of battle. Blunt and his staff then rode forward to see just who the riders were. The Guerrillas began to fire and some of Blunt’s men fled. At that point the Confederates charged. The Kansas troopers broke while the Wisconsin men made a stand. A second line of Quatrill’s men charged in support of the first and the rout was on. Blunt and some of his men managed to escape but 80 Union troopers were killed and 18 wounded. The musicians of the band were all killed and mutilated. Some men were burned with the wagons. Survivors reported men who had surrendered being killed with their own weapons. Among the wounded survivors of this day was young James G. Williams. He was shot in the left leg but was still able to make his escape. He was sent to the hospital at Fort Scott to recover from his wound. 

While in the hospital at Fort Scott Private Williams was listed as a deserter on Jan. 25^th, 1864. As it turns out Private Williams left the hospital on crutches and reported back to Headquarters in Fort Leavenworth. The Inspector General there wrote a letter on his behalf and cleared him of the desertion charge. He returned to duty in March and served with his regiment until August 6, 1864 when he was assigned to escort duty. He returned to his regiment in November or December of 1864 and remained with them through to the end of the war. 

The weapon offered here for sale was issued to Private Williams on Nov. 2, 1864. With the item comes Private Williams military records and a copy of the regimental order book page showing this weapon being issued to him on the above date.

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