Original Fayetteville Arsenal - Auction

[smithy]

The Fayetteville Arsenal auction in 1873 primarily involved the sale of the land and buildings of the arsenal itself, rather than specific items or military equipment. After the Civil War, with the arsenal having been destroyed by Union forces and its strategic importance diminished, the U.S. government decided to auction off the property. This auction was more about disposing of government property that was no longer needed rather than selling off arms or military hardware.

Based on the general practices of the time and the nature of such auctions:

• Land and Structures: The primary items sold would have been the land and any remaining structures of the Fayetteville Arsenal. This could include buildings, foundations, or materials that could be salvaged from the site.

• Machinery and Equipment: If any machinery or equipment survived the destruction, these might have been auctioned off. This could include tools, parts of machinery used for weapon manufacturing, or other industrial equipment, though much of this would have been either destroyed or removed during the war.

• Miscellaneous Items: There might have been miscellaneous items like office furniture, storage containers, or other non-military goods that could have been used in the administration of the arsenal.

• Surplus or Damaged Weapons: While not the focus, if any weapons, parts, or ammunition were still on site and not destroyed, these might have been included. However, given the arsenal's state post-Civil War, this seems less likely.

From the information available, the auction was more about liquidating the physical property rather than military hardware. Specific details about what exactly was sold in terms of items beyond the land and structures are not well-documented or emphasized in historical records, suggesting that the auction's primary purpose was to dispose of the land and any remaining infrastructure.