The Uniform of an Expert Marksman

by Roseanna M. White

British lines during the Battle of Bunker Hill

To 18th century England, war was a civilized endeavor. It was a matter of politics, of wearing the uniform, of showing one's bravery to the nobility that came out to watch a battle. Guns weren't meant to be too accurate. Weaponry ought to be gleaming. The reasons for fighting...well, often only the king knew what they were.

When the Colonies went to war in 1775, they introduced England to a new kind of battle. The kind where men actually took aim at the opposing force--and aimed at the officers. The kind where each man was fighting to defend his home. The weapons were often dirty, they had no uniforms. But those weapons were more than shiny muskets that couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. They were rifled. They were accurate.

And the Americans knew how to use them.

More, their leader knew how to fight on more than one front. In 1775, a month after he took command, General Washington had an idea. Being well acquainted with how the British military thought, he called for an exhibition of marksmanship in Massachusetts. He urged the men--who still had no Continental uniforms, mind you--to wear their hunting shirts and breeches. These were often made of buckskin, with fringes. Almost every man had such an outfit, and they often wore them on campaign since they were the most practical clothing for long treks.

Concord Minute Man

So these men gathered, raised their rifles, and had some fun. Target practice, nothing more. But they actually hit the target. More, the bulls-eye. These men, with their guns that didn't look so dissimilar from the Brown Bess that the English soldier carries, appeared to be expert shots, every one of them.

The British were watching too. And what were they to assume but that General Washington had put together an entire company of the best marksmen in the world? And their uniform must be those fringed buckskin outfits--because no company could possibly be without a uniform, right?

The tales spread among the British. Fear spread with it. And any time a soldier (or hunter or farmer) was spotted in this attire, the British panicked. Which, as it happens, was often.

To make matters even worse for the British, one of these rifled men was taken prisoner and shipped to England, where they thought it would be great fun to show the English populace what their trophy could do. The American obliged them.

The result--suddenly no one wanted to enlist in the British military to fight against the Americans anymore. This is why King George had to resort to hiring Hessians!

All because George Washington took advantage of a preconceived notion about uniforms...and made use of a newfangled hunting rifle owned by many American farmers.

Muster Day, Training Day — Huzzah!

To Arms!

Between 1620 and 1790 Muster Days served as a significant social event for colonists. With holidays few, especially in New England, these days would present an opportunity for men to take a day off from work. Several times per year (April, May, September, & October), men ages 16 to 60 would assemble on the town green for roll call, to show their guns for inspection, and participate in military training drills. The frequency of the training days varied among the colonies and also according to circumstances of impending threat The selectmen of the town would take account of stock in powder and ball to see if the town was ready to defend its people and its property. Each town company had its Captain, Lietuenants, and Corporals elected by their peers; each Battalion had a Major; and each Regiment, a Colonel. Some of the men were selected from among the general ranks to be ready for rapid deployment - called Minutemen. During times of peace the drills would be completed in the morning with the afternoon reserved for friendly competition. This was usually a rowdy affair with much drinking.

In my new release, Colonial Courtships, there was great enthusiasm for an annual event - the Fall Muster. This is when militia men of all the townships in the county would gather at the county seat for the large gathering of all. This annual muster accomplished actual enrollment of members. If a muster was missed, a fine of $1 was required to be paid by the absent party. Akin to a town fair, the annual muster welcomed the entire community, and then men would be better behaved while their families where watching.  

The exercises would begin about 8:00 a.m. and continue until about 12:00 p.m. when the noon meal would be served by the women. "Training Day Cake", also called "Muster Day Gingerbread", was served, with plenty of rum available for 3 cents per glass. Militia commanders often attempted to win their men's cooperation by providing them with the alcohol. In the afternoon companies paraded before the many spectators, and there was a great deal of rivalry between the companies as to who could march, shoot and make the best appearance. Contests such as drills and maneuvers, wrestling matches, and more between the champions of each company were common activities. Older men, women, and children would urge their favorites on. The Muster Field was filled with eating booths, tent shows, and auction carts with peddlers crying their wares.The day would end about sunset with a fine salute of guns into the air.

Under the militia act of 1792, in effect for more than a century, every able-bodied citizen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five was a member of the militia. Patriotic enthusiasm from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 carried over into musters, although by around 1830 many resented the required participation. By 1855 Muster Days were no long necessary.

For more information on Muster Day you might like to read Everday Life in Early America by David F. Hawke.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO OF A
NEW ENGLAND COLONIAL MUSTER DAY REENACTMENT


Look for a recipe for Muster Day Gingerbread from Colonial Courtships on Sunday.