Brown Bess History

[davidthered]

This is a great website from the 11th Penn. Re-enactment group, ALL you could ever want to know about the Complete history of the fabled Brown Bess.
Brown Bess History CLICK ME!!!

 

[musketman]

This is going in the links under general reading...

Thanks...

 

[davidthered]

Does make for great reading, eh?

 

There is a smal book available at rack called Red Coat & Brown Bess that is very good reading as well. It covers the history as well as variations, life of the period, etc. For less than $10.00 is is great.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have that one and it certainly is worth the cost. DGW carries it. An even cheaper spot to do some quick searching (and drooling) is:

http://www.therifleshoppe.com/english_arms.htm

Some good Bess descriptions and images.

 

[casey4469]

Very Good article! I had to save this one in my favorites for later info.

 

[Gary]

Brown Bess wasn't browned at the beginning of the French Indian War but she certainly was by 1759. Now, after the war, while I haven't found any documentation, the old practice of scrubbing the metal bright probably returned (much to the disgust of those who remained in service).

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

By D. Michael Ryan, Historian with the Concord and Lincoln Minute Men, an 18th Century volunteer history interpreter with the National Park Service and Associate Dean of Students at Boston College.Brown Bess(The Army Musket -- 1700-1815)

In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes, and brocadeBrown 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 confessThey were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess. by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

By the time Kipling wrote this ode to the British soldier's flintlock companion, the musket itself had passed into history. Yet the charms of the name Brown Bess live on. Attend an American Revolution re-enactment, speak with an historical interpreter, or even consult The Encyclopedia Britannica and you will be told that the firearm carried on both sides during the War for Independence was known to the soldiers as "the Brown Bess." But that is not exactly right. And the source of the error is itself an interesting story that takes us back in history. "Brown Bess" Term Rarely Used OfficiallyIn 1722, a British Ordnince Office decree established a standard army musket, known as the Long Land Pattern Service Musket. It was a full 62 inches long while the minimum height requirement for soldiers was only 67 inches. In time, it was discovered that a shorter barrel was just as accurate (or inaccurate), and thus some British regiments adopted a smaller, less cumbersome version. After the French and Indian War, the British army sought to reduce the weight carried by all its soldiers and improve their mobility, so in 1768, it introduced the Short Land Musket (New Pattern), with the barrel reduced by four inches. British soldiers during the American Revolution carried this model. Since under British law, all men in the colonies had to belong to the local militia and own a musket, some colonists would also have carried such muskets, while others would have been armed with a mix of hunting rifles, fowling pieces, or Dutch or French muskets. At the Revolution's inception, colonial gunsmiths were producing a simple, less expensive copy of the Short Land weapon, often called a Provincial or Committee of Safety musket. The names we find for these weapons in historical documents, British and American military records, personal diaries, and other writings at the time vary: firelocks, flintlocks, the King's Arms, Long Land muskets, Short Land muskets, or simply muskets. Rarely, if ever, is the term "Brown Bess" found. Where Do "Brown" and "Bess" Come From?From where, then, comes the contemporary use of this name for 18th century firearms? Although the origin of the term is obscure, there is no shortage of conjecture or myth. The phrase "brown musket" appeared as early as 1708. It may have referred to the color of the walnut wood from which gun stocks were made. It may have derived from a chemical treatment of gun barrels dating to the 1630s, which helped prevent rust and inhibited corrosion. Known as russeting, this process made the barrel a rich brown. However, at the time of the Revolution, the British Army preferred a bright metal appearance to its weapons, so chemical browning was not used, and some sources suggest that the gun stocks may also have been painted various colors. Speculation on the origins of "Bess" are equally varied. Some believe it to be associated with Queen Elizabeth, who reigned from 1558 to 1603. Such is not likely, as she had been dead for over a hundred years before the Long Land musket entered service, and soldiers would have had no obvious reason to honor her. Soldiers might, however, have used artful alliteration to coin a name, since Brown Bess flows easily in speech, in a way that Brown Lydia or Peg does not. One folk tale attributes the name to a notorious (but popular) highwayman of the time whose horse was named "Black Bess." Further speculation focuses on the possible corruption of two foreign words: the Dutch "buss" for gun barrel (as in blunderbuss), and the German "B

 

[LSU TIGER]

As an interesting side note to this thread, Mexican troops under Santa Ana carried Brown Bess muskets and Baker rifles during the seige of the Alamo in 1836. Sixty years after the Declaration of Independence, the Brown Bess was pitted against the American Longrifle. ::

 

Right-on - as well, at that time, there were still muskets called "Escopeta's" with Miquelete locks being used in the Mexican army.

 

[musketman]

There is also an old, old post called...

"How the Brown Bess got it's name."

 

[robinghewitt]

My theory is that it was music hall. Starting with Good Queen Bess the name gained a trusty familiar ring. Infamous highwayman Dick Turpin (a very popular music hall character) had his horse renamed Black Bess (said horse guaranted to die on stage bringing a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye) and Bess rhymes more easily...

If ever a soldier had reason to bless
Any arm, save his mother's,
That arm was the long land pattern musket ::

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

Can you remember all this? :hmm:

"The Manual Exercise, as ordered by His Majesty, in 1764"


1. Poise your Firelocks!

1. Seize the Firelock with your right Hand, and turn the Lock outwards, keeping the Firelock perpendicular.

2. Bring up the Firelock with a quick Motion from the Shoulder, and seize it with the left Hand just above the Lock, so that the little Finger may rest upon the Spring, and the Thumb lie upon the Stock: The Firelock must not be held too far from the Body, and the left Hand must be of an equal Height with the Eyes.

2. Cock your Firelocks!

1. Turn the Barrel opposite to your Face, and place your Thumb upon the Cock, raising the Elbow square at this motion.

2. Cock your Firelock, by drawing your Elbow down, placing your Thumb upon the Breech Pin, and the Fingers under the Guard.

3. Present!

1. Step back about six Inches to the Rear with the Right Foot, bring the left Toe to the Front; at the same time the Butt End of the Firelock must be brought to an equal Height with your Shoulder, placing the left Hand upon the Swell, and the Fore-Finger of the right Hand before the Tricker, sinking the Muzzle a little.

4. Fire!

1. Pull the Tricker briskly, and immediately after bringing up the right Foot, come to the Priming Position, with the Lock opposite to the right Breast, the Muzzle the Height of the Hat, keeping it firm and steady, and at the same Time seize the Cock with the Fore-Finger and Thumb of the right Hand, the Back of the Hand turn'd up.

5. Half Cock your Firelocks!

1. Half bend the Cock briskly with a draw back of the right Elbow, bringing it close to the Butt of the Firelock.

6. Handle your Cartridge!

1. Bring your right Hand with a short Round to your Pouch, slapping it hard; seize the Cartridge, and bring it with a quick motion to your Mouth, bite the Top well off and bring the Hand as low as the Chin, with the Elbow down.

7. Prime!

1. Shake the Powder into the Pan, Placing the three left Fingers behind the Hammer, with the Elbow up.

8. Shut your Pans!

1. Shut your Pan briskly, drawing your right Arm at this Motion towards your Body, holding the Cartridge fast in your Hand, as in the former Position.

2. Turn the Piece nimbly round to the loading Position, with the Lock to the Front, and the Muzzle the Height of the Chin, bringing the right Hand behind the Muzzle; both Feet kept fast in this Motion.

9. Charge with Cartridge!

1. Turn up your Hand and put the Cartridge into the Muzzle, shaking the Powder into the Barrel.

2. Place your Hand, closed, with a quick and strong Motion, upon the Rammer.

10. Draw your Rammers!

1. Draw the Rammer with a quick Motion, half out, seizing it at the Muzzle back-handed.

2. Draw it quite out, turn it, and enter it into the Muzzle.

11. Ram down your Cartridge!

1. Ram the Cartridge well down the Barrel, instantly recovering and seizing the Rammer back-handed at the Center, turning it and enter it as far as the lower Pipe, placing at the same Time the Edge of the Hand on the Butt End of the Rammer, with Fingers extended.

12. Return your Rammers!

1. Return the Rammer, bringing up the Piece with the left Hand to the Shoulder, seizing it with the right Hand under the Cock, keeping the left Hand fast at the Swell, turning the Body square to the Front.

13. Shoulder your Firelocks!

1. Quit the left Hand and place it strong upon the Butt.

2. Quit the right Hand and throw it down the right Side.

14. Rest your Firelocks!

1. Seize the Firelock with the right Hand, turning the Lock outwards.

2. Raise the Firelock from your Shoulder, and place your left Hand with a quick Motion above the Lock, holding the Piece right up and down in both Hands before you, and your left Hand even with your Eyes.

3. Step briskly back with your right Foot, placing it a Hand's Breadth distant from your left Heel, at the same Time bring down the Firelock as quick as possible to the Rest, sinking it as far down before your left Knee as your right Hand will permit without constraint; your left Hand at the Feather Spring, and your right with Fingers extended held under the Guard, taking care to draw in the Muzzle well towards your Body, and to dress in a Line with the Butt-End.

15. Order your Firelocks!

1. Place your Firelock nimbly with your left Hand against your right Shoulder.

2. Quit the Firelock with the right Hand, and sinking it at the same Time with your Left, seize it at the Muzzle, which must be of an equal Height with your Chin, and hold it close against your right Side.

3. Lift up your right Foot and place it by your Left; at the same Time throw back your left Hand by your left Side, and with your Right, bring down the Butt-End strong upon the Ground, placing it even with the Toe of your right Foot; the Thumb of your right Hand lying along the Barrel, and the Muzzle kept at a little Distance from your Body.

16. Ground your Firelocks!

1. Face to the Right upon your Heels, and at the same Time turn the Firelock so that the Lock may point to the Rear, and the flat of the Butt-End lie against the inside of your Foot, at the same Time slipping the right Foot behind the Butt of the Firelock, the right Toe pointing to the Right, and the Left to the Front.

2. Step directly forward with your left Foot about as far as the Swell of the Firelock, and lay it upon the Ground, your left Hand hanging down by your left Foot, and your Right kept fast with the Butt-End against it.

3. Raise yourself up nimbly, bringing back your left Foot to its former Position, keeping your Body faced to the Right.

4. Face again to the Left upon your Heels and come to your proper Front, letting your Hands hang down without Motion.

17. Take up your Firelocks!

1. Face to the Right upon both Heels.

2. Sink your Body down, and come to the Position described in the second Motion of Grounding.

3. Raise yourself, and Firelock, bringing it close to your right Side.

4. Come to your proper Front, seizing the Firelock at the Muzzle, and come to the Order.

18. Rest your Firelocks!

1. Slip your right Hand down the Barrel as far as the Swell.

2. Raise the Firelock high up in a perpendicular Line from the Ground with your right Hand, and seize it with the left above the Spring, the Cock the Height of the Waist-Belt.

3. Step back with your right Foot, placing it behind your left Heel, and come to the Rest.

19. Shoulder your Firelocks!

1. Lift up your right Foot and place it by your Left; bring the Firelock at the same Time to your left Shoulder, and seize the Butt-End with the left Hand, keeping it in the same Position as above described.

2. Throw your right Hand briskly back.

20. Secure your Firelocks!

1. Bring the right Hand briskly up, and place it under the Cock, keeping the Firelock steady in the same Position.

2. Quit the Butt with the left Hand, and seize the Firelock with it at the Swell, bringing the Elbow close down under the Lock: The right Hand kept fast in this Motion, and the Piece still upright.

3. Quit the right Hand and bring it down your right Side, bring your Firelock nimbly down to the Secure; the left Hand in a Line with the Waist-Belt.

21. Shoulder your Firelocks!

1. Bring the Firelock up to a perpendicular Line, seizing it with the right Hand under the Cock.

2. Quit the left Hand, and place it strong upon the Butt.

3. Quit the right Hand, and bring it smartly down the right Side.

22. Fix your Bayonets!

1. Bring the right Hand briskly up, and place it under the Cock, keeping the Firelock steady in the same Position.

2. Quit the Butt with the left Hand, and seize the Firelock with it at the Swell, bringing the Elbow close down under the Lock: The right Hand kept fast in this Motion, and the Piece still upright.

3. Quit the right Hand, and bring the Firelock smartly down to the left Side with the left Hand, as far as it will admit without Constraint, seizing the Bayonet at the same Time with the right Hand, and fixing it, placing that Hand just below the Brass, with the Piece kept close to the hollow of the Shoulder.

23. Shoulder your Firelocks!

1. Quit the right Hand, and bring up the Firelock with the Left, seize it again under the Cock with your Right, as in the second Motion of the Secure.

2. Quit the left Hand, and place it strong upon the Butt.

3. Quit the right Hand, and bring it down the right Side.

24. Present your Arms!

As explained in the three Motions of the fourteenth Word of Command.

25. To the Right Face!

1. Bring up the Firelock, with a quick Motion high before you, till your left Hand comes even with your Eyes, with the Fingers of that Hand extended along the Stock, just above the Feather Spring. The right Foot to be brought close up to the Left Heel in this Motion.

2. Face to the Right, taking care in Facing to hold the Firelock right up and down, and steady in your Hands.

3. Step back with your right Foot and come down to your Present.

26. To the Right Face!

As in the foregoing Explanation.

27. To the Right About Face!

As in the foregoing Explanation, coming to the Right about, instead of to the Right.

28. To the Left Face!

1. Bring the right Foot briskly to the Hollow of your Left, with the Firelock in the same Position as in the first Motion of facing to the Right.

2. Face to the Left.

3. Come down to your Present.

29. To the Left Face!

As before.

30. To the Left About Face!

As before, coming to the Left about, instead of to the Left.

31. Shoulder your Firelocks!

As in the two Motions of Explanation nineteen.

32. Charge your Bayonets!

1. As in Explanation one.

2. Bring the Swell of the Firelock down strong upon the Palm of the Hand, turning upon both Heels to the Right, the right Hand grasping the Piece at the Small behind the Lock, and as high as the Waist-Belt: The Firelock upon a level, with the Barrel upwards.

33. Shoulder your Firelocks!

1. Bring up the Firelock to the Shoulder, place the right Hand upon the Butt, bringing the Feet square to the Front.

2. Quit the right Hand, and throw it down the right Side.

34. Advance your Arms!

1. & 2. as in Explanation one.

3. Bring the Firelock down the right Side with the right Hand, as low as it will admit without Constraint, slipping the left Hand at the same Time to the Swell, the Guard between the Thumb and Fore-Finger of the right Hand, the three last Fingers under the Cock, with the Barrel to the Rear.

4. Quit the left Hand.

35. Shoulder your Firelocks!

1. Bring up the left Hand and seize the Piece at the Swell.

2. Come smartly up to a Poise.

3. & 4. Shoulder.

 

[davidthered]

Why, yes... i have to do this stuff every event. I'm telling you, it sure looks grand with 2 or even 3 ranks of British soldiers all doing this at the same time.
Firing by volleys, or even rolling volleys, are sweet!

 

[musketman]

Firing by volleys, or even rolling volleys, are sweet!

Could you please tell everyone the difference between firing by volleys and rolling volleys?

I got a good idea, but want to hear it right from the ranks of those that do...