By Trevor Merriam
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN1eFCqSuXicHRqv2os3FpJ_ChqJz2zCPAxBLXqYriMkyxvmqd50AJYw-0MHUck9jJhueLrlB0vrvdSqrgiwUJAxih1IJhGNYRkJH2huub7deRSluewKm52ohdE41uvjCgCmiCi-pACZ1/s320/Trevor+with+his+Brown+Bess+Musket.jpg) |
Trevor with his Brown Bess Musket |
It’s a 75 caliber smooth board.
It is the type of musket used in service with the British
and Colonial Forces from between 1680 and 1839 (approx.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1d8vK1Z-uH193CtauX4vXFnBsyaUzkyYTb5jXfpFr2IDLaIvv7_zL1JzhIZWHyxOrYMTH3Qp9sZAUHf1OHDv6yI6KZQ__loF_1-RjyCi1qIz8PKW39yA1axpiNXvB5WaXRm5IkKd-lUl9/s320/A+close+up+of+the+Brown+Bess+Musket+and+a+cartridge..jpg) |
A close-up of the Brown Bess Musket and a cartridge |
The cartridge is
filled with 75 grains of black gun powder.
It would have been wrapped using the equivalent of modern
day newsprint.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAGq9kwSnGdjf6VgF28TG1TcxW2b2UvTOb1MjFHE-_nfBPw_5GWw-GBBC3bJTt-Op26QuptbXPmf07n29rZpvvZG1v4qMg-t1bKTpsGNcJE3mWjCT8W2e5msKw8JVAZhuPThsqmSHSzyP/s320/A+second+close-up%252C+this+one+showing+only+the+cartridge..jpg) |
A second close-up, this one showing only the cartridge |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdAh6m2Crq8l9MPXUWDRKnOih_b_bkoaX1XUD7UcRSThC4c5RobMQxHtimrFCprLqPAqEmcFpbhJQZf5UItT6R1TPMf9X0v0ztagXUc_199h4cDh7dCzZIyQN4zEK5UuRn6ch2ngpvy6j/s320/Setting+the+hammer+on+the+half-cock+or+safety+position..jpg) |
Setting the hammer on the half-cock or safety position |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNvx39MA30R0yd4CfBIgiWMn3gBQ0sR7SrdHJn6FV8yQ1tK63UqcUa59V6K3DeYvagf8ZwN-zwDlEtwxelVuDWWXhHc0WkisAMLCHvgOYdqQjZDqz6zzxs58GOQGoOyJA6O9PfuBhJ7Dn/s320/Trevor+biting+the+edge+off+of+the+cartridge..jpg) |
Trevor biting the edge off of the cartridge |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5mZtHLsCeflN2Gn0HAUHaVzQF2QjP0r-T0jl0b_ePzmRG1H7bfGX0gg_V_MhzHCtBkMCrtGh01FumjdmrdjY8CBpV1FwQg5O-qL2isZ31dkgsBUoqwKnDe2QDISooPhzeh4FKKl0oIc1/s320/Trevor+sprinkles+the+powder+in+the+priming+pan..jpg) |
Trevor sprinkles the powder in the priming pan |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh940G2qA8w9D1xmN4uFIekDLbCQDbdKAl0BemUWLOM-Srub5SPcayYnCncO32boDYakebII_reQ0KSooTNnPetDHfl-KIbEv-unNTJbsrONmnQ1PMP4vhSM4iS2lSKQT3rAI8hW3a0fOz-/s320/The+powder+in+the+priming+pan..jpg) |
The powder in the priming pan |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2duoftnp714Zlj7_20nnGPZfKnQvNP4nu3KsERRtRPLp7A-xmKojkeXaLG76Yis8rcp4oacJ4R6KXbu-8B_doLvjhKYfj0cWaNnuyooqxVPbL0jYX6IRmX3NWK4uexQn_zKGfJJ9eZK2/s320/Trevor+closes+the+frizzon..jpg) |
Trevor closes the frizzon |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU4YEL0k6tEXn8Fj5BPreMplNHhwT4LErqJsQeQoPsuN3-C0ZWNN293cAdvYTtgMFfOcZw_SH4YBO7alYvI34qYdLXsr5QC9rri2qrJxQtknTFjvEcpGblRNFSFxrMH95gnvZKEpnKuWX/s320/Trevor+pours+the+remaining+powder+down+the+barrel.++At+this+point%252C+in+combat%252C+you+would+also+place+a+75+caliber+bullet+down+the+barrel.++%2528We+did+not+do+this%2521%2529.jpg) |
Trevor pours the remaining powder down the barrel. At this point, in combat, you would also place a 75 caliber bullet down the barrel. (We did not do this!) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyfYmzAkHyQtabK3PuMXc6Y8GgoqZS3WYzvairKsMUmk-4wXzp3jEBwz0nVQ7-fCGkxvJp_1qOsu8zggktR5VPa6t90Y9I_M1PXxa70SdUyiHxnhhmDmoMEcKfN-C0ucOYSsk4k7_2NKA/s320/Trevor+wads+the+cartridge+paper+and+put+it+down+the+barrel..jpg) |
Trevor wads the cartridge paper and put it down the barrel |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzCFCiinEAGoTsdD47VgNnRfp_l1JVU7mUSEfTIMeRJy8Zdb9LO6UmNS1sWLxJzUXYIlnWEMfC-0vsj33-gF8w8R7J3oZK4TMLS2bUpsaQ6YgoKFZa2F8xa0AwOV21Q_OCU6pbKEcoDCH/s320/This+is+called+ramming+it+home..jpg) |
This is called ramming it home |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWS53F0nbUaSbK09aR66eoGdHf1GzfcL2SrnvMWQ4ELQr2-0clNQ2Z6yr7k3VYZn1Z9vWk9kGZZA_y030Ey409A9UPWUT46_QAN2JcJ244fQg8zb6gSVT54jtjGRl1DpaZM-J3Y_FEj1u/s320/An+up+close+shot+of+Trevor+ramming+it+home..jpg) |
An up-close shot of Trevor ramming it home |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfezyYeCoh7VpJE30tT3wMlEFjy0bMuAp8bVQYyev1NU-jzMWl_eU2EC3EszTRQPHnQ2UjFUfRTBlu7IfPEPV7WYCWeVykp-TTH8zWKZBiuI0smOsdXmY9QUMkdFwU29M8_BSrH6s_D5bz/s320/At+the+order+of+ready%252C+you+cock+the+hammer..jpg) |
At the order of ready, you cock the hammer |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOIytru4ywKELI8BXTCdr28buPihk6Zl_tHI85CtrCFH0HFq_w7BwmpL3gM6w6LOiRmVzZAbEQpkCBtCEnSJ3ZEvnN12znzTwuVHpCNXUbSjpdCT1BYiXqZB4sRheHCFhvzVEIputFNpk/s320/The+next+order+is+aim..jpg) |
The next order is aim |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQ7Mt9F_E__AvzqfJtWIvvn4HDUaIkHoUm2bb6zNuv58bevdmedKN-Qjp3r6hfzZWX4munEwS6pYQLQyM15oXo1Pv8rGSKg9A8VZOYjeVMOg_ffIwwWBS78cnS5DTY_OdWJ_b6FgoXWsq/s320/%25E2%2580%259CFIRE%2521%25E2%2580%259D.jpg) |
“FIRE!” |
Trevor Merriam is the Premises Assistant at Lang Pioneer Village Museum. He has been working at the Museum for 10 years and has a passion for history.