This carbine is what us Smith owners call the early war cavalry version as later models came with the saddle ring variation. There were never any official records of Smith Carbines issued to any Artillery units. The Smith Carbine has a rich history as ranked 3rd in numbers ordered and issued during the CW. Even service records with the Frontier Army of the west with known issue to the 11th Kansas Cavalry, and use in the battle of Westport. Shortly after the war the 11th Kansas Vol Cavalry was sent up to Fort Laramie to serve as mail and quartermaster escort duty where they were put to use in many defensive skirmishes against hostiles. Smith Carbines were used in the battle of Plattes Bridge Station on the Oregon trail crossing later to be renamed Fort Caspar, Wyoming. The Smith Carbine was put to use in the Battle of Red Buttes just west of Plattes Bridge Station until those brave men ran out of cartridges and were overwhelmed. That was 1865. Smith Carbines were known to be in use at Fort Fetterman, but it is unknown if any were used in the Fetterman Massacre. Later those Smith Carbines were auctioned off at Ft. Leavenworth at public auction to be used by civilians in the region or headed west. That would have been before 1867. The Smith Carbine would have made an excellant buffalo runners carbine, like many others including the Colt Dragoon revolver. Unlike rimfire rifles, the spent Smith cartridge could be reloaded many times.
