How the Shotgun Became a Favorite Among Civil War Soldiers
BY Herschel Smith
2 years, 2 months ago
In the 1840s and 1850s, companies in Liege, Belgium, produced thousands of double-barreled percussion shotguns. These imported 12-gauge models were popular among American hunters. At the onset of the Civil War, there is no evidence that state or national entities purchased these weapons in any significant number, but many merchants would for private sale.
While most of these imports did not have many markings on them, some did bear the popular Liege stamp, and a few had information linking them to American dealers inscribed on their barrels. Markings were typically located on the gun’s lock. Some, however, displayed markings on the barrel rib, the piece connecting the two barrels.
When they enlisted, many mounted Southerners brought their personal shotguns with them. The 52-inch length allowed a cavalryman to reload easily while riding, and the two barrels delivered heavy damage at close range. They could also be reloaded quicker than the 20 seconds it usually would take to load a rifled musket.
Southern blockade runners continued importing inexpensive Belgian shotguns throughout the war, as verified by the presence of several cases among many U.S. naval vessels’ prizes-of-war lists. Some of these captured shipments show markings of the Confederate gun companies to which they were being shipped, put there by an agent who had inspected the weapons for his company before it was shipped from a European port.
At the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, Mo., in August 1861, and during the 1862 New Mexico Campaign, close combat favored Confederates armed with shotguns against Union troops carrying rifled weapons.
Shotguns have always been, and will continue to be, used in warfare. It’s a great CQB weapon and for that reason also a great home defense weapon.
My understanding is that it takes a shell of 2.5″ in length, or more precisely, 2 + 9/16″. You cannot shoot modern 2.5″ shells in it. It’s also my understanding that these go for around $200 – $300, although when someone tells you that “This gun was used in the civil war,” that’s almost impossible to prove unless it has papers and was associated with some well-known officer.
But if you could find such a gun with papers and proof or ownership and history, it would be a nice find as a C&R.
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On October 21, 2022 at 7:13 am, George said:
There are no modern 2.5″ shotgun shells in America. We use 2 3/4, 3 and 3 1/2 in cartridges.
On October 21, 2022 at 3:44 pm, bobmark said:
Typically muzzle loading percussion shotguns, maybe a few pinfire shotguns but I’d expect those to be expensive for the time.
On October 21, 2022 at 5:05 pm, Don Curton said:
I had a black powder muzzle loading shotgun at one time, didn’t seem that powerful and took a long time to load. Longer than my muzzle loading rifle. You had to pour the powder in, then a wad, then pour in loose shot, then another wad, then a coupon (cardboard circle same diameter as the gauge to hold the wad in place). Then put the percussion caps on, of course. I didn’t know much about muzzle loaders back then, despite owning several, and there was no youtube to watch for tutorials. But still, velocities seem very low and there was no way anyone loaded it from horseback (calvary? Give me a break). So I’m gonna call BS here. Yes, I’m sure shotguns were used. But same as the rifles, fire both barrels at close range and then use it as a club. The double barrel gave you 2 shots versus one rifle shot. But if you wanted more, a cap-n-ball pistol was your go-to. And to add, if you didn’t pack it just right, any slightly spirited walking with the muzzle down resulted in your shot rolling out the end of the barrel. I can’t imagine trying that from horseback.
Maybe I’m missing something, but I was heavily disappointed with my black powder shotgun experience.
On October 21, 2022 at 5:10 pm, Don Curton said:
To add, I could at one time load a great plains 50 cal. rifle at a rate of one shot per minute and hit minute of white tail out to 75 yards on a pretty regular basis. I could put lead on 5″ steel plates at 25 ft with my cap-n-ball colts pretty easily too, although I really preferred the remingtons (model 1858). The shotgun however was a complete waste.