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  • Period Weapon Safety

    Hello All!

    First, don't take this the wrong way. I am not advocating for using this in a portrayal. However, I found this picture in the Library of Congress archives of the 2nd New York Artillery, Company F. If you look, it seems to me that two of the men have their hands/appendages on or extremely close to their muzzles. In addition, the general appearance of the men is very relaxed when it comes to holding their rifle-muskets.

    Not to cause problems, but to promote thought.
    Regards
    Alexander Stowe

    Son of New York

    Gettysburg, PA

  • #2
    Re: Period Weapon Safety

    OH MY hat brass and white gloves!
    I am, etc.
    Thomas Gingras
    Awkward Squad Mess
    Columbia Rifles
    Honorary SRR "Yankee"

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    • #3
      Re: Period Weapon Safety

      Gents-
      Do you know if it was taken in or near Washington DC? I ask that because it looks to defensive garrison images I've seen elsewhere that were from that area. Was the unit ever in the area?

      Looks as though they were waiting for a photograph to be taken later or possibly resting before a dress parade... just a thought.
      They look just like we senior cadets in 1998 at The Citadel before we did Friday Afternoon Parade! Complete with "Oh brother... another parade THIS week..." attitude. :confused_:D

      (The freshmen certainly didn't though! They were always at attention! Ah, the memories! LOL ;))

      Funny how it doesn't change at all after 140 years.

      Great image! Very telling -Johnny
      Johnny Lloyd
      John "Johnny" Lloyd
      Moderator
      Think before you post... Rules on this forum here
      SCAR
      Known to associate with the following fine groups: WIG/AG/CR

      "Without history, there can be no research standards.
      Without research standards, there can be no authenticity.
      Without the attempt at authenticity, all is just a fantasy.
      Fantasy is not history nor heritage, because it never really existed." -Me


      Proud descendant of...

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      • #4
        Re: Period Weapon Safety

        Originally posted by Johnny Lloyd View Post
        Do you know if it was taken in or near Washington DC?

        "Arlington, Va. Company F, 2d New York Artillery at Fort C. F. Smith" - LC-B8171-7672

        If the date etched on the glass is the date when the image was struck, it was taken September 2, 1865. From the end of May through September 29, 1865, the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery served in Washington, D.C.

        Eric
        Eric J. Mink
        Co. A, 4th Va Inf
        Stonewall Brigade

        Help Preserve the Slaughter Pen Farm - Fredericksburg, Va.

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        • #5
          Re: Period Weapon Safety

          Gents, I found another one. This just made me laugh. From the LOC, this is a picture of the officers of Company F. Is the one officer a joke or is he just small.
          Regards
          Alexander Stowe

          Son of New York

          Gettysburg, PA

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          • #6
            Re: Period Weapon Safety

            Hey, that's 'officer of the day' to you bud. Check out that sash. He does look awfully young but wars are primarily fought by the young.

            If the first photo is from Sept. '65 that may explain some of the relaxed look. The war's been over for some time and these fellows are probably just pulling garrison duty waiting to get discharged. The one fellow in the upper right with his arm resting over the muzzle looks a bit too relaxed. But if you're weapon is not loaded and there hasn't been an armed reb running around the area for 8 or 9 months, I guess you've got a right to look pretty relaxed.
            Michael Comer
            one of the moderator guys

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            • #7
              Re: Period Weapon Safety

              Originally posted by sustudent View Post
              Is the one officer a joke or is he just small.
              Not a joke. That would be 16 year-old 2nd Lieutenant Edmund L. Zalinski. See this previous discussion on the photo and the officer.

              Very young officer!

              Eric
              Last edited by Dignann; 08-29-2007, 03:03 PM.
              Eric J. Mink
              Co. A, 4th Va Inf
              Stonewall Brigade

              Help Preserve the Slaughter Pen Farm - Fredericksburg, Va.

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              • #8
                Re: Period Weapon Safety

                Weapons safety was a problem in the U.S. military pre-dating
                the war, so much so, that in 1859 Capt. Randolph Marcy
                addressed it in his compodium on prairie travel. In fact, one of his
                brother officer's and dear friend of Marcy's who he helped institute
                and drill the men on these new weapons safety issues,
                was later killed in exactly such an incident.

                The incident, as well as a couple of others is noted in his "Prairie Traveler- a Handbook for Overland Expeditions"

                -Jeff Prechtel
                Jeff Prechtel

                A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.
                -Cezanne

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                • #9
                  Re: Period Weapon Safety

                  Weapon safety was more of a problem for them than it is for us because they were rarely loaded with only blanks. When a rifle went off, there was a piece of lead going somewhere! There's a famous Iron Brigade story about a group of boys lubing their muskets with fat off a recently slaughtered beef. When one of these stalwarts pulled a string of fat through his trigger guard, it pulled the trigger and he shot a hole through his hat! That's just so wrong on so many levels!
                  Re: the officer of the day. Look at how his sash is tied. It not only goes over his shoulder, there's enough left over for him to wear it around his waist. Sort of a silk mesh Sam Browne belt. I, myself, am very short and because of it am often thought younger than I am.
                  Rob Weaver
                  Co I, 7th Wisconsin, the "Pine River Boys"
                  "We're... Christians, what read the Bible and foller what it says about lovin' your enemies and carin' for them what despitefully use you -- that is, after you've downed 'em good and hard."
                  [I]Si Klegg[/I]

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                  • #10
                    Re: Period Weapon Safety

                    Hello all,
                    I don't know much about cannon crews ,but I thought their primary weapon was the cannon .Each one of the those fellas has a musket .Even the crew has their muskets leaning against the wall. Just a lot of muskets for a cannon crew.
                    Jerry Ross
                    Withdraw to Fort Donelson Feb 2012



                    Just a sinner trying to change

                    Hog Driver
                    Lead ,Follow or Get out of the way !

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                    • #11
                      Re: Period Weapon Safety

                      Firearms safety was not part of the course of instruction for most soldiers. I don't recall seeing them in period musektry instruction booklets that were available at the time. The only 19th Century safety instructions I've seen were from Eziel Baker (Baker rifle carried by the 60 Royal Americans, 95 Rifle Brigade, KGL and other units of the British Army) book, Remarks on the Rifle Gun (1811). In it, Baker mentions that children should be given firearms safety instructions so as to prevent avoidable accidents. The modern safety instructions we are given today (Guns are always loaded, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire) just weren't printed up. Virtually every regimental history or diary or journal mentions someone getting seriously hurt or killed because of negligent firearms handling. One cannot attribute the accidents to the unfamiliarity with firearms by new soldiers. Accidents also occured within the (Union) sharpshooter units which were composed of seasoned shooters.
                      GaryYee o' the Land o' Rice a Roni & Cable Cars
                      High Private in The Company of Military Historians

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                      • #12
                        Re: Period Weapon Safety

                        Originally posted by Jerry Ross View Post
                        Hello all,
                        I don't know much about cannon crews ,but I thought their primary weapon was the cannon .Each one of the those fellas has a musket .Even the crew has their muskets leaning against the wall. Just a lot of muskets for a cannon crew.
                        Wasn't the 2nd New York a Heavy Artillery unit? That's mostly who garrisoned the forts around Washington, and it would explain the muskets.
                        "the regulars always do well, and seldom get any credit, not belonging to any crowd of voters"

                        Darrell Cochran
                        Third U.S. Regular Infantry
                        http://buffsticks.us

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                        • #13
                          Re: Period Weapon Safety

                          For those of the WIG at Corinth "The third band will save your hand" :)
                          John Duffer
                          Independence Mess
                          MOOCOWS
                          WIG
                          "There lies $1000 and a cow."

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                          • #14
                            Re: Period Weapon Safety

                            Originally posted by john duffer View Post
                            For those of the WIG at Corinth "The third band will save your hand" :)
                            Oh Lord the horror!
                            Patrick Landrum
                            Independent Rifles

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