The US Cavalry was mainly used as a raiding and screening force early in the Civil War, and was often humbled by General J.E.B. Stuart's superb Confederate horsemen. When General Ulysses S. Grant assumed control of all Union armies in March 1864, he immediately sought to improve his mounted forces, and placed General Philip Sheridan at the helm. Though not a veteran "horse soldier", Sheridan possessed two ideal traits for a cavalryman, a slight, wiry build and a bold, fiery spirit. Under his command, the US Cavalry evolved into a hard hitting strike force, capable of spearheading large attacks, and eventually cornering Lee and his army at Appomattox. Union cavaliers in the Civil War were issued leather carbine “sockets”, also called “thimbles”, which were buckled through a “D” ring on the right hand saddle skirt, allowing the trooper's slung carbine barrel to rest securely in the socket, and preventing that barrel from clanging against the horse and bouncing around while the rider was mounted. Many of those sockets were made by George Peters of Newark, New Jersey, who held a wartime contract for cavalry accoutrements. This US Army Civil War Cavalry “G. PETERS” Marked Leather Carbine Socket is in Good Condition, with moderate drying, surface cracking, and surface flaking to the outside strap, and with some overall drying, stiffening, crazing, and age wear evident. Most interestingly, it’s stamped on the end tip of the outside strap with its maker, “G. PETERS”, boasts the original black enameled steel closure buckle on that outside leather strap, and measures 2 1/2” long x 2 1/2” in diameter. A fine example of a very rare, original US Army Civil War Cavalry “G. PETERS” Marked Leather Carbine Socket. Lastly, this carbine socket comes directly from the personal collection of renowned US military firearms author and historian Bruce Canfield, and a signed letter of authenticity stating as such will accompany this piece.