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304:(1842–1854), regarded by some historians as "Ripley's Monument." Here he improved the buildings and grounds, increased production while reducing costs, and was instrumental in developing the 1855 model .58 caliber rifled musket which was later to be the principal weapon for Union infantrymen during the Civil War. He was unpopular in some quarters because of his insistence that Army regulations be followed and abuses in the workplace be curbed, but he received consistent support from his superiors because of his outstanding accomplishments.
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residue would have made it impossible to maintain such high rates of fire under field conditions with the rifles of the time. Individual units later purchased such weapons privately, and they were used to considerable effect, but did indeed present problems in extended firefights; these units are not
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At the same time, Ripley refused to authorize the purchase of additional stocks of rifle-muskets for infantry use. The decision was based on the large existing stocks of smoothbore muskets in U.S. arsenals, which he argued could be re-rifled in the same manner as the
Parrott guns (an assertion which
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Many historians have since decried this decision, arguing the lack of modern arms on the Union side, at a time when the
Confederates were buying them in large numbers from France and the United Kingdom, lengthened the conflict by as much as two years. Others, however, counter that given the poor
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known to have had any trouble maintaining their ammunition supplies. Ripley was replaced as head of the
Ordnance Department on September 15, 1863, principally because of his continuing opposition to the introduction of breech loading rifles, in disobedience to his orders from President Lincoln.
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logistics of the Union armies at the outbreak of the war, the increased supply train needed to maintain the improved rates of fire would have bogged down the armies and made maneuver impossible (a situation which did indeed later contribute to the development of
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proved incorrect). He also adamantly opposed the introduction of breech-loading repeating rifles, on the basis that they would encourage poor fire discipline and waste ammunition.
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as commandant of the facility, with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Then he was chief of ordnance of the
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ordnance. Additionally, Ripley also delayed the introduction of repeating firearms, particularly the
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confirmed the appointment on July 14, 1866. James Wolfe Ripley died on March 16, 1870, in
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194:(December 10, 1794 – March 16, 1870) was an American soldier who served as a
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With the outbreak of the Civil War in early 1861, Ripley was promoted to
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coast, having retired from active service. On March 8, 1866, President
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644: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
497:. U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Historical Studies.
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In 1832–1833, Ripley commanded the
Federal forces in
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rifles, which were later resold at a tremendous profit to
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The Hall
Carbine Affair: a study in contemporary folklore
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in World War I). It is also argued that fouling due to
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Baton Rouge: Louisiana State
University Press, 1964.
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Baton Rouge: Louisiana State
University Press, 1964.
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781:United States Army personnel of the Seminole Wars
586:Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.
473:Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.
791:People of Connecticut in the American Civil War
776:United States Army personnel of the War of 1812
337:, he immediately ordered the conversion of old
324:5th Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army
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727:Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army
660:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography
573:Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.
535:Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.
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444:List of American Civil War generals (Union)
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495:Serving the Line with Excellence 1775-1992
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345:. He also ordered the sale of 5,000 old
766:People from Windham County, Connecticut
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392:, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the
16:American Union Army general (1794–1870)
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212:United States Army Ordnance Department
771:United States Military Academy alumni
614:(1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
300:He then became superintendent of the
206:. In 1861, he was selected to be the
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796:Military personnel from Connecticut
353:, much to Ripley's consternation.
307:In 1854 he was transferred to the
250:, and took part in the defense of
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381:nominated Ripley to the grade of
262:and the invasion of Florida as a
158:5th Chief of Ordnance (1861–1863)
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611:New International Encyclopedia
322:(August) and appointed as the
254:. In 1817–18 he served under
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236:Windham County, Connecticut
51:Windham County, Connecticut
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508:Wasson, R. Gordon (1943).
402:Springfield, Massachusetts
293:in 1838. He commanded the
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436:American Civil War portal
330:forces then had no heavy
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663:. New York: D. Appleton.
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493:Sterling, Keir (1992).
341:and the manufacture of
297:between 1833 and 1842.
552:Eicher, 2001, page 708
418:during the Civil War.
279:nullification movement
565:Eicher, John H., and
527:Eicher, John H., and
398:Hartford, Connecticut
285:. He was promoted to
266:. He was promoted to
208:5th Chief of Ordnance
119:Years of service
68:Hartford, Connecticut
176:Nullification Crisis
80:Springfield Cemetery
786:Union Army generals
277:at the time of the
234:Ripley was born in
736:Brigadier General
696:James Wolfe Ripley
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238:. He graduated at
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171:First Seminole War
109:United States Army
23:James Wolfe Ripley
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734:Succeeded by
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676:Missing or empty
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627:Missing or empty
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416:brigadier general
409:Roswell S. Ripley
320:brigadier general
309:Watertown Arsenal
275:Charleston harbor
244:second lieutenant
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375:New England
339:smoothbores
258:during the
220:Gatling gun
216:artillery's
202:during the
750:Categories
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560:References
543:. page 454
240:West Point
200:Union Army
113:Union Army
91:Allegiance
44:1794-12-10
655:Fiske, J.
326:. As the
270:in 1825.
248:artillery
230:Biography
204:Civil War
122:1814–1863
718:Colonel
422:See also
411:, was a
291:ordnance
222:and the
210:for the
154:Commands
103:Service/
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328:Federal
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332:rifled
145:Brevet
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70:, U.S.
53:, U.S.
450:Notes
287:major
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682:help
633:help
590:ISBN
575:ISBN
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127:Rank
58:Died
38:Born
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