The Brown Bess

The standard infantry musket for both sides of the American Revolutionary War was the Short Land Service Musket (New Pattern), better known as the Brown Bess. It was called a pattern musket because its parts were standardized, with the original parts kept in a pattern vault, so standardized and interchangeable parts could be made.   The American colonists were required by law to be part of a militia, and the local militias usually had British Brown Bess muskets. 

The Brown Bess was not designed particularly for accurate aimed fire.  It was accurate for about 50-70 yards, and was usually fired during a marching charge across a field of battle.  It was fired in volleys, roughly aimed at the enemy, to be followed by a bayonet charge that decided the battle. 

The Brown Bess had a smooth bore, could fire about 4 shots per minute, weighed 10 pounds, fired a .75 caliber ball, and was reloaded with powder in a paper cartridge. The powder used left quite a bit of residue in the barrel, and could not be fired a large number of times before cleaning.  To compensate for the sludge buildup, the ball was smaller than the barrel, which decreased its accuracy.  It  bounced from side to side in the barrel, and left the barrel on a trajectory determined by its last bounce.

The First Foot Guards is a Revolutionary War reenactment group in Boston, MA, and has a site with much information on the Brown Bess and other era guns and history. 

Photos by permission of First Foot Guards.

Rudyard Kipling had this to say about the Brown Bess:

Brown Bess
(The Army Musket -- 1700-1815)  

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.

Tomorrow: England's secret weapon in the American Revolutionary War, that was 100 years ahead of its time. 

Comments

[J. Russell Smith]

I have what I believe to be an early Brown Bess. It was found in the roof of our family croft in Morayshire ,Scotland. All the furniture is iron & there is no provision for either sling or bayonet, The barrel is 37 ins.long & on top of the stock there is a silver metal shield .The lock plate is held in place with wooden dowels.If you can supply any info. as to its origins etc. I would be grateful.

hi my name is TJ. Whats yours?

[Web]

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