Soldiers’ Weapons
As you read through the description of Moscow Carter's Revolver and answer the questions, think about U.S. and Confederate soldiers and what their lives were like on a daily basis. They went through periods of doing nothing while they were in camp waiting for orders. Then they had to march for long distances and experience the terrors of battle. Letters and news from home became lifelines for soldiers. However, sometimes they could go for long stretches of time without hearing from their families. Personal possessions, maybe a picture, journal, book, or whatever was meaningful, helped soldiers have a piece of home and helped him keep his identity.
Always feel free to send us your questions and your answers!
Description: We have many old guns in our collection, so why is this small handgun so important to us?
This very gun belonged to Moscow Branch Carter. Moscow lived at the Carter House. In 1861 Moscow became a Confederate soldier in the 20th Tennessee. He was captured as a prisoner of war in January 1862 and he had this gun with him…would you believe that he got to keep his gun?!? Moscow was released from prison camp and came home with the same gun he had when he first became a soldier.
-There are many things very special about this gun, but one thing that makes it distinctly Moscow’s is the alteration of the leather holster. Moscow was actually 6 foot 2 inches tall. Because he was a tall man, he needed the holster to sit differently on his belt. You can see where he re-positioned the belt loop on the back of the holster and sewed it into a better position.
Questions:
Moscow was captured as a prisoner of war and then later released. Can you think of any reason why, in the beginning of the Civil War, the U.S. Army and the Confederate Army were trading prisoners? (Trading, or exchanging, prisoners was when both armies would release their captive prisoners at the same time for their soldiers held by the other side.)
Possessions can tell a lot about someone. Moscow personalized his holster to fit his over six foot height. Can you think of something you have that you've personalized to fit a need? What would that tell someone in the future?
On the grip of the gun is written, "Carried by Lieut. Col. M.B. Carter during the War." Soldiers carried all sorts of things with them into the war. What do you think were the most common items soldiers carried during the war?
The Carter family kept many things from the Battle of Franklin and the Civil War. Why do you think they kept the revolver?
Answers:
Keeping prisoners of war in prison camps could be expensive. Both armies wanted to save money by releasing prisoners. And, as much hatred and animosity that existed between the two sides during the war, both sides were still Americans. However, in 1864 the U.S. Army stopped trading prisoners mainly because the Confederate Army refused to trade for United States Colored Troops.
Lots of answers!
All soldiers carried their weapons and cartridge boxes. Many also carried canteens, tin cups for boiling water, and other necessities. Some items, such as cards for playing games, hairbrushes, soap, sewing kits, instruments, pictures of family, and maybe even a fishing pole.
Why do we keep things today? Moscow probably kept the gun to remember his time in the war. His family may have kept the gun throughout the years to remember their family's history.
Vocab Words:
Prisoner of War: a person who is captured and imprisoned by the enemy in war
Cartridge Box: A box worn on the belt of soldier that held the cartridges of bullets and gunpowder.
United States Colored Troops (USCT): African American Soldiers in the U.S. Army