In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes, and brocade
Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise --
An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade,
With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes --
At Blenheim and Ramillies, fops would confess
They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess.
Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise --
An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade,
With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes --
At Blenheim and Ramillies, fops would confess
They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess.
-- Rudyard Kipling
During the Revolutionary War, the standard issue firearm for both the American revolutionaries and the British military, was the barrel-loading flintlock musket. The actual "Brown Bess" refers to the Land Pattern Musket, produced in mass quantities by Britain in 1722. The name remains somewhat of a mystery, but may have been a reference to the walnut stocks (a rich brown color), the anti-rust treatment given to the barrels which resulted in a deep brown appearance to the gun, or a bastardization of the German phrase for strong gun: braun buss.
Although many adaptations were made to this weapon, the generic name "Brown Bess" has been applied generically to all muskets of this type used throughout the 18th century.
The weapon itself weighed nearly 10 pounds, and had limited accuracy, with a range of perhaps 100 yards. Moreover, the loading process was involved (as seen in the video above):
The video below illustrates how a well regimented soldier would follow commands precisely. Now imagine a line of these soldiers standing their ground while facing an opposing army, as the British did on Bunker Hill in 1775....
During the Revolutionary War, the standard issue firearm for both the American revolutionaries and the British military, was the barrel-loading flintlock musket. The actual "Brown Bess" refers to the Land Pattern Musket, produced in mass quantities by Britain in 1722. The name remains somewhat of a mystery, but may have been a reference to the walnut stocks (a rich brown color), the anti-rust treatment given to the barrels which resulted in a deep brown appearance to the gun, or a bastardization of the German phrase for strong gun: braun buss.
Although many adaptations were made to this weapon, the generic name "Brown Bess" has been applied generically to all muskets of this type used throughout the 18th century.
The weapon itself weighed nearly 10 pounds, and had limited accuracy, with a range of perhaps 100 yards. Moreover, the loading process was involved (as seen in the video above):
- Bite the cartridge.
- Push the frizzen forward to open the pan and pour a small amount of powder into the flash pan.
- Snap the frizzen back to position covering the flash pan.
- Hold the musket vertically so that the muzzle is up.
- Pour the remaining powder down the barrel.
- Insert the bullet in the barrel.
- Push the cartridge paper into the barrel
- Remove ramrod from pipe under the barrel and use to push wadding and bullet down the barrel.
- Replace the ramrod.
- Raise musket to firing position with the butt against the shoulder.
- Pull back the hammer.
- Aim and fire!
The video below illustrates how a well regimented soldier would follow commands precisely. Now imagine a line of these soldiers standing their ground while facing an opposing army, as the British did on Bunker Hill in 1775....
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment