21 Facts About Caleb Huse

Caleb Huse was a major in the Confederate States Army, acting primarily as an arms procurement agent and purchasing specialist during the American Civil War.

Caleb Huse is most well known for his successful acquisition of weapons contracts with various European nations including the United Kingdom, Austria, and to a lesser extent, France, Prussia, and Bohemia.

Caleb Huse enrolled at the United States Military Academy at the age of 16 and graduated seventh in his class in 1851.

In September 1860, while on extended leave of absence from the US Army, Caleb Huse was selected by the University of Alabama to oversee the adoption of the military system of West Point into their own curriculum.

Caleb Huse accepted the offer and remained at the university until the outbreak of war, officially resigning his commission from the US Army in February 1861, just months prior to the attack on Fort Sumter.

Davis had designated Caleb Huse to go to Europe for the purchase of arms and military supplies for use in the South's war effort.

Caleb Huse needed to traverse the Northern States at the risk of being captured and tried for treason should his mission be discovered.

Caleb Huse arrived safely in Liverpool, England on May 10,1861.

Unlike many of his Union counterparts, Caleb Huse possessed a military background and more importantly, he had the ability to make financial decisions without government consent.

Caleb Huse would dissolve in the Spring of 1866, only a year after the end of the war.

Caleb Huse served no superiors in Europe and reported directly only to the Secretary of War of the CSA and its senior levels within the Confederate government.

Caleb Huse was effectively given carte blanche to make whatever transaction he chose as long as it fell within his regularly changing budget.

Caleb Huse assisted on many occasions with the transfer of clandestine communications between officials in Europe and those in the Confederacy, including the necessary planning and organization required by blockade runners for breaking the Union lines, as well as the purchasing of vessels to make the runs.

In most cases Caleb Huse successfully outmaneuvered his counterparts, forcing the Union to manufacture most of their weapons domestically.

Caleb Huse would go on to establish the Highland Falls Academy, known as "The Rocks", a military preparatory school designed for young men who planned to attend West Point.

Caleb Huse died in his home on March 12,1905, in Highland Falls, New York from complications related to surgery.

Caleb Huse had close associations with many Southerners prior to the war.

Caleb Huse's wife, Harriet Pinckney, was born in Phelps, NY, on 8 October 1830, the first daughter of Dr Theodore Augustine Pinckney and Sybil Marvin, the older sister of William Marvin who was the federal judge in Key West throughout the Civil War in which role he ruled on many prize ships captured by the Union attempting to run the blockade.

Caleb Huse adopted the state as his new family home.

Many, but not all, of the weapons purchased by Caleb Huse were inspected by him and his contracted buyers.

Caleb Huse's marking is usually seen as a small circle containing the letters "CH", and often located on the comb of the stock near the top tang of the buttplate.