Mcclellan Saddle Identification

[thenrie]

Hi folks. First timer. I have been wanting to learn the craft of saddle-making and have been lurking for a while. While visiting my father's place, I came across a McClellan saddle he has had for some time. The story behind it is that a friend of our family gave the saddle to my dad. Their family owned a 1700s plantation in Virginia and had a couple McClellans in their barn. Dad asked about them and was told this particular one was purchased from a surplus sale shortly after the Civil War by one of her ancestors. Dad offered to buy it from her, but she just said, "Here, it's yours." Dad has intended to eventually repair it, but has never gotten around to it.

When I started looking up information on it, it appears to me that it is a 1857 McClellan trial saddle. However, it also appears those are extremely rare and that there are no known surviving examples, except one in a museum in northern Europe. So, while I got temporarily excited, reason tells me we couldn't possibly be so lucky. I'm hoping some of you can take a look and help me out with some reliable information before I either try myself to restore it, or send it off to a shop. If there is any chance this is a rare saddle, I don't want to ruin a valuable piece of history.

By way of description, it appears to have a wooden tree with no rawhide covering. The tree is covered by polished black leather, stitched along the crest of the pommel and cantle. There is no evidence of these seams having been covered with brass trim, as seen on many of the later saddles (no tack holes are evident). The brass trim pieces, except one in the front of the pommel, are missing. The rigging rings appear to be steel, but I haven't tested them or tried to clean them. The stirrups are steel, no tapaderos. The bars are also covered with thin leather. The fittings on the rear jockey are brass. There is a steel eye screw attached to the back of the cantle, which appears to be for a crupper. I initially thought this was a modification, but it appears the leather was designed to accommodate the eye screw, so it may be original. The sweat fenders are attached to the tree with wood screws, as are the rear and front jockeys. Overall, the leather is actually in pretty good shape, except a rigging strap that is broken. Once I find out a little more, I'll clean and condition the leather. If it turns out to be a valuable piece, I'm not going to touch it until I have it looked at by a real pro.

[Frank]

I'm not an expert by any means, so lets get that out of the way first.

I do have an affinity for Hope, Mexican, and McClellan saddles though.

By checking my books and doing a little research, it seems that your saddle could be an 1857 "trial" that was later brought up to the 1859 specs. The reason I say this is because of the nail or screw holes where all of the stress areas and brass plates would go. This lends me to believe that they had the brass plates on there at one time. This would have been used until they totally phased out the trees not covered in rawhide. I'm sure that being during a war era, the brass plates might have been reclaimed to be used on a newer saddle, in order to save money. The tree not being rawhide covered is a huge giveaway. But, I can not be certain as I am not a historian. I would certainly contact the Company of Military Historians to get a better idea of what you may have. I would not touch the saddle(meaning clean or condition it) until you make contact with them.

Frank

[Denise]

You have probably found the link I have below in your research, but I have it here in case you haven't. Your description seems to match the description in the link for an 1857, but I only really know what I read... I know there are people around who are very knowledgeable about the McClellan saddle and I hope they either answer you here or you find them on some Civil War re-enactment sites. But I think you are very wise to not touch it till it is checked out by someone who really knows about these saddles. (Sorry, no real knowledge here but I did want to give you the link.)

http://www.militaryhorse.org/studies/mcclellan/

[thenrie]

I'm not an expert by any means, so lets get that out of the way first.

I do have an affinity for Hope, Mexican, and McClellan saddles though.

By checking my books and doing a little research, it seems that your saddle could be an 1857 "trial" that was later brought up to the 1859 specs. The reason I say this is because of the nail or screw holes where all of the stress areas and brass plates would go. This lends me to believe that they had the brass plates on there at one time. This would have been used until they totally phased out the trees not covered in rawhide. I'm sure that being during a war era, the brass plates might have been reclaimed to be used on a newer saddle, in order to save money. The tree not being rawhide covered is a huge giveaway. But, I can not be certain as I am not a historian. I would certainly contact the Company of Military Historians to get a better idea of what you may have. I would not touch the saddle(meaning clean or condition it) until you make contact with them.

Frank

The saddle definitely had the brass plates and you can see the one remaining in place on the front of the pommel. My reading indicates the "trial" saddles had brass fittings. My understanding is that the "trial" saddles were modified to have a bare rawhide covered saddle seat for the 1859 model. Otherwise they are very similar. Later 1857s and 1859s were also modified with brass trim on the pommel and cantle, where the leather tends to split near the seams. This saddle has no indication of that being done.

[thenrie]

You have probably found the link I have below in your research, but I have it here in case you haven't. Your description seems to match the description in the link for an 1857, but I only really know what I read... I know there are people around who are very knowledgeable about the McClellan saddle and I hope they either answer you here or you find them on some Civil War re-enactment sites. But I think you are very wise to not touch it till it is checked out by someone who really knows about these saddles. (Sorry, no real knowledge here but I did want to give you the link.)

http://www.militaryh...dies/mcclellan/

That is the site I got my initial information from. Another site is: http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/04_horse_equip/04_item_049.htm

[thenrie]

I got some very good information on the Society of the Military Horse forum that indicates this is probably a saddle made by a commercial saddlery, likely in the late 1860s-1870s era. To those who responded, thanks for the help.

Armed with that information, I plan to eventually restore the saddle to useable condition, which probably means disassembling it and using the leather for patterns. Always wanted one of these. I'll be lurking around for a while, soaking up good information as I prepare to learn the art of saddle-making. I have several months left before I can actually put in the time to do it.

[Randy Cornelius]

Acording to the book, United States Military Saddles, 1812-1943 you have an 1868. The leather skirt was added in 1868 and then removed in the 1869 modle.