Virtual Museum Firearms

Charleville Pattern Musket, Rev. War

AL-229 (Not For Sale)

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed “An Act to provide arms for the use of the Commonwealth” on March 28, 1797. These arms were to be of the “fashion and pattern of the French Charleville Musquet”.  They were to have 44” Barrels with a .69 Cal. bore and be marked “CP” on the Lock and Barrel with “PENNSYLVANIA” marked on the stock. (#2).

This musket conforms to the act by having  “EVANS” & “CP” marked on the rear of the lock plate. The barrel shows the “CP” mark and is proof marked with a Liberty Cap (Phrygian Cap) (#1). The stock retains the original proof mark in the form of a “V” (Faded) marked on the left flat above the trigger. It also has No. 52 marked on the top tang of the buttplate, which is the rack or inventory number from the Militias stores.

Owen EVANS, “Providence Twnshp, Montgomery County, Pennsa.” received a contract for 1200 Muskets on Dec. 7, 1797, from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Evans pattern muskets were similar to the French Charleville ML. 1766  with the exception of the integral faceted pan, rather than a separate pan on the lock plate. EVANS provided pattern muskets to most US contractors located in the Pennsylvania – Maryland area and they have this same integral pan. Most New England contractors used a separate faceted plan (3). At some time, the original barrel and stock were shortened from 44 inches to 31 inches resulting in a Musketoon which is more suitable for Dragoon troops. The quality of this conversion suggests it was done by an arsenal and not by a local gunsmith. The fact that the flintlock was retained indicates the conversion was done sometime prior to the 1820’s when the percussion lock system came into use.

During the American Revolution, Pennsylvania supplied 6000 militia troops who took part in Washington’s crossing of the Delaware, the battles at Trenton & Princeton, and a Winter at Valley Forge.

At some later point in history, the marking “1  F  Co  REGT   PENNSA   M “ (Militia) was stamped on the rear of the barrel. This is certainly a militia unit assignment mark.

The Pennsylvania  Militia was involved with the Whiskey Rebellion (1791-1794) and the War of 1812 (1812-1815).
Early in the Civil War President Lincoln called for volunteers to defend Washington. The 25th Pennsylvania began equipping themselves on April 13, 1861, in Harrisburg.  They arrived in Washington on April 19 and were given the honorific of “The First Defenders”. At 9:00 PM that same evening, they were issued New Springfield rifles. They were “Issued new Springfield rifles,” presumably to replace the old-style Flint Lock Arms they came with.

Was this EVANS CP one of the replaced arms?

Ripe for additional research!

Sources:
#1,  American Military Shoulder Arms, George D. Moller, Volume 2,   P.254
#2,  American Military Shoulder Arms, George D. Moller, Volume 2,   P.253
#3,  American Military Shoulder Arms, George D. Moller, Volume 2,   P.144