HOME ABOUT US CONTACTS & ORDERING PRODUCTS   SADDLES   SADDLE ACCESSORIES   BRIDLES   HALTERS   BAGGAGE & FORAGE   KNAPSACKS   ACCOUTREMENTS LEATHER & LEATHER CARE SADDLE FITTING 7-YEARS WAR REVOLUTIONARY WAR WAR OF 1812 AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Contact Us:     Stuart Lilie, Saddler     130 Mansfield Rd.     Ashford, CT 06278     info@stuartliliesaddles.com     (860) 208 3111	Early 19th Century Militia Saddle (Deep-Cantled Civilian Saddle)
	The 1793 Militia Act laid out the basic parameters of American military saddles for the next half century. While this didn't specify the dimensions of the saddle, the fittings and accessories that these saddles mounted were clearly delineated. In general these saddles were supposed to be suitable for civilian riding and travelling, but with the addition of military appointments like holsters could fulfill the demands of military service, like the citizen-soldiers who were to fill the ranks of the militia. Supply returns from the 1790's, the Walker contract of 1812, and state militia regulations for as far west as Indiana, are strikingly consistent with the national Militia Act itself. While regulations don't specify it, all the original saddles with militia provenance for this period have relatively high cantles, with deep seats. This is partly to keep the rider in the saddle, but just as much to support the valise and any other baggage behind the saddle. The skirts and flaps on these saddles are have the long oval shape of civilian saddles in this period. For mounting holsters, some of these saddles have extra D's or staples in the pommel and skirts to secure holsters up on the pommel, not on the horses's neck. Other saddles are devoid of any hardware on the pommel, having holsters that are built directly into the circingle. While breastplates are specified in almost all the regulations their attachment varies. Some have billets nailed on either side of the pommel, some have D's, and some saddles don't seem to have any provisions for breastplates. All these saddles have had staples for cruppers to help secure the pillion and any baggage on top of it. Two girth straps and a circingle is standard in regulations and this has been consistently reflected in originals. This very simple arrangement using civilian saddlery worked well, even though it was very old-fashioned relative to European military saddles by the 1800's. The vast majority of evidence prior to 1833 points to all baggage being carried behind the saddle. No original saddles survive with any evidence of carrying a cloak or blanket on the pommel. Whenever extra blankets were carried, regulations have them either strapped down on the seat of the saddle with the circingle, or placed underneath the saddle. For instance, Major Joeseph H. Daviess' 1811 regulations for his squadron of Indiana Militia Light Dragoons specified:       Let each saddle have two secure girths.... Each man ought to have a good blanket under his saddle and one girded over it, this latter with hooks and eyes so as to answer all purposes of a greatcoat in bad weather and either a tent or bed at night, a pair of tanned leather hobbles for the horse, and no clothes which need washing except sox and linen; a wallet and saddlebags will carry all needed supplies. (From Vol. 1, No.2 Military Collector and Historian) Given the placement of the extra blanket on the seat and the wallet behind the saddle, saddlebags in this instance refers to a valise. The 1833 dragoon regulations do place the cloak rolled on the pommel of the saddle over the holsters in the standard European fashion, but otherwise don't change the standard model of 40 years prior. This deep cantle militia saddle and its accessories is both uniquely American, and a uniquely American approach to the needs of a mounted soldier. Much of the harness associated with these saddles has the peculiar flair of the early United States military. The breastplates in this period seem to have gotten particular attention, with a myriad of brightly colored worsted webbing or wide leather straps elaborately studded with metal spots. Given how common these saddles were in the antebellum south, it's not surprising how many of these saddles pop up in Civil War images. Even late war Union cavalry camps still sport the occasional one of these classic American saddles. Saddle only: $1750 Accessories for use with this saddle Early 19th Century Holsters with Straps: $202 American Militia Breastplate: $107.75 Early 19th Century American Pillion: $124.50 Stirrup Leathers, pair: $108 Small Civilian Stirrups: $150 Crupper: $57.25 Single Cloak Straps, set of 3: $56.50 2 Worsted Girth Straps and 1 Worsted Circingle or Leather Circingle Worsted Girth Straps and Circingle: market price Leather Circingle: $93.25