This example of a breech loading, .50 caliber, percussion model Gallager carbine was carried in the war by Sgt. Sharon Case of Co “K”, 6^th Indiana Cavalry. Twenty-three year old Case enlisted as a musician in Co K, 71^st Indiana Volunteer Infantry on Aug 18, 1862. The unit was later mounted and changed to cavalry on Feb 23, 1863 and was known as the 6^th Indiana Cavalry.  This hard-fought horse regiment served with the 23^rd Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, and with Wilson’ Cavalry with service at Knoxville, Varnell’s Station, Resaca, Kennesaw, Dalton, Atlanta and Nashville.  Case was with the unit almost most of the time and promoted to Corporal on Aug 31, 1862. He was captured in action against CS General JH Morgan’s cavalry at Rolling Fork, five miles from Muldraugh’s Hill near Louisville, KY on Dec 28, 1862. Case was paroled and rejoined his unit. He later was promoted to Sergeant on June 12, 1864. When the regiment mustered out at Pulaski, TN on June 17, 1865, Sgt. Case was one of the 425 original members of the regiment who had survived and mustered out. He returned to Indiana, raised a family and gained a military pension for disability after the war. Case died on Nov 4, 1921. 

Issued to Federal cavalry during the Civil War, the Gallager carbine was developed by Mahlon J. Gallager, a South Carolina native when he resided in Savannah, Georgia in July 1860. Gallager received patent #29,157 for his breechloading carbine and subsequently the Philadelphia firm of Richardson and Overman obtained the rights to manufacture Gallager’s product via several contracts with the U.S. Ordnance Department. From its factory location at 12^th and Thompson Sts, the firm produced almost 18,000 of these carbines for the Federal government from 1861 to 1865.  These carbines saw extended service with Union horsesoldiers during the war but the weapon was not well liked by the troopers due to the difficulty in extracting the spent cartridge casings from the breech. The Gallager featured a breech loading mechanism which consisted of a lever / trigger guard combination that when pushed down, allowed the barrel to slide forward and tilt up and away from the barrel.  A brass cased 56-52 Spencer cartridge was inserted into the barrel breech.  Though Gallager boasted that his design would facilitate the easy removal of the spent casing from the breech, this extraction action was the major defect of his weapon.  

This original specimen bears serial # 17798 and features a 22½” long round barrel, no fore-end or comb has a total length of 38½” and weighs 7 lbs., 8 oz.   Fitted with a sling bar with saddle ring on the left side of the breech frame, the carbine also has a folding single leaf rear sight, iron blade front sight and a slightly curved butt plate. The round barrel wears a plum-colored patina and exhibits scattered light pinprick rusting overall.  The carbine is iron mounted with no case colors on the receiver-frame or bluing on the barrel. Barrel wears a mix of dark gray and patina with scattered light pinprick rusting.  All stampings on the obverse side of the iron lockplate are clear and sharp and read, “MANUFACTURED BY / RICHARD & OVERMAN / PHILADA / 17798” in four lines.  An additional stamping of “Gallager’s Patent / July 17^th 1860” rests at the left edge of the plate tang. 

The one-piece, black walnut shoulder stock exhibits its original iron patchbox that retains a spare nipple inside. Sgt. Case’s ID is hand-scratched into outer surface of the patchbox tang with “S. Case” and on the patchbox door with “K”.   Numerous sub-inspector marks visible on major components. Assembly numbers “762” stamped on inside of door, hammer and breech / triggerguard.  Wood has a number of dings, dents, and scratches and appears to never have been cleaned.  A single government cartouche is visible but scuffed.  It also shows nice saddle wear from the trooper’s carbine sling swivel shows on the left side of stock. Carbine exhibits crisp mechanics and frame screws are not buggered up. Here is a very good original condition, Indiana-identified Civil War Gallager carbine that was carried in battle in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Case’s military and pension records from the National Archives accompany the carbine.  This is a great military artifact with provenance that would enhance any Indiana display or Civil War collection.

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