Caleb Huse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caleb Huse
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Caleb Huse
Photo from The Supplies for the Confederate Army Published 1904 |
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| Born | February 11, 1831 Newburyport, Massachusetts |
| Died | March 12, 1905 (aged 73) Highland Falls, New York |
| Allegiance | United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Years of service | 1851–61 (USA) 1861–65 (CSA) |
| Rank | First Lieutenant (USA) Major (CSA) Colonel (Alabama State Militia) |
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Caleb Huse (February 11, 1831 – March 12, 1905) was an important officer in the Confederate States Army. He mainly worked as a special agent during the American Civil War. His job was to buy weapons and supplies for the Confederate side.
Huse is famous for successfully getting weapons from countries in Europe. These included the United Kingdom, Austria, and to a smaller degree, France, Prussia, and Bohemia. Most of the weapons brought into the Confederacy from other countries during the war were bought by Caleb Huse.
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Caleb Huse's Early Life
Caleb Huse was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. This was in the northern part of the United States. Even though he was from the North, he chose to serve the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, personally asked him to join in 1861.
Becoming a Military Expert
Huse started at the United States Military Academy when he was 16. He graduated in 1851, ranking seventh in his class. After graduating, he taught Chemistry, Mineralogy, and Geology at West Point for many years.
During this time, Huse was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Sumter. This fort later became famous as the place where the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
Moving South to Alabama
In September 1860, Huse took a break from the U.S. Army. The University of Alabama then asked him to help set up a military training system. This system would be similar to the one at West Point. Huse accepted this offer.
He stayed at the university until the war began. He officially left the U.S. Army in February 1861. This was just a few months before the attack on Fort Sumter. He continued his role as Superintendent and Professor at the University of Alabama.
Some students at the university were not happy about Huse's appointment. They found his discipline strict. Also, he was from Massachusetts, and many Southerners felt strongly against Northerners at that time. Despite this, Huse convinced the Alabama Legislature to fund the university's military program. This saved the program from ending due to lack of money.
Caleb Huse's Role in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Southern states struggled to make enough weapons. They had relied on factories in the North before the war. Because of this, the South needed to buy military supplies from other countries.
Starting His Mission in Europe
In April 1861, Huse received an urgent message. It was from Stephen Mallory, the Confederate Secretary of the Navy. He was asked to meet with LeRoy Pope Walker, the Secretary of War. Huse was offered a special job by Jefferson Davis.
Davis wanted Huse to go to Europe. His mission was to buy weapons and military supplies for the South's war effort. Huse accepted the job on April 12, 1861. This was the same day Fort Sumter was attacked.
To get to Europe, Huse had to travel through the Northern states. This was risky, as he could have been caught and charged with treason. He first went to New York to get money for his trip. Then he traveled to Portland, Maine to sail to Europe.
Buying Weapons in England
Huse arrived safely in Liverpool, England on May 10, 1861. His first task was to buy 12,000 rifles and a set of field artillery. He also needed to find one or two larger guns as examples.
Huse's first big deal was with the London Armoury Company. He was very skilled and managed to get the contract. He even outbid and outsmarted Union agents like George Schuyler and Marcellus Hartley. Unlike many Union agents, Huse had a military background. More importantly, he could make financial decisions without needing government approval first. This allowed him to secure all the weapons from London Armory for the Confederacy for the entire war.
The Confederacy became the London Armory Company's main customer. The company made and shipped over 70,000 rifles and about 7,000 revolvers to the South. However, these weapons had to get past the Union blockade. The exact number that reached the Confederate army is not known. Confederate soldiers praised these guns as the best weapons made in Britain. The London Armory Company became very dependent on sales to the Confederacy. The company closed down in 1866, a year after the war ended.
Working with European Partners
While in Europe, Huse worked closely with other Confederate agents. A company called S. Isaac, Campbell & Company gave him credit and helped with his purchases. Other important people included William L. Yancey, Ambrose Dudley Mann, and James D. Bulloch. Money for these purchases came from the Confederacy through Fraser, Trenholm & Co. in Liverpool.
Most of this money came from selling cotton. This cotton had successfully gotten past the Union Naval Blockade. In the early years of the war, money for weapons was easy to get. Huse had little trouble making large deals. He rarely needed to use government credit, which the Confederacy, as a new nation at war, did not have much of.
Because Huse paid in cash, European manufacturers were eager to do business with the Confederacy. The Union blockade, which tried to stop ships, was only a small problem until the last year of the war. Huse reported directly to the Confederate Secretary of War. He was given a lot of freedom to make deals as long as they fit his budget.
Choosing the Best Weapons
Because of his military experience, Huse mostly looked for high-quality rifles. He avoided older smooth bore muskets. He especially wanted English-made Pattern 1853 Enfield rifles. He avoided Prussian and French weapons, which were not as good at the time. There were not many high-quality weapons for sale in Europe. Many countries were still upgrading their own armies.
However, one of Huse's biggest deals was with Austria. He bought 100,000 high-quality rifles from them. These were the latest Austrian models. He also bought ten sets of field artillery, ready for use with ammunition. Austria had decided to switch to a new type of explosive, making their gunpowder rifles less desirable. This allowed Huse to buy modern weapons in large amounts, which the South desperately needed. Austria later changed its mind about the new explosive, but they had already sold their weapons to the Confederacy. This opened up one of Europe's largest weapon stores to the South.
While in Europe, Huse was always watched by agents and spies working for the U.S. Government. He also helped with secret messages between officials in Europe and the Confederacy. This included planning for blockade runners, which were ships that tried to get past the Union blockade. He also helped buy these ships.
The Union was also trying to buy weapons from Europe. This led to a race to buy all available weapons. Each side tried to buy as much as possible to keep weapons out of the enemy's hands. In most cases, Huse successfully outsmarted his opponents. This forced the Union to make most of their weapons at home.
After the War Ended
The exact numbers are not known. But it is believed that by the end of the war, Huse had bought over $10 million worth of supplies for the Confederacy. After the Confederacy lost the war, he was left with almost no money. He returned to the United States in 1868.
Huse later started the Highland Falls Academy, also known as "The Rocks." This was a military prep school for young men who wanted to attend West Point. General John J. Pershing, who later led American forces in World War I, went to this school before entering West Point.
Caleb Huse died at his home in Highland Falls, New York, on March 12, 1905. He passed away due to problems from surgery.
Images for kids
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Caleb Huse, a key figure in Confederate arms procurement.
