Re: Hunting guns use
Not to dredge up this old discussion again, but I found some "proof" that can be added to the topic. I was reading recently in "Nothing But Victory" about the Army of The Tennessee's forming and ran across a couple of references to what I am certain has to have been the "Brown Bess" muskets in the hands of the Federal militias forming in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, etc. The troops Grant had as far down as Ft. Donelson were using many older guns of all varieties and the term "older English flinlock muskets" and "English muskets of the 'Tower' pattern" were mentioned. Also, a reference was made about these being leftovers in militia arsenals. Since the term "Brown Bess" was an Englishman's term and not widely known or used by Americans until many many years later, it stands to reason that these left-over smoothbores and flinters of "English" make and "Tower" design had to be variations of the several "Brown Bess" muskets. The men knew they were British via word of mouth as to where the came from but also because of the crowns on the lockplates. The only name on the Bess is "TOWER" so that has to have been the Amercians' name for them. These guns had to have been stored for many years in militia arsenals all over the region (including most likely in Southern arsenals) to be readily sent to mustering camps in 1860-1861. There would not have been time otherwise for Indiana agents to race to England to buy anything to get back in time to start the war effort.
Last week I was shouldering my Bess as a CS infantryman for a county celebration at Murfreesboro and of course having to explain to the visitors why I had a big flintlock. Another re-enactor there that is a volunteer at Stones River with me has some balls and conicals that are actually from the Stones River battle area that people have turned over to the rangers over the years that he carries as part of his character. One is a big ball which we'd assumed was a .69" ball until he handed it to me and I put it to the muzzle of the Bess. It is a .75" ball, probably actually measuring about .73"-.74" but is certainly made for .75" smooth-bores. The only muskets I am aware of that could have been there firing .75" projectiles is a Bess unless perhaps some fowlers were being loaded with single balls like that which to me seems unlikely. It is too small to have been much use for one of the Pottsdam .80" guns. Just thought I'd add this bit to the old thread in case anyone was still interested in this issue.;)
Not to dredge up this old discussion again, but I found some "proof" that can be added to the topic. I was reading recently in "Nothing But Victory" about the Army of The Tennessee's forming and ran across a couple of references to what I am certain has to have been the "Brown Bess" muskets in the hands of the Federal militias forming in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, etc. The troops Grant had as far down as Ft. Donelson were using many older guns of all varieties and the term "older English flinlock muskets" and "English muskets of the 'Tower' pattern" were mentioned. Also, a reference was made about these being leftovers in militia arsenals. Since the term "Brown Bess" was an Englishman's term and not widely known or used by Americans until many many years later, it stands to reason that these left-over smoothbores and flinters of "English" make and "Tower" design had to be variations of the several "Brown Bess" muskets. The men knew they were British via word of mouth as to where the came from but also because of the crowns on the lockplates. The only name on the Bess is "TOWER" so that has to have been the Amercians' name for them. These guns had to have been stored for many years in militia arsenals all over the region (including most likely in Southern arsenals) to be readily sent to mustering camps in 1860-1861. There would not have been time otherwise for Indiana agents to race to England to buy anything to get back in time to start the war effort.
Last week I was shouldering my Bess as a CS infantryman for a county celebration at Murfreesboro and of course having to explain to the visitors why I had a big flintlock. Another re-enactor there that is a volunteer at Stones River with me has some balls and conicals that are actually from the Stones River battle area that people have turned over to the rangers over the years that he carries as part of his character. One is a big ball which we'd assumed was a .69" ball until he handed it to me and I put it to the muzzle of the Bess. It is a .75" ball, probably actually measuring about .73"-.74" but is certainly made for .75" smooth-bores. The only muskets I am aware of that could have been there firing .75" projectiles is a Bess unless perhaps some fowlers were being loaded with single balls like that which to me seems unlikely. It is too small to have been much use for one of the Pottsdam .80" guns. Just thought I'd add this bit to the old thread in case anyone was still interested in this issue.;)
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