Category «Weaponry & Munitions»

Gunpowder and its Supply in the American Revolution

The supply of gunpowder haunted George Washington and the Continental Congress throughout the entire Revolutionary War.  The vast quantity of powder came from sources overseas , around 90% from French Colonies in the West Indies. The other 10% was produced domestically. With dwindling powder supplies and only three powder mills in operation in all of …

Brown Bess – Musket of the American Revolution

The preferred choice of musket, (also labeled as flintlock, firelock, or smoothbore) in the British Army and subsequently in the American Army during the American Revolution was the Brown Bess. “Rugged, simple, sturdy, and terrible at close quarters”, when fired (if it fired), this smooth bore (grove bored were ‘rifled muskets’, later simply called rifles), …