Civil War McClellan Stirrup Loops
Finding novelty and fascination in the mundane – that is basically what this particular post is all about. The findings of a Board of Officers that met in 1874 stated it wonderfully — “The proper shape of the stirrup-loops. No uniformity existed in many examined…” 1
Early in the lifecycle of the Civil War era McClellan saddles, the stirrup loops were rather heavy, fashioned with wrought iron wire. The openings were somewhat oval in appearance. This particular one is from an early (very) regulation Pattern of 1859 tree.
During the civil war, either from an attempt to be more efficient with material, save weight, or just cut a few cents-per-hundred in cost, the loops were fashioned from slightly small gauge wire. The openings for the stirrup straps were large, and the overall shape became more or less rectangular. This is the most commonly seen shape from most saddles made from mid-war (1863) onward.
Judging from most commonly available reference historical and collectors sources, this final shape should be about all you’d expect to see in civil war era produced McClellan saddles. Indeed, the source quoted above also mentioned that they recommended this shape, as it caused the stirrup strap to hang in the best manner. 2 ‘Model of 1864’ specification saddletrees used from the end of the civil war through the decades that followed are usually shown with these rectangular loops.
Or so it would seem…. then an exception was found.
A Model of 1864 saddle tree, clearly showing all the hallmarks of an Allegheny Arsenal produced item. The brass makers tag attached, if original to the tree, was dated 1864.
Now, if all the usual resources are to be believed, this had to have been a later addition, post-1885. Except, the screws match all the others on the tree, and are distinctive to Allegheny produced trees.
Were there others to be found? Challenge accepted…
Searching through old collections of images, this 1865 Allegheny saddle (marked with leather stamps and brass tree tag) is found. Hard to see clearly, but those appear to be angled stirrup loops.
Perhaps we can find a better example…
Well, that one is pretty clear – also tagged as a 1865 Allegheny Arsenal saddle. Seems like we’re on a roll now…
The image isn’t super clear, and the perspective is a bit off, as it was scanned from a curved book page. This image was shown in Capt. William H. Carter’s 1895 book, “Horses, Saddles and Bridles”. The tree shows evidence on the intact rawhide cover of screw holes from 1859 skirts, and holes where old iron saddle rings and barrel staples were removed. This is clearly a nice ‘Model of 1864’ tree with angled stirrup loops, with no evidence of cuts or repairs that post-production modifications would show.
But if there was just a clearer image of one like this….
Like… this one.
This 1864 specification McClellan saddle shows all the traits of that type – inspector-stamped rawhide cover, evidence of iron barrel staples that held iron saddle rings, narrow chord sidebar, and inclined pommel. If also shows the skirt screw holes. There are no cuts or repairs to suggest the angled stirrup loops were modified after the tree was first fabricated.
This was the tree used to make up an early pattern Model 1885 McClellan, as shown by the brass wire staple holding the front brass saddle ring, and the rear ring attached with a low footman.
So, we can also say that the angled stirrup loops were clearly developed and used some at least SOME ‘Model of 1864’ saddles produced. While the percentages cannot really be known, they exist.
Clearly, the board of officers that specified this stirrup loop shape in their recommendations of General Order No. 73, dated 1 July 1885 – they were just giving a nod to an existing hardware feature.
1 Proceedings of the Board of officers convened under special orders nos. 238 and 253, A. G. O., 1873, on horse-equipments, cavalry equipments and accouterments, saddlers’ and smiths’ tools and materials, and standard supply-table of ordnance stores for the cavalry service; with the action of the War
department thereon., United States, Washintgon, Govt. Print. Off., 1874. pg 12.
2 Ibid, pg. 53.
