The 6^th Pennsylvania cavalry, “Rush’s Lancers,” was one of the few units on either side given lances and among the very few to take them into the field. This is an excellent example of the specific lance head issued to this colorful unit: a deeply fluted triangular iron blade measuring approx. 8.5" mounted on a brass ferrule with a swollen ring at the top to prevent the point from penetrating too far into its unfortunate target and a knurled rim around the base. The ferrule is pierced for a screw to attach it to the wood shaft of the lance and is stamped twice “U.S.” in small letters, one set of which shows a mark underneath that is likely the remnants of a “P” seen on these in conjunction with the “U.S.” These lance heads were discussed by R.L. Miller in Vol. 7 of the Military Collector and Historian and again by Howard Madaus in Vol. 17.2 (Summer 1965.)

The iron spearpoint shows as brown, with deep pitting, but only minor edge losses and would stabilize and display well with a coat of wax. The ferrule has various scratches and small dings to the body and collar, and shows as a pleasant oxidized green with some brown tones. On the whole it looks like an untouched barn or basement find, showing issue and some use, but then put away and forgotten. This was mounted on a wood shaft with two iron straps added for a distance to prevent it being cut, along with iron eyes for attachment of a red pennant, a leather shoulder strap, and brass butt cap. Winslow Homer’s famous sketch of the unit scouting in advance of Franklin’s attack on South Mountain in 1862 shows the troopers with their lances, as does a well-known published outdoor image.

The regiment saw active service in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah from October 1861 to July 1865, first seeing action during in the Peninsula Campaign and losing 7 officers and 71 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded during its service. The unit retained the lance until May 1863 when the weapon was turned in and carbines uniformly issued. The took part in many picketing, scouting and reconnaissance tasks under fire and was also in more pitched battles such as Gaines Mill, Beverly Ford, Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Todd’s Tavern, Trevilian Station, Opequan, Sheridan’s Lynchburg Raid, and Five Forks as well. CivilWarData lists some 60 points at which they were engaged with loss of some sort and lost 7 officers and 71 enlisted men just in killed or mortally wounded during the war.

Recovered in Orange, VA.

This is a rare Civil War weapon with a known history of issue to and use by a specific cavalry regiment, well documented in period drawings and photographs.  [sr][ph:m]

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