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FEDERAL PERIOD IMPORT ARMS The domestic arms situation, and the international tensions described previously , resulted in a congressional authorization for funds on April 12, 1794, for the procurement of both domestic and foreign arms. Because of the deteriorating international situation between the United States and France, the U.S. minister to Great Britain was given in excess of $100,000 in 1794 and 1795 for the purchase of arms and cannon. Nothing is known of the U.S. minister's negotiations in London for arms, and no armswere received until 1799, when the military situation in Europe had somewhat stabilized, with the end of the French Revolutionary Wars. In 1799 and 1800 several thousand English muskets and carbines, and additional thousands of other European muskets, were received from Europe. These arms were apparently purchased with the funds given the U.S. minister to Great Britain in 1795. In a separate purchase from the English firm of Thomas & John Ketland, the U.S. government procured several thousand much-needed musket and rifle locks. Finally, a single lot of imported Hanoverian musketswas purchased by U.S. Purveyor of Public Supplies Tench Coxe in 1808. These three procurement actions of imported arms and parts by the U.S. government are described here. BRITISH MUSKETS 105.1 In 1799 and 1800 a total of 9,440 British muskets were imported into Philadelphia and placed in storage at the Schuylkill Arsenal there. At least some of them were shipped to Harpers Ferry Armory in 1800 or early 1801, as an inventory of arms in storage there dated April 6, 1801, states there were two lots of British muskets on hand. One lot consisted of 547 muskets and is believed to have been the imported muskets. The other lot of 450 British muskets may have remained from the Revolutionary War. Available records do not indicate the model of muskets imported. Some English and American authorities agree that they were either of the Long or Short Land patterns. They believe it unlikely the British would have sent India pattern muskets, which had been adopted as the regulation British infantry musket only two years previously, in 1797. However, there is a growing bodyof evidence indicating that these arms may have been early India pattern muskets procured by the British government. One noted authority on British military arms, D. W. Bailey, states that, until 1804, the British Ordnance intended to return to the production of the higher-quality land pattern musket. In 1802 an 105. AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. IIL. II attempt was made to begin to begin production of the New Land Pattern series. This wascurtailed by the renewal ofthe Napoleonic Wars in 1804. It is, therefore, very possible that the British Ordnance was willing to export India pattern muskets to the United States in the 1799-1800 period. At least some of these muskets were stamped "US" after their importation. On August 23, 1800, Military Storekeeper Jonathan Harris, at Schuylkill Arsenal , certified a bill presented byJames B.Nicholson: "To cleaning, repairing, and stamping 400 English muskets at 20 cts each." There are a very few early India pattern muskets with "US" markings in American collections. The navy was issued 500 British muskets from Harpers Ferry Armory in 1805. These muskets were described as having 39" barrels, which is the barrel length of the India pattern musket, not of land pattern muskets. For this reason, these muskets are described and illustrated in Section 138.3, "Short British Ship Musket." Known Imports of British Muskets, 1799-1800 4 Delivery Date Apr. 20, 1799 May 27, 1800 Oct. 7, 1800 Oct. 30, 1800 Nov. 26, 1800 Total 127 chests of arms received from London. Ship unknown. On this date, 125 chests containing "2,440 English muskets & Comp." were received by Jonathan Harris, military storekeeper at Schuylkill Arsenal. On May 28, 1799, Treasury Dept. Warrant No. 9,755 was made out to Peter Blight for shipping expenses. Received 2,000 English muskets,which arrived on the ship Washington from London. They were delivered to Harrisat Schuylkill Arsenal on this date, and their accountability transferred to the "General Account of Stores" on July 30, 1800. Received 75 cases containing "1,500 English muskets ," which arrived on the ship Adriana from London, under the command of Captain Fletcher. Delivered to Harris at Schuylkill Arsenal on October 8, 1800. On this date, Harris at Schuylkill Arsenal took delivery of 1,499 "English Muskets." Fifteen hundred muskets, in 75 cases, were received from London aboard the...

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