This Enfield Rifle Musket was purchased by the state of Georgia to equip her state troops. The "G” stamped into the right face of the stock indicates that the weapon was owned by the state of Georgia. There are two sizes of the Georgia marking; this is the smaller of the two stamps. There are only a handful of the small "G” for Georgia, marked Tower Enfield rifle-muskets surviving, and this is one of the best. Besides the "G”, the tang of the butt plate is stamped with Confederate inventory number 1317. The gun has a very clear "G” marking it as a Georgia purchase, and it has a very clear JS Anchor stamp behind the trigger guard tang.

This rifle-musket was in the second shipment bound for Georgia. On December 9^th, 1861, it arrived at Nassau, Bahamas on board the ship Gladiator,at which time the gun was contained in crate # 70 along with inventory numbers 1316 and 1318 which still survive. From Nassau they were loaded onto blockade runners, which successfully avoided the U.S. Navy and disembarked at New Smyrna, Florida, at the end of February, 1862.

This shipment of rifle-muskets, however, never reached its destination in Georgia, as they were intercepted by Confederate officers who took charge of them. The guns were then shipped to Richmond and Tennessee, supplying both the Army of Northern Virginia as well as the Army of Tennessee.

How this example remained in such excellent condition is unknown, but it is certainly fortunate for the modern collector. The gun is completely original with the exception of its ramrod. The metal is excellent, retaining some finish and the "G” and the JS Anchor stamps are exceptionally clear. This is a beautiful example.

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