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U.S. NAVY MUSKETS 138. Although ship muskets had been in use since the Revolutionary War, a large demand for these arms resulted from the construction of the frigates Constitution, Constellation, and United States in the 1790s. These frigates were authorized by Congress on April 20, 1796, and all were launched in 1797. On July 1, 1797, Congress authorized a marine complement aboard each frigate consisting of five lieutenants, twelve noncommissioned officers, six fifers and drummers, and 140 privates. Muskets were issued for use by these and other ships' personnel as well as to ships in the revenue service. By 1800 the total authorized strength of the Marine Corps had reached 1,085 officers and men, but more than 2,200 muskets had been issued for naval service in the three yearsbetween May 1797 and June 1800. Between the end of the Revolutionary War and the establishment of the Department of the Navy in 1798, these muskets were issued directly from U.S. arsenals to the various ships by the authority of the secretary of war. From 1798 these muskets were charged to the Department of the Navy and were accounted for by the secretary of the navy, through navy storekeepers. Most of the early ship muskets issued during the 1790s appear to have been brass-mounted French muskets that had been in U.S. repositories since the Revolution, and a fewhundred were new ship muskets made by U.S. gunmakers under contracts with the government in the mid-1790s. Many of the muskets issued during the first decade of the 19th century appear to have been British muskets. These muskets were described in contemporary documents as "Short British Muskets," and subsequent correspondence indicates that they were popular with marine detachments aboard ship. Later ship muskets would include "irregular" muskets fabricated at Springfield Armory between its commencement of operations and the War of 1812. The distinction between these "irregular" muskets, referred to at Springfield Armory as "ship muskets," and armory/arsenal rebuilt service pattern army muskets,would confuse students of arms 150 years later. The information available indicates that, with the exception of new American -assembled muskets made under the 1796 contracts and issued to the new U.S. frigates, most of the muskets issued until the War of 1812 for marine service were often older, damaged, or repaired/rebuilt American and foreign arms. During the War of 1812, naval agents purchased at least limited quantities of muskets directly from American gunmakers. In 1822 the navy procured 2,000 muskets through an arrangement with the Ordnance Department from Eli Whitney. In 1826, the navy also purchased 1,000 muskets directly from U.S. contractor Marine T. Wickham. It is also speculated that the navy may have 1O2 AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. 2 purchased a small number of Jenks muzzleloading flintlock rifles in 1839, These rifles are described in Section 170. ISSUES OF SHIP MUSKETS, 1797-18OO The following information pertaining to the issues of ship muskets is given to help arms students better understand the types of muskets issued and to whom they were issued. This information covers the period from May 1797 to June 1800, during which time the majority of muskets were issued to both the new frigates and the new Navy Department. Date U,S.S* Constitution June 12, 1797 July 1,1797 July 12, 1797 Nov.28, 1797 Mar. 15, 1798 Apr.9, 1798 Apr.20, 1798 January 23,1799 Details A letter from Samuel Hodgdon, commissarygeneral of stores to John Harris, military storekeeper at Schuylkill Arsenal, discussed the "300 muskets with bayonets" that would be required for the U.S. frigate Constitution.1 Secretary of War James McHenry ordered Samuel Hodgdon to deliver to Boston, for the L7.S.S. Constitution, "150 musketswith bayonets, cartridge boxes, & C, complete."2 The records ofMilitary Storekeeper Harris at Schuylkill Arsenal show that 100 new ship muskets and 50 brass-mounted muskets were issued to the frigate Constitutionon this date.3 The records of Military Storekeeper Harris show that another "100 New ship Muskets" and "50 Brass Mounted French Muskets " were issued to the Constitutionon this date.4 Secretary of War McHenry ordered Military Storekeeper Harris to deliver "50 Marine muskets, with accoutrements, complete" to the Constitution.5 Secretary of War McHenry ordered Commissary General Hodgdon to deliver to the Constitutionat Boston: "60muskets, with accoutrements complete, for marines."6 Military Storekeeper Harris at Schuylkill Arsenal forwarded "60 New ship Musketsfor Marine Service" to the Constitution on this date.7...

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