Page 43 - ASM Book 9/2020

How to Load a Musket
Continental soldiers could only fire their muskets an average of two times a minute. Loading a musket was a time-consuming process that involved a number of steps. If any step was skipped the musket would not fire or might even explode in their face.
When commanded by a superior officer, here are the procedures to load a musket. •PrimeandLoad -Positionthemusketaquarterturntotheright.
• Handle Cartridge - Remove a cartridge from the cartridge box. Rip or bite the paper off. Hold the ball and cartridge in the right hand. (A paper cartridge contains a pre-measured amount of black powder and a musket ball.)
• Prime - Pull the hammer (or dog-head) back to half cock. Pour a small amount of black powder from the paper cartridge into the priming pan. Close the frizzen and tap the black powder.
• About - Lower the musket butt to the ground. Pour the rest of the black powder into the muzzle and add the ball and wadding.
• Draw Ramrods - Remove the ramrod from beneath the barrel. Place the ramrod into the barrel and firmly tap the ball and wadding to the bottom of the barrel with two firm taps. Return the ramrod to the channel.
• Present - Bring the butt to your
shoulder. Aim the weapon in the
direction of the enemy. Pull the cock all
the way back.
• Fire - Pull the trigger back then
squeeze to make the weapon discharge.
On the battlefield, it was more efficient to fire muskets in unison rather than individually, because they were unreliable at hitting targets.
Each man had to provide his own weapon. Most of the time they brought the weapon that was used for protection and to provide food for their families.
• Brown Bess was a muzzle-loading smoothbore musket that was used by the Americans and British. The
effective firing range was only 50 to 100 yards, and was not very accurate.
• Charleville Muskets was another popular musket that was imported from France.
• American made muskets were produced by local gunsmiths that were made with reused parts from other weapons.
• American long rifles were developed in the early 1700s for frontiersmen. With a range up to 300 yards they were more accurate than a musket.
• Bayonets were used for close combat when a musket or long rifle could not be reloaded. They were hand forged by local blacksmiths or soldiers.
Charleville Musket
37
Brown Bess Musket