Period Weapon Safety

[sustudent]

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

[MassVOL]

Re: Period Weapon Safety

OH MY hat brass and white gloves!

[Johnny Lloyd]

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

[Dignann]

Re: Period Weapon Safety

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

[sustudent]

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

[Michael Comer]

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.

[Dignann]

Re: Period Weapon Safety

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

[Jeff Prechtel]

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

[Rob Weaver]

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.

[Jerry Ross]

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.

[Gary of CA]

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.

[Darrell Cochran]

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.

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.

[john duffer]

Re: Period Weapon Safety

For those of the WIG at Corinth "The third band will save your hand" :)

[coastaltrash]

Re: Period Weapon Safety

For those of the WIG at Corinth "The third band will save your hand" :)

Oh Lord the horror!