The Confederate LeMat Revolver

by Doug Adams

Secret Weapon of the Confederacy? The LeMat Revolver has always held a special place in the hearts of Civil War enthusiasts. No other weapon is so emblematic of the Confederacy. The LeMat wasn't just a revolver - in addition to its bullets, it packed a unique last ditch wallop in the form of a shotgun blast from under the barrel. Begun as a partnership between Alexander LeMat, a French inventor from New Orleans, and P.G.T. Beauregard, a highly prominent Confederate officer, the LeMat revolver project quickly because a tale of international intrigue and espionage worthy of a spy novel. Operating from Southern port cities, European capitals and Caribbean islands, LeMat and his associates gave the Confederacy a "French Connection," not just to supply revolvers, but to aid the Rebel cause through supplies, financial shenanigans and propaganda. This exciting new book, described as having "the intrigue of a spy novel", tells the story of LeMat's wartime adventures aboard blockade runners and alongside the famous leaders of the Confederacy, as well as exploring, as never before, the unique revolvers that he manufactured for the Southern Cause. Illustrated in FULL COLOR with over 250 pictures.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Adams was an international scholar in religion and the arts, worship, dance and humor. He brought an enormous amount of energy and enterprise to establish religion combined with art and performance art on Holy Hill.

Reviews

[C. Denver Mullican]

Growing up in New Orleans I recall looking at the two Lemats in the Confederate Museum on school fieldtrips. There would be occasional mentions of Lemat, and Beauregard in lectures on the Civil War since both had New Orleans roots. There were a lot of myths/ stories about the revolver, so I was happy to find this book which provides a concise, documented, collection of material. The provides the backgrounds of the key players both in design, manufacture, procurement, variations and use of the most innovative revolver of the War of Northern Aggression.