1863 "Zouave" Pattern Civil War Rifle
 

This Rifle was carried and used in the civil war by one of my ancestors. Its in remarkably good shape. Its .58 caliber. The brass bands that hold the barrel to the stock have a U stamped on the left hand side of them. On the right side uto the rear of the trigger lock is the date 1863 and infront of it is the the union eagle. On the top of the barrel leading down to the left hand side, stamped into the metal are the letters us
v
p

and finally stamped into the wood on the lefthand side, opposite of the trigger lock are the gunmakers cartouches. One is a circle with the letters HDJ and the other is either BJC or BYC in a circle.

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Super nice and photo's from the war?

Unfortunately no. Its quite a depressing story. But to make a long story a short one they were lost in a fire in the 1950's. Along with his letters and journals. Enough to make you want to hang yourself really. First person accounts of Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg. Very depressing indeed. My Pap Knew all the stories because he read them in the journals and he told them to my dad when he was young kid but my dad forgot them over the years and then the fire happened....Makes you sad.