In another of his studies, U. S. MILITARY CARBINES FROM THE CIVIL WAR AND THE INDIAN CAMPAIGNS, TO THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND THE PHILLIPPINE INSURRECTION, John D. McAulay acknowledgers the presence of Spencer carbines in Co. M, 2nd Missouri Light Artillery (pages 106-107). There are a few participant accounts that reveal there were probably another company or two of the regiment that had acquired them. Since there were men that were only provided with revolvers, one can imagine the entire regiment was not outfitted with a lot of the latest/best equipment. I think several of the companies of the regiment were probably equipped with the newer Gallager rimfire carbines which would fire the .56-.50 Spencer cartridge. Of course, the various batteries would have already been equipped with their own small arms prior to being outfitted in Saint Louis. Thus the presense of Smith and Sharps carbines. You would think the Chief of Ordnance for the regiment would have attempted to standardize the munitions requirement for the expedition. Of course there were few regiments during the war that were not equipped with three or four different types of carbines. I am sure McAulay attempted to query the 2nd Missouri Ligh Artillery's ordnance reports like he did for all of the cavalry units when researching his many excellent studies.

Gil