16100 Colonial Militia Standing Firing, No.3 John Jenkins The Raid on St "Priming the Piece"

"Priming the Piece"

Marine Corps Reserve

although wearing it in the field was not universal

single-use ignition device (for a caplock mechanism) was simple to use in comparison with the priming procedure for the flintlock

44/40 rounds meaning cowboys used the same ammunition for both rifle and pistol

16100 Colonial Militia Standing Firing, No.3 John Jenkins The Raid on St "Priming the Piece"Despite the wide variety of long arms with which the first colonial militias were armed, many of the members not only had some basic training in firing by company, but may have had practical experience in marksmanship and hunting. This made them fairly effective, especially fighting in small groups in a rural or frontier environment. In most professional armies, the soldiers were well trained to give fast co ordinated volleys by section, platoon, and