R.L.,
Having had absolutely no experience as a nineteenth century tool and die maker I am not qualified to judge what makes sense and what doesn't as to how this bullet mold was made. The discussion here should be as to where these bullets were made.
The Hindman Papers are part of the Peter Alexander collection housed at Columbia University. They have recently been transcribed for publication of the Hindman Order Book. Since the cosmo has been found predominately on sites associated with the Cane Hill/Prairie Grove campaign Hindman's papers shed a great deal of light on the logistics pertaining to this campaign.
Hindman's original plan was to attack Blunt and Herron in late summer or early fall, defeat them and then winter his two divisions in Missouri. As you know Prairie Grove wasn't faught until December. The reason for the delay was the difficulty of obtaining arms, equipment and ammunition for the endeavor. This becomes clearly evident in reading his dispatches. Even after the attack was made he had to withdraw from the field after only one day's fight due to lack of ammunition.
Here is one of his dispatches prior to the battle:
Head Quarters District of Arkansas
Camp on Mulberry & etc., Nov 2, 1862
Colonel:
General Hindman has today received the following dispatch:
“Little Rock, Nov 1, 1862
“Maj. Genl. Hindman,
I shipped you on the 29th 970 guns & 80 rounds to each gun. I will send you tomorrow another 2500 guns with 50 rounds to each gun. In a week the General will send you 2,000 more guns. Maj. Geo. A. Alexander is announced as Chief of Ordnance. He has promised me to send you every gun he can.
Sgnd. J. M. Dunnington
Col. Comd’g river defenses.
This in a great degree, will provide arms for the men of this command, so that there is no need of any pro rata distribution.
General Hindman directs therefore that you arm the troops under Col. Brooks as soon as possible, and in the following order and manner:
I. Col. Brook’s regiment to be armed with muskets if practicable, except the right flank company, which you will arm with Enfield rifle.
2nd : The Missouri Troops under Col. Brooks, to be armed with muskets, if practicable, except one company of Jackman’s and one company of Hunter’s regiments, which you will arm with Enfield rifles, if on hand.
3rd: Col. Adams regiment, to be armed with muskets, if practicable, except the right flank company which you will arm with, Enfield rifles, if on hand.
If the Enfield rifles shall be exhausted, before issuing as many as above indicated, you will substitute the next best arm therefore, and proceed in the same manner if the muskets shall be exhausted, being very careful, however, to issue to all the men of each separate company, arms of the same description, as far as this can possibly be done. Be equally careful to issue the proper accoutrements with each gun, and do not, in any case, issue to or for any man not actually present for duty.
At the same time, issue to each command 100 rounds of ammunition for each gun, but instruct the officers receiving the same that not a single cartridge is to be issued to the men without special orders from these Head Quarters.
If there are not sufficient accoutrements of the proper kind, you will issue those on hand to the command, in the same order as prescribed for the issuance of arms.
Captain R. S. Chew is sent to assist in this duty, and will be under you orders. Maj. J. B. Lockman, Chief of Ordnance is in Little Rock. He will probably come up with a portion of the arms. A telegraphic dispatch to him is enclosed, which you will please send from the Clarksville office. You will take receipts in Maj. Lockman’s name for all articles you may issue.
Report progress daily, after a telegraph office is opened here. Report by courier the whole amount of ordnance stores on hand.
Respectfully,
R. C. Newton
Col. A. S. Dobbin A. A. Genl.
Act. Chief of Ordnance,
Clarksville, Arks.
Ask yourself this; If Hindman was having such a hard time procurring ammunition yet had men in the field making their own, why didn't he just detail men to produce ammuniton around the clock?