Re: Rifles, Tomahawks & Tactics

Posted by Bill Rooks on January 03, 1998 at 17:19:56:

In Reply to: Re: Rifles, Tomahawks & Tactics posted by Victoria on January 03, 1998 at 07:52:57:

Victoria,

Women were constant companions during campaigns of the 18th century. As you say, making cartridges, loading weapons, and other martial tasks as they could. And of course rolling bandages, cooking, mending and sewing, caring for the hurt and sick. Often wives accompanied their menfolk. And often, there
were the true "camp followers" profiting from the army as camp followers have ever since Gabriel's army.

As to shortening muskets.....in the F&I reenactment groups there were two schools of thought....that the Rangers cut off their muskets to shorter size to be more manageable in dense woods etc....and those who say they did not. Also two schools of thought as to browning the barrels of their muskets to cut the tell tale glare....or they did not. I personally don't know of any great deal of evidence either way. One seems common sense to us, while may not have seemed all that much common sense to those back then. Many muskets (of the trade variety) and fowling pieces were shorter in length than the Bessie. Made that way.
But as to cutting the barrel down on a perfectly good musket so a
woman could participate with a gun more her size....? I have not heard of such a thing.

Bill R.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Rifles, Tomahawks & Tactics George A. Bray III 21:10:14 1/03/98 (2)
  • Re: Rifles, Tomahawks & Tactics Victoria 07:43:57 1/04/98 (1)
    • Re: Rifles, Tomahawks & Tactics George A. Bray III 14:17:57 1/04/98 (0)

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: Victoria,

: Women were constant companions during campaigns of the 18th century.  As you say, making cartridges, loading weapons, and other martial tasks as they could.  And of course rolling bandages, cooking, mending and sewing, caring for the hurt and sick.  Often wives accompanied their menfolk.  And often, there
: were the true "camp followers" profiting from the army as camp followers have ever since Gabriel's army.

: As to shortening muskets.....in the F&I reenactment groups there were two schools of thought....that the Rangers cut off their muskets to shorter size to be more manageable in dense woods etc....and those who say they did not.  Also two schools of thought as to browning the barrels of their muskets to cut the tell tale glare....or they did not.  I personally don't know of any great deal of evidence either way.  One seems common sense to us, while may not have seemed all that much common sense to those back then.  Many muskets (of the trade variety) and fowling pieces were shorter in length than the Bessie.  Made that way.
: But as to cutting the barrel down on a perfectly good musket so a
: woman could participate with a gun more her size....?  I have not heard of such a thing.

: Bill R.


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