Military musket loading

[barebackjack]

I have a few questions im not clear on.

How were military muskets loaded in the french and indian war on through the civil war era?

Brown bess' of revolution era shot round balls, were these balls patched then and there, or contained in some sort of paper "cartridge" like minnie balls of the civil war era? Was there a difference between loading the smoothbores and rifles?
Also, can someone explain the loading sequence of the round ball era versus the minnie ball era? Was the paper from a "cartridge" rammed down also? etc etc etc

Any info would be great on this subject.

Thanks

 

[RedFeather]

As far as I know, the smoothbore muskets of the late 18th/early 19th century primarily used paper catridges. Usually, the ball was tied off on one end and powder loaded into the remainer of a paper tube. The shooter tore the paper off with his teeth, dumped the powder in and then simply rammed the ball, paper and all, down bore. (It was common for a lot of young English and Irish lads to knock out their front teeth to avoid subscription.) As to the Civil War Minnie ball (or bullet), it also used a paper cartridge. The soldier would tear off the bottom with his teeth, pour in the powder, but I'm not sure if the bullet was meant to be loaded naked or not. Some loads were also "buck and ball" or several rounds of buckshot over a large ball. That would have been loaded paper and all.

I've seen paper cartrdiges made up for a Brown Bess that were dipped in lube, but not sure if the army loadings were this way.

 

[Craig]

French and Indian War through American Civil War, muskets, flintlock, were loaded by taking a paper cartridge with powder and ball, putting small amount of powder in pan, the rest of powder down barrel then the ball and finally the paper as a wadding. Percussion lock guns (Civil War) eliminated the powder in the pan. After the barrel was loaded, a cap was put on the nipple at the lock.

 

[barebackjack]

So in the era of the round ball, there was no cloth patch instead just paper?

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[grant]

Here's an interestig link on this subject:http://www.nps.gov/archive/fosc/weapons_info3.htm
Also see this one:http://www.cvco.org/sigs/reg64/1764.html

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

So in the era of the round ball, there was no cloth patch instead just paper?

Thanks for the info guys.

The smoothbore musket in US service had no patch, rifles (M1792, M1803, M1814, M 1819, M1841) did use pre-patched round balls but the soldier was provided cartridges with un-patched round balls for rapid loading for obvious reasons. Paper cartridge for the smoothbore might provide a "patch" of sorts if it did not get torn off in loading. The ball was undersized to aid in rapid loading and accuracy with the smoothbore was not considered important, volume and rapidity of fire was what counted.

 

[ResearchPress]

See Enfield Paper Cartridges - Loading on my web site for info. on loading during the Civil War.

David

 

[mmahlock]

Not necessarily. During the French and Indian and Revolutionary War those carrying rifles in the British Army also carried loose powder and ball in addition to premade cartridges. After 1800 Rifle Regiments were provided or made their own cartidges that included either linen or leather patched balls as well as unpatched balls. They also used loose powder and patched balls.

 

[grant]

I read somewhere that the British army would provide cartridge paper, twine, loose powder, and balls to boys for them to make up cartridges. The boys would be paid 1 shilling 6 pence per 1000 cartridges.

 

[RedFeather]

I read somewhere that the British army would provide cartridge paper, twine, loose powder, and balls to boys for them to make up cartridges. The boys would be paid 1 shilling 6 pence per 1000 cartridges.

Even Uncle Sam could be cheap. Soldiers during the Indian Wards were given the option of reloading for the .45-70 and got a little extra money for saving the government the expense of new ammunition.

 

[davy]

A question here ... what paper would you now use to make these cartridges .. knowing of course you would need to tear them with your teeth! :shocked2:

Anybody got a complete tutorial on making these cartridges from scratch? :hmm:

Thanx

Davy

 

[ResearchPress]

Anybody got a complete tutorial on making these cartridges from scratch?

For Enfield cartridges see: Roll Your Own!

David

 

[Tumblernotch]

We have had a discussion about rolling cartridges in the Civil War Forum under Cartridge Loading. They are the instructions for the U.S. pattern Elongated Ball Cartridge
:grin: