T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E C O N T E M P O R A R Y L O N G R I F L E A S S O C I A T I O N VOLUME 6, NO. 2
SUMMER 2015
HEAR YE • HEAR YE • HEAR YE
The 2015 CLF Fundraising Auction will be held on Friday, August 14, 2015 at 5:00pm The theme is:
Contemporary Artists, Traditional Art Support the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation by attending the Annual Auction. For more details on artists and auction items see pages 40-50.
If you have additional questions call or email: Heinz Ahlers at (513) 207-2823 • heinzahlers@zoomtown.com
T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E C O N T E M P O R A R Y L O N G R I F L E A S S O C I A T I O N
CONTENTS
Volume 6, No. 2 • Summer 2015 EDITOR John W. Hayes
2. EDITOR’S NOTE
ASSOCIATE EDITORS -
3. "THE MOST HARDY WARLIKE PEOPLE": RIFLEMEN IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Joshua Sheppard
ART DIRECTOR John W. Hayes Summer Criswell Walter
16. GOOD POWDER HORNS, FOR THE USE OF THE TROOPS Joshua Shepherd
PRODUCTION MANAGER Summer Criswell Walter COPY EDITOR John W. Hayes
25. CHARLEVILLE SHOULDER WEAPONS IN NEW FRANCE Kevin Gélinas
PHOTOGRAPHERS Ric Lambert Jan Riser
36. FRENCH INFLUENCE FOUND ON AMERICAN-MADE GUNS John W. Hayes & Ken Gahagan
ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Rachel Nolen RESEARCH DEPARTMENT Dan Brawner Kyle Carroll
40. 2015 CLF FUNDRAISING AUCTION:
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS TRADITIONAL ART
H. David Wright
51. BOOK REVIEWS: - Before They Were Heroes at King’s Mountain by Randell Jones - Shadows in the Forest: Woodland Warriors of the Mississippi Valley by Tim L. Jarvis Reviewed by Joshua Sheppard
AMERICAN TRADITION is the official publication of the Contemporary Longrifle Association and is published twice a year for the membership. Annual membership dues are $50.00. To join the CLA or for more information, contact: The Contemporary Longrifle Association, P.O. Box 2247, Staunton, VA 24402. Phone: 540 886-6189. Email: cla@longrifle.ws. Website: www.longrifle.com
Front Cover:
On the cover of this issue are two rifles in a composite. The background is a detail of the “C & S-scroll” relief carving behind the cheek-piece on an original J.P. Beck rifle. The overlay is a rifle in the J.P. Beck style by Bill Pritchard. This off side showcases the carving behind the cheek piece. Though it may not be the first image that comes to mind, because the images is opposite of the lock, it is the most common view of the stock and cheek piece that, we as shooters see.
Copyright 2015 by the not-for-profit Contemporary Longrifle Association, all rights reserved. CONTACTING THE EDITOR: For editorial inquiries, contact John W. Hayes at <jwhcrosshares@yahoo.com>, phone 218-327-3546. Mail written material to: John Hayes, 38110 County Rd 469, Cohasset, MN 55721 Printed by Modern Litho Jefferson City, MO 65101 American Tradition
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EDITOR’S NOTE RIC LAMBERT
T
he subject of my message is transition. This is my last issue as editor of the American Tradition. Thank you for allowing me to serve you, to edit, and work for you all. I confess though, I am more writer than editor and I look forward to writing again.
Summer Walters, Ric and Pamela Lambert, and the author Joshua Sheppard, I am sincerely thankful. To the former team of Mel Hankala, H. David Wright, and Frank House, you started a great publication, I appreciate all the phone time you gave to me during and after the transition.
The readers of this publication have been blessed by the contributions of writers, photographers and artists. The articles emanated from the desire to express how we are still connected with our past and why the original and contemporary pieces are relevant. The work and craftsmanship of the artists is a testimony to the research required to understand those original pieces; and furthermore, the training and experience required to produce contemporary pieces which tastefully celebrate the originals. The extensive photography has provided the CLA with an abundance of images showing original and contemporary pieces. We are blessed with this abundance; however, it is a scintilla of the wealth of knowledge and history that remains untapped within the body of the CLA. Worse yet, this same abundance rarely sees the light of day outside of our membership. Therefore, take notice all you members! It is time to transition your thinking into how the CLA might be served by your efforts. There will be new recruitment projects on the horizon. Be a willing participant. Offer your time, talents, and knowledge but most of all your cooperation for the benefit of the organization.
To those bastions of friendship, namely Mark Sage and Eugene Shadley, you kept me moving forward and I cannot thank you enough. Thank you to the folks behind the scenes: Rachel, Ashley and Gordon. Thank you to the authors who provided articles, the artists who worked with the AT’s team and the sponsors who supported each issue. Thank you to the Contemporary Longrifle Association who funds the first issue and the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation who funds the second issue. And to these two boards, you made me feel welcome and I appreciate the fact that you listened to my perspective. n
John W. Hayes John W. Hayes, Outgoing Editor
In closing, I cannot leave this position without thanking God for putting me here. I thank my wife for her constant support and my children who came to understand my need to travel at those times of the year which were terribly inconvenient for them. To those folks who supported me and worked with me throughout this endeavor, namely “The Team” of For more info on Bill Pritchard's J.P. Beck rifle, see page 6.
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"The Most Hardy Warlike People": Riflemen in the
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American Revolution Joshua Shepherd
“T
hey are remarkably stout and hardy men,” recalled army surgeon James Thacher, “Dressed in white frocks, or rifle shirts, and round hats.” The robust constitutions and rugged appearance of the reinforcements that arrived at Boston in the summer of 1775 occasioned no small stir in the American camp. Dressed in a curious mix of white and Indian clothing, they appeared almost savage by New England standards. The newcomers, however, were feared not for their unorthodox dress but for the weapons they carried – the longrifle of the American frontier. “These men,” Thacher reported hopefully, “are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim.”1
The saga of the Revolution’s riflemen is a uniquely American tale. When Congress made plans to organize a Continental Army during June of 1775, one of its first acts was to authorize the enlistment of ten rifle companies, to be recruited from the backcountry of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. While the nascent American army
around Boston was awash with militia armed with muskets and fowlers, the rifle – and the fierce men who wielded them – was something of a novelty in New England. When the “shirt men”, as they were called, began arriving around Boston during August, they achieved something of a celebrity status. To Yankees accustomed to smoothbores whose effectiveness at long range was unpredictable at best, the accuracy of the rifle was nothing short of astounding. James Thacher reported witnessing one company of riflemen maneuver “on a quick advance” firing at a seven inch diameter target from the distance of 250 yards. Patriot leader John Adams, an austere soul who was generally sparing of compliments, was nonetheless effusive in his praise for the frontiersmen: “I hope they will have Justice done them and Respect shewn them by our People of every rank and order. I hope also that our People will learn from them the Use of that excellent weapon a Rifled barrell’d Gun.”2
For more info on Tim Williams’ Haymaker rifle, see page 13. American Tradition
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The impression which they made on their British opponents was even more striking. Although British regiments employed light infantry companies which operated as skirmishers, such units were armed with the standard issue Brown Bess musket and were handily outmatched by American riflemen during a long-range exchange of gunfire. Moreover, to the regular companies accustomed to volley fire against linear formations, the riflemen’s penchant for fighting from cover and targeting individual troops was “an unfair method of carrying on a war.” 4
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Outrage abounded for the “Skulking riflemen” and the “American way of making war.” One disgusted Briton recorded widespread indignation for “these fellows who call themselves soldiers – they are worse than Savages, they will ever be held in contempt with men of courage. Lie in wait to shoot a sentry! A deed worthy of Yanky men of war.”3 The royal governor of Virginia circulated rumors that the savage western “shirt men” were likely to scalp their victims. Frequent wars with the Indians, it was said, had rendered them “the most hardy warlike people in the world.”4
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An Original rifle made by JP Beck (John Phillip Beck): b.1751 – d.1811. He is identified in the Lebanon PA School of gun making. This rifle sports a smooth bore, octagon to round barrel of .54 caliber, which, appears never to have been rifled.
Owner, Henry Bishop remarked, “This type of ‘gun’ was the most practical hunting firearm of its day as it could be used with either buck-shot’ a ‘greasedpatched ball’ or bird-shot. The accuracy of a ‘smooth gun’ with a greased patched ball equals that of a ‘rifled gun’ out to about 65-75 yards. Hence its practicality for a local farmer putting food on the table or militia man called into service on occasion."
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American observers, however, were delighted with their handiwork. “Their shot have frequently proved fatal,” recalled James Thacher, “to British officers and soldiers, who expose themselves to view, even at more than double the distance of common musket shot.”5 Virginia Congressman Richard Henry Lee praised them as the “most formidable light Infantry in the World” on account of their “amazing hardihood, their method of living so long in the woods without carrying provisions with them, the exceeding quickness with which they can march to distant parts, and above all, the dexterity American Tradition
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to which they have arrived in the use of the Rifle Gun. There is not one of these Men who wish a distance less than 200 yards or a larger object than an Orange – Every shot is fatal.”6 Despite their impressive performance on the field, the rough-hewn frontiersmen proved decidedly disinclined to submit to regular military discipline. Drunkenness, violent brawls, and general rowdiness ensured that the riflemen would come to be seen as a mixed blessing by the Continental Army’s senior officers. “Guilty of longrifle
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J.P. BECK (cont.) as many Disorders as any Corps in Camp,” reported General William Heath.7 In the wake of such mayhem, including one notable donnybrook which degenerated into a riotous melee, even the commander-in-chief reportedly grew disillusioned with his backwoods volunteers. “They do not boast so much of the Riflemen as heretofore,” claimed General Artemas Ward, “Genl. Washington has said he wished they had never come.”8
This copy of a J.P. Beck rifle was made by Bill Pritchard of Maysville KY. The rifle is 58” long overall, a diminutive .40 caliber, with a 44” inch swamped octagonal barrel, This sports double set triggers whereas the original has but a single trigger.
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Original J.P. Beck Rifle for comparison.
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SIMON LAUCK
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