America Remembers honors heroes of history with the Civil
War Cavalry Leaders Tribute, a recreation of the legendary
Henry Rifle. This Civil War firearm features portraits of the greatest Union
and Confederate cavalry leaders.
Courageous, ingenious, and daring... the officers and men
of the Civil War cavalries rode full gallop into glory. Racing across the
battlefield on horseback and slipping behind enemy lines, returning with
information, stolen supplies, and prisoners, they revolutionized battle
tactics. As word of their exploits spread, even battle-hardened infantrymen
looked up to the Cavalry as heroes. To this day, names like Stuart, Forrest,
Mosby, Sheridan, Buford, and Custer still inspire awe. When they met on the
battlefield, it was a clash of titans that shook a nation.
Civil War cavalry leaders revolutionized the role of the
cavalry- they realized the tactical value of fighting with firearms, both
from the saddle and on foot, and developed strategies that fully exploited
the mobility and speed of their horses.
Both sides of the conflict had its champions. When brought
head-to-head with their former comrades, they fought fierce contests of
strategy reinventing the science of battle.
The Legendary Henry Rifle
To honor these remarkable warriors, we've fashioned the
Civil War Cavalry Tribute in the form of the classic Henry Rifle, considered
by many to be the most effective rifle in the War. The Henry Rifle
represented one of the most important innovations in the history of
firearms. It used self-contained, .44 caliber rimfire cartridges, fifteen of
which could fit in the magazine with another in the chamber. As a result,
the Henry far outclassed the ball-and-powder rifles in general use at the
time, and was the forerunner of the classic Winchester rifle. The Henry was
a favorite for cavalry units who were fortunate enough to obtain them during
the War.
The Civil War Cavalry Leaders Tribute Rifle recreates the classic
Henry Rifle in great detail. It's been crafted by the world-renowned master
craftsmen of A. Uberti, whose recreations of history's greatest firearms for
the past four decades have been acclaimed by collectors internationally. The
Tribute is a fully functional, working Henry Rifle in .44-40 caliber. This
Civil War firearm has beautiful artwork captured in 24-karat gold and nickel, blued 24
1/4 inch half-octagonal barrel, and the hand-polished walnut stocks.
Craftsmen have been commissioned specifically for this project by America
Remembers.
Cavaliers In Gray
The decorations on this Civil War firearm's receiver honor the
great cavalry leaders on both sides of the war, starting on the left with a
portrait of Confederate
General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Though he had never
received military training, Forrest was intuitive and
won his battles through ingenuity and imagination. His common-sense approach
to strategy was summed up in the phrase, "I always make it a rule to get
there first with the most men."
Also featured on this classic Civil War firearm is
General James Ewell Brown Stuart,
known affectionately throughout the South as "J.E.B.". In 1862, with Union
forces camped just north of Richmond, Stuart was sent on a reconnaissance
mission to determine the enemy's weak points. He led his 1,200 men on a three
day ride over 100 miles, making a complete circle around the Federal troops
and keeping one step ahead of pursuing forces. History would remember this
first great cavalry raid as "The Ride Around McClellan." A hero of the
Southern cause, Stuart's fame grew with each exploit, including a hard-won
victory in the all-cavalry Battle of Brandy Station and a second complete
circle around Union troops at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
A portrait of
Colonel John Mosby,
the legendary master of guerrilla warfare, is featured too on this Civil War
firearm. Only nine men
were in his first command, but in a series of nighttime raids, they
managed to take 22 prisoners in their first month of operations. Enraged,
Union officials launched a massive manhunt for the Rebels, but Mosby
responded with a night raid on Union headquarters, managing to capture
a Brigadier General, two captains, and 30 soldiers in the process.