These well-equipped soldiers, who most likely fought in the Union cavalry, wield Spencer carbines. Notice the short length of the carbines’ barrels. Carbines were mainly used by cavalry, because they needed a shorter gun that loaded at the breech rather than the end of the barrel. Mounted cavalrymen could not load muzzleloading rifles, because the length of their barrel.

 

Due to their easy, quick loading ability, the carbines were not adopted for army infantry. Military leaders, such as Chief of Ordnance Brig. Gen. James Ripley (1861-1863), believed that soldiers would waste bullets. Men of agency or political influence had to support carbines before they were considered a legitimate weapon by Ripley and other leaders. As soldiers witnessed the carbines’ reliability and effectiveness, some high-ranking military leaders began to change their opinions.