How did cavalry Clean with no ramrods?

The infantry soldiers had the luxury of using their ramrods to clean and dry the bore of their rifles. However, federal cavalry during the American Civil War did not have that tool to use. How did they clean their carbines without a rod?

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Please watch the field cleaning video that we used snippits of from the Civil War Digital Digest! Watch that full video here:
   • Field Cleaning - Vol. VI, Episode 14  

Research Notes for this video:
Unit-level ratios: The cleanest way to quantify “how common” is to extract (brushes & thongs) and (carbines) from each cavalry company’s quarterly return and compute a simple ratio. Some digitized returns aggregate all “appendages,” but many quarters do itemize—just not widely online yet. National Archives RG 156 (Ordnance) holds the master set. The UNT/KCPL digitized returns show the format and confirm appendages were tracked, even when the precise brush line is absent.

Contract schedules: For Spencer and other makers, contractor appendage schedules (the page that says “each carbine will be furnished with…”) are the gold standard. When those aren’t online, triangulate from arsenal circulars and artifact-provenanced kits (e.g., Sharps double-thong brushes).

The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the United States Army (1861). Background on small-arms appendages and maintenance doctrine.

Spears, R., “Smith Carbines of the Civil War, Part 2,” American Society of Arms Collectors, No. 125. Artifact-based discussion of .50-cal brush-and-thong sets used across breechloaders.
americansocietyofarmscollectors.org

“Original 1859 Sharps Cleaning Kit,” 2nd U.S.S.S. (Berdan) research pages. Details of single vs. double-thong Sharps pull-throughs and garrison rod compatibility, with measurements.

Digitized Ordnance Returns (examples showing appendage accounting)
Research Arsenal Digitized and tagged returns

Appendix A — Field identification features (for photographs/artifacts)

Bristles: Natural (often dark) on a twisted wire core; ~3–6 in. brush length commonly reported.

Ferrule: Small brass ferrule with female threads (often 10-32/8-32 modern equivalents on repros; period thread varied), allowing brush to detach from thong and fit a rod. Some double-thong Sharps brushes threaded at both ends.

Thong: Round leather, typically ~25–40 in. (documented examples ~27 in., ~39.5 in.). Ends may be captive (peened/pinned) or removable at the ferrule.

Appendix B — Data worksheet for ordnance returns

Columns: Unit | Quarter/Year | Carbines (serviceable) | Carbines (unserviceable) | Brushes & Thongs (qty) | Source (archive & page/image) | Notes on terminology.
Ratio: Brushes&Thongs ÷ Carbines