I have not found any direct mention of the 9th Iowa actually receiving Colt rifles. While at Benton Barracks, a soldier from the 5th Iowa states that there was "a movement afoot" to obtain the weapons and several other mentions of the regimental commander, Col Vandever, attempting to obtain the Colt rifles by using his political influence (he was a Congressman at the time). They were originally armed with muskets, "old revolutionary fusses" as one soldier commented, in order to learn the manual of arms. Prior to Pea Ridge (March '62), they turned those in and were issued "improved minie rifles" and "tower rifles". After Vicksburg, the regiment was reissued with Springfield rifle muskets which they carried to the end of the war.

I have not been able to dig into the ordinance records for the regiment yet. All of this information comes from personal letters from 9th Iowa soldiers.

Steve Burt
Lowell, AR