US Rifles - 1814

[gibster]

Moderators, if this is in the wrong place, please feel free to move it. Thanks

In the U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914, I found my 6th Great Uncle listed as a private with this regiment listed as US Rifles. He served with Capt. Brandon's Company and Capt. Parker's Company. His enlistment started on September 7 or 8, 1814 and he was discharged at Carlisle Barracks July 4, 1815..  He was from York SC.  Does anyone have any information on this regiment?  Did they carry personal weapons or were they issued to them.  Any help would be appreciated.

Did some more research and found that they were issued Harper Ferry M1803's.

[Dennis Glazener]

Gibster,
You might find something of use on these links. I suspect the last one will be of more interest. I would spend some time on the last one, its a blog and you may be able to pose questions to others with interest in that unit.
Dennis

http://www.archives.gov/research/military/war-of-1812/1812-discharge-certificates/soldiers-by-unit.html

Mentions Jesse Cox in captain W. C. Parkers company third regiment of Rifles 3rd Rifle Regiment
http://genloc.com/jessecox/JesseW2.htm

States and their rifle regiments.
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/United_States_War_of_1812_Rifle_Units

This might be of some help its a history of the 3rd US rifle regiment in VA
http://mymilitaryhistory.blogspot.com/2012/05/us-3rd-rifle-regiment-in-virginia-1814.html   
I found this very interesting. It was a NC Col. telling his men what he would do but it seems to indicate they carried whatever weapons they wanted.

"He promised to equip volunteers in "Rifle dress and give you your favorite weapon, and ... you will cover youselves with glory."

[Dennis Glazener]

One more I left off is this link to the war of 1812 pension records

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/US_War_of_1812_Pension_Records#Pension_Records_2

If you could find his or someone in the same regiment with him and read the pension records it will tell you a lot about what they were doing, going through etc
Dennis

[gibster]

Thanks for the info Dennis.  I'll take a look at the web sites that you suggested.

[The Rambling Historian]

They may have been issued Harpers Ferry Model 1803 or contract Model 1814 rifles if they were issued government weapons.

[Skirmisher]

The U.S Regular rifle regiments in the War of 1812 were issued 1803 Harpers Ferry rifles and nothing else.  The 1814 contract "common" rifles were not even delivered to the government until 1815, after this fellow was discharged.