9/27/2012

In "Battle of New Orleans — January 8th, 1815” by artist Don Troiani, light troops of the British 7th, 43rd and 93rd Regiments attack the Levee Redoubt on the American right. The battle, sadly, occurred after peace had been signed.

This year marks the bicentennial of the War of 1812—a conflict that, though largely ignored by the general public and academics, was a fascinating exercise of arms. The war marked an important early entry onto the world stage for the United States, established Britain’s Canadian territories as a definitive entity, and exacerbated the difficulties of Native Americans. The war also provided us with two of our most enduring national legends, the bombardment of Fort McHenry and the Battle of New Orleans.

The fledgling American nation deserves credit for having the courage to take on the world’s superpower at the time, Great Britain. King George III had established a situation whereby any nation trading with France and other European countries had to first stop in England and pay a duty. Needless to say, this did not go over well with the neutral Yankees who depended a great deal on an unfettered economic relationship with Continental Europe.

Added to this was Britain’s high-handed practice of stopping American vessels on the high seas and forcibly taking seamen into the Royal Navy—never mind that the sailors might be naturalized U.S. citizens. It is estimated that some 6,000 men were so impressed into the King’s service.

In July 1812 the United States declared war on Great Britain, which was at war with France and little concerned with the young, upstart nation. Still a couple of stunning, unexpected American naval victories caused the British to take things more seriously, and the war began in earnest.

The United States at the time distrusted a large standing national army, so much of the fighting was done by militiamen and volunteers, and most of the men and leaders were woefully unprepared for the conflict. What they lacked in experience they thought they could make up in enthusiasm. Unfortunately that was not the case. On the British side there were regulars, Canadian militia and Native Americans whose preeminent leader, the Shawnee chieftain, Tecumseh, thought it would be in his people’s best interest to join the English, thus rekindling an alliance seen in two previous conflicts.

This wide variety of troops meant that there was also a broad selection of longarms fielded, including older, refurbished muskets, carbines and rifles and new, up-to-date-firelocks. As well, many civilian arms—blunderbusses to long rifles—were employed in some manner or another. Many Indians carried military muskets or trade guns, and sea service small arms were issued by both sides, but the latter are beyond the purview of this article. Here, we’ll take a look at a representative selection of the most widely used smoothbores and rifles employed in the conflict.

The Americans
Prior to 1794 Springfield Arsenal was a repository of firearms, rather than a manufacturer. The facility was storing thousands of French muskets, mostly Model 1763s and 1766s, left over from the Revolution. Some of those guns would ultimately find their way into the hands of Americans during the War of 1812, but it was decided by the authorities that as well as importing other foreign arms, including some from Britain, the United States needed an indigenous musket of its own.

Based on the military’s experience with, and confidence in, French muskets, it was deemed prudent to model the new musket after the French pattern arms. The official period designation was “U.S. Musket, Charleville pattern,” known today by collectors as the “Model 1795,” a term we will use hereon for the sake of convenience. The 1795 was a handsome piece, its overall look and construction leaving no doubt as to its Gallic inspiration. It had a flat lockplate with reinforced cock—flat or rounded depending upon when the gun was made—full-length walnut stock, three iron barrel bands (and iron furniture) and a 44 1/2-inch to 44 3/4-inch, .69-cal. smoothbore barrel. Its finish was bright. In 1800 another armory, Harper’s Ferry, also began producing Model 1795s.

Strangely enough, early “First Model” 1795s actually had their triangular bayonets brazed to their barrels, so they could not be removed. That odd practice was soon changed and the soldiers were issued separate 12- to 15 7/8-inch-bladed bayonets, which could be fitted over a stud at the muzzle and held in place by working the stud through an angular channel in the socket. A front sight blade was provided on the top of the front barrel band, though there was no rear sight notch.

As the output at Springfield in the early years was about 1,000 muskets per year, it was also thought wise to let out contracts to private gunmakers for 1795s, resulting in a large number of guns seen with contractor names on their lockplates. Those made at the national arsenals were dated on their locks and identified as to origin. There was also an eagle and “U.S.” Depending upon the date of manufacture, the styles of these markings would vary.

In fact, there were three distinct variations of the 1795 during its 20-year history of production, which have been broken down by modern collectors into specific model designations, a thing that was not done at the time.

Some states, such as Pennsylvania and Virginia, were not completely happy with the quantities of arms being turned out at Springfield and Harpers Ferry and made or contracted for arms of their own, most based on the French 1763 and U.S. Model 1795 patterns. Efforts by both the federal and state makers were eminently successful, and by the beginning of the war it is estimated that there were more than 200,000 muskets in U.S. armories.

Rifles also saw considerable use. Though by no means the most prevalent arm of its type in the war, the American longrifle has achieved the most notoriety because of its use by colorful volunteers, especially those from Kentucky.

The longrifle, which first appeared in the early part of the 18th century, evolved from shorter jaeger-style arms made by German and Swiss gunsmiths, many of whom settled in Pennsylvania. While styles varied considerably, most had, as their name implied, extended barrels often of 40 inches or more. They were usually of relatively small caliber as gunpowder and lead were expensive and this allowed the guns’ owners to take full advantage of what meager resources they had at their disposal. Decoration, involving wooden, brass, iron and sometimes silver patchboxes was common, as was carving and other inlays and embellishments.

The term “Kentucky Rifle,” while not in use at the time of the War of 1812, very probably was a result of the fray. During the famed Battle of New Orleans along with local civilians, pirates, state militia, and regulars, there were a number of Kentucky volunteers, many of whom were armed with longrifles.

In 1824 a popular song, “The Hunters of Kentucky,” appeared extolling the achievements of the Kentuckians at New Orleans, virtually inferring the frontiersmen won the battle single-handed. Actually the battle was decided more by artillery in fixed emplacements and rigid British tactics than by small arms, but no matter, the catchy tune caught on. With such verses as, “I s’pose you’ve read it in prints, how Packenham attempted/ To make old Hickory Jackson wince, but soon his schemes repented/ For we with rifles ready cocked, thought such occasion lucky/ And soon around the general flocked the hunters of Kentucky… . But Jackson he was wide awake, and wasn’t scared at trifles/ For well he knew what aim we take with our Kentucky rifles 
… .” The name, too, caught on, and since then has become the longrifle’s most common moniker.

Actually, the main American rifle during the War of 1812 was a federal project, the Model 1803. It was the first such gun manufactured by the U.S. Government.

Rather than following the style of the traditional longrifle, the 1803—considered by many to be one of the most beautiful American guns ever designed—was half-stocked and had a relatively short 33-inch half-round, half-octagon barrel. Caliber was .54 and furniture, to include a patchbox, was brass. Like the “Kentucky,” the Model 1803 could not be fitted with a bayonet, a tradition that carried on in the U.S. military for a good number of years. The Model 1803 was made solely at Harpers Ferry. Between 1803 and 1807 some 4,032 were manufactured, at which time production was stopped because of the light need for rifles and the limited numbers of rifle units extant.