One of the bullets might have hit the sling ring, breaking it and causing the carbine to become detached. Still, an Indian or some other soldier besides Martin probably fired this weapon during the fight on Custer Hill.īenteen pointed out that Martin’s horse was twice hit by gunfire on his ride to deliver Custer’s message. Indians often removed these rings because they rattled too much, but the carbine shows no other signs-brass tack decorations, rawhide or wire repairs-that Indians might have used it. The sling ring is missing from the Martin carbine. For further information about the firearms identification analysis, see Chapter 6 (written by Scott and Harmon) of Swanson’s 2004 book G.A.Custer: His Life and Times. Only 17 Little Bighorn weapons have been so certified. Similar to fingerprints, these markings can match the case to an individual weapon. Scott and Harmon certified that a cartridge case found within 10 feet of the monument on Custer Hill (aka Last Stand Hill) was a 90 percent match to Martin’s carbine, even though Martin was not at that location himself (having earlier delivered the message to Benteen and remained at the Reno-Benteen defensive position).ĭuring their service, firing pins wear to a unique shape, and guns leave distinctive extractor marks on the cartridge case head. In the wake of an August 1983 range fire that burned off some 700 acres of ground cover at the battlefield, a search with metal detectors turned up more than 2,000 cartridge cases and bullets. MARTIN on this carbine.Īs part of the Custer Battlefield Firearms Identification Project (which ran from 1984 until completed in 1996), archeologist Douglas Scott and firearms expert Dick Harmon documented more than 150 firearms with good provenance and potential ties to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Carter’s 1926 book The Old Sergeant’s Story-noted a missing man who had left his horse behind, adding, “We discovered his name scratched on his carbine: OSWALD, of I troop.” That inscription is like the J. But Army book rules were not always the rule on the frontier. Army regulations of 1861, which state in part, “All arms in the hands of the troops, whether browned or bright, will be kept in the state in which they are issued by the Ordnance Department.” This regulation seems to forbid engraving or otherwise defacing a weapon. A Corporal James Martin was also present at the Little Bighorn, but he was in G Company and was killed during Major Marcus Reno’s retreat from the valley fight. Indeed John Martin was with that company. MARTIN crudely carved into the left side of the fore end and a letter “H” (for H Company) carved into the stock. The main evidence linking the carbine to John Martin are the name J. 19573, may be the most historically significant weapon traced to the West’s most famous Indian wars engagement. More than a century after the June 25–26 battle, sculptor and frontier militaria collector Glen Swanson bought the carbine that had been issued to John Martin. Army units at the time, historical and archeological studies have demonstrated that the Indians-many with Henry and Winchester repeaters- had the cavalry outgunned at the Little Bighorn. Even though the 7 th was one of the better-armed U.S. The infantry rifle model had a 325⁄8-inch barrel the cavalry carbine a 22-inch barrel. The Model 1873 was a breech loader with a hinged breechblock that opened like a trapdoor. Most members of the 7th Cavalry who rode toward the Little Bighorn in MontanaTerritoryinJune1876carriedModel 1873Springfield“Trapdoor”carbinesand 100roundsof.45-70ammunitionintheir belts and saddlebags. Martin, who remained with Captain Frederick Benteen, did survive. Custer, who wanted the packs of ammunition for his imminent attack on the Indian village, did not survive what followed on the battlefield. Cavalry bugler at the Battle of the Little Bighorn who delivered Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s famous last message(scrawled down by regimental adjutant 1st Lieutenant William Cooke): BENTEEN, COME ON. Italian immigrant Giovanni Crisostomo Martino (or Martini) is best known as John Martin, the 7thU.S. He carried more than a message at the Little Bighorn.
This Springfield Trapdoor Carbine Belonged to Trumpeter John Martin | Historynet Close
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