Were U.S. Army troops allowed to carry their own weapons?
Tim Bumb
Mandan, North Dakota
“American soldiers have had a long tradition of possessing personal weapons, in addition to their issue arms, and those serving during the Indian campaigns were no different. Acquiring commercial guns, especially pistols, and knives seems to have been a fairly common practice,” reported Douglas C. McChristian, in his book, Regular Army O!: Soldiering on the Western Frontier, 1865-1891.
“There was no

True West October 2018
In This Issue:
Features
Western Books & Movies
More In This Issue
- Lieutenant Charles Gatewood and the Johnson County War
- A Man Alone?
- The Lawman on the Lam
- Brother Vs. Brother
- An Act of Dignity and Strength
- Comstock Inferno
- Virginia City, Montana
- Boot Camp or Basic Training
- Peaches or Tso-ay
- Don’t Mess with the Rangers
- One More Killing
- An Apache Named Fun
- History and the Myth
- The Price of Leadership
- Bits and Pieces to Chew On
- Any Bullet Will Do
Departments
- What History Has Taught Me: Red Steagall
- From Slavery to Cattle King
- What did American Indians Smoke in their Peace Pipes?
- Was “Doc” a Prolific Killer?
- Horrors of Stage Station Grub
- Western Events for October 2018
- Ike Bites the Dust
- Were U.S. Army Troops Allowed to Carry their own Weapons?
- A Real Western Colt in the Reel West
- How were Cattle Cared for when they were Shipped to Slaughterhouses?
- Lone Ranger’s Iconic Saddle
- Why Were Only the Front Hooves of Mules Shod?
- Return to Fort Apache
- The Father of Montana
- What was the Name of Frank Stilwell’s Saloon in Charleston?