If the history of Bunker Hill or the lives of
the militiamen and their families interest
you consider joining the Charlestown Militia Company. All of our members are volunteers with a interest in preserving our
national heritage and educating present
and future generations regarding the history of the founding of America. Join us by
asking one of the militiamen or by contacting the Charlestown Militia Company.
This the original flag flown by the
Charlestown Militia Company during
the Battle for Bunker’s Hill on June
17, 1775.
The Charlestown Militia Company
Col. Gardner’s Regiment
When walking on Bunker Hill today or in
the future, look for a militiaman at his post
near the Bunker Hill Monument. Feel free
to ask any questions about the armaments
he is carrying or the clothing he is wearing,
or about militia life. You may also ask him
about the Battle for Bunker Hill.
P. O. Box 290483
Charlestown, MA02129
Ask a Militiaman
Militiamen and Their
Armaments
The Charlestown Militia Company
Col. Gardner’s Regiment
“Last to Leave the Hill”
June 17, 1775
To Contact the Charlestown Militia
E-mail: [email protected]
On the Web:
www.charlestownmilitia.org
Militiamen in 1775
A well trained and well practiced militiaman could reload and fire his firelock six
times in two minutes. While British regulars were known for their precision drills in
preparing for battle and precision during
battle, the colonial militias practiced drills
to increase the volume and accuracy of
their musket fire. Even with all of the
practice and training both the colonial militias and British regulars experienced, the
18th century firelock was notoriously inaccurate. Beyond eighty
yards the firelock’s accuracy and power rapidly
declined while reasonable
accuracy and power could
be expected within fifty
yards. Prior to the beginning of the battle for Bunker Hill, Colonel John
Stark paced out forty yards
from the most forward
American
defender at the stone wall (a
Rifleman 1776
defensive fortifications constructed on the Mystic River
beach) and hammered a stake in the
ground and then ordered his militiamen to
not fire until the British soldiers had
reached the stake. Stark wanted to insure
maximum firepower from the limited
amount of ammunition the colonials had at
their disposal. By concentrating the available firepower on a single point in the advancing British line hundreds of British
regulars fell after each musket volley by
the colonial militiamen.
The colonial militiamen that the
British faced in the American colonies appeared on the battlefield in every conceivable form of clothing and arms available in
the 18th century. One problem colonial
militia leaders attempted to solve was uniformity among its militia companies.
Each Militiaman Must Have a
Proper Kit
From the age of 15 to the age of 60 every colonial male was required to serve in the militia.
Periodically the militia was required to muster
at the sound of an alarm or at an appointed
time. As a result of each militiaman using
whatever armaments were available, there was
no uniform supply of equipment. Militiamen
could arrive at muster with a variety of weapons from a variety of sources. Many militia men
inherited their fathers or grandfathers musket,
some muskets were purchased from British
regulars stationed in Boston. Over time various
Massachusetts towns passed ordinances in an
attempt to standardize militia weaponry and
outfits with little success. During muster each
militiaman was required to procure specific
items depending on which town the militiaman
resided. As an example the town of Roxbury
Resolved on December 26, 1774, “Militia minutemen [who were to] hold themselves in
readiness at a minutes warning, compleat in
arms and ammunition; that is to say a good and
sufficient firelock, bayonet, thirty rounds of
powder and ball, pouch and knapsack.” Missing
from the Roxbury ordinance is a sword or tomahawk, cartridge box, extra flints, and canteen
which were required by other militia companies.
The Brown Bess
Officially known as the Long Land Pattern
Service Musket, the “Brown Bess” would have
been carried by
British regulars
just prior to the
American Revolution. Since
The standard issue Long Land
colonial men
musket affectionately called the
were required to Brown Bess.
serve in the local
militia many Long Land Muskets would
have made their way into colonial hands.
Referring to the Long Land as “Brown
Bess” has uncertain origins. A dictionary
from 1785 defined Brown Bess: “A soldier’s
firelock. To hug Brown Bess; to carry a
firelock, or serve as a private soldier.” Often used as slang and a term
of endearment, many colonial
militiamen and British regulars carried the Brown Bess
into battle.
On to Battle
Called to the appointed muster area, militiamen carried
into battle food rations for
three days, a blanket, and
other personal item, along
with the Brown Bess. Thus,
the Charlestown Militia Company was equipped for battle.
With the meager arms and
ammunition available, the
militiamen made their way to
Boston to keep the British
Army at bay. Little did the
men of the militia know that
on June 17, even with their
the inadequate firepower,
they were about to make history. On the
eve of the Battle for Bunker Hill Abigail
Adams remarked, “The day—perhaps the
decisive day—is come, on which the fate of
America depends.”
The Charlestown Militia Company
Charlestown Militia Company
P.O. Box 290483
Charlestown, MA 02129
[email protected]
www.charlestownmilitia.org