The India Pattern Brown Bess: Musketry of the Napoleonic Era -PART ONE - The Platoon Exercise c.1807
2024 ж. 24 Мам.
46 606 Рет қаралды
If you would like to support the Channel you can do so through our Patreon Page.
/ britishmuzzleloaders
And Follow us on FB for updates and projects!
/ britishmuzzleloaders
For your Martini and Snider needs email Martyn at xringservices@yahoo.com
For your P53 Enfield Rifle-Musket or Short Rifle ammunition needs, Contact Brett at - www.papercartridges.com
And for further reading on all British Victorian (and earlier) arms stop by the British Militaria Forum and say hello. britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com
"What are we doing today?!" Extra drill if you keep asking questions like that.
Exactly!
"Often with the bayonet." "They don't like it up em! They dont loke it up em!"
Fuzzy-Wuzzies in the Sudan and the Germans in Flanders. Neither like it up 'em.
@@sejembalm "We always gave the fuzzie wuzzies a fair trial before we shot em."
"They don't like the cold steel"
Hello there, Corporal Jones.
@@colinmoore7460 "Permission to speak sir!?"
You must have the best firearms based history channel on youtube.
Oh he does (holds Brown Bess up to head) is that understood?
Very kind. Thank you.
@@britishmuzzleloaders You're welcome. :)
what a backdrop!
I know, right? Rob has the most epic backdrops. 😉😉😉
I'm lucky to have the scenery, for sure.
Fantastic. I love how you can make something that could be so dense so interesting. Brilliant as usual.
Thanks Chris!
Ah, this brings back memories. War was a much more complicated business than is generally conceived in modern times. Great video
Thank you!
Aussie subscriber here, your presentations are top notch Rob, entertaining, highly informative and accurate as a representation, thank you sir
That is very kind. Glad you are enjoying the Channel!
Had to return to your videos about the old Bess, I love flints and Sunday a week ago I got my own! An Eli Whitney contract musket dating between 1812-1816, so yes original at over 200 years old, condition is actually decent, and amazing, it is rough and has some pitting and patina on it but it shoots still, whether it can take a ball anymore I have to have someone examine, to see if its bullet days ended long ago. So I have great pride to have found and bought this amazing piece.
Congratulations!
Trust me it won't be the only one, Flint Lock Muzzle loaders are addictive.
That moustache would make the enemies run before you got a shot off ;)
Haha!
I forgot how much I adore your videos!
Very kind!
Excellent work ! The way you put these texts into context is concise, educational, and entertaining. When Britishmuzzleloaders uploads content the best course of action is to watch in its entirety as each is not only a glimpse into the past but a comprehensive course of study. Thanks for sharing !
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Amazing scenery in the background... could truly be up on the Khyber-Pass, North-West Frontier.
Same kind of big mountains. 🙂
Fantastic channel, my 80 year old dad loves watching your videos, keep up the great work, love from Wales.
Thank you! And to your Dad!
Excellent detail of the drill, and a magnificent backdrop for the display👌
Thank you! Cheers!
I would invite you to take look at the fort ingall in canada. it's the reconstruction of a british fields work of 1839 and they do firing demonstration with the india pattern. The soldiers there are trained to fire under 15 second really impressive. They represent the 24th second warwickshire regiment of foot
Yes. Interesting... not live rounds mind you...
Don’t know what is better, the content or the scenery ? As always , very interesting and educational.
Content, say the content....
I always love the intros! Have you ever thought about covering some old pistols like the Beaumont Adams?
If one comes to hand then yes, but I don't own one.
Mate I watch your videos for the background scenery as much as the weapon tutorials. Amazing,
Cheers.
Excellent video as always!
Thank you! Cheers!
Another excellent production, well done Rob.
Thank you!
Great video Rob, can't wait for part two.
Thank you!
Man I love this channel, the level of effort is amazing!
Glad you enjoy it! Thanks.
Excellent video, nice and crisp delivery and footage as always!
Thank you very much! Yours helped out.
Another excellent video Rob 😊👏👏👏
Thank you!
As always, great video! Thanks Rob for your continued effort to educate.
You are most welcome.
Rob, i love the video from waterloo200 it actually gives a realistic view of what napoleonic warfare would of looked like. being in the middle of that it really was just do as ordered cause i couldnt see more than 30-40 feet and had to just follow the ranks because it was nuts to fight in that smog of smoke.
Certainly a different experience compared with more modern times.
@@britishmuzzleloaders i would love to know how those involved in the battle would of aimed with baker rifles and brown bess if the smoke sat there and wasnt blown away
@@leithafae Battle from the British side was more about a volley or two and then a Charge, not about prolonged musketry duels.
Always an enjoyable learning experience. BRAVO!
Thank you! Cheers!
Your presentation is so good... Thanks for posting.
Thank you!
Thank you for posting this excellent demonstration of the exercise. 😀
You're very welcome!
Very well done. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Really enjoy the detailed info. Humor , scenic views and uniforms
Cheers!
That was fantastic. Great drone shots. You live in a very beautiful place.
Thank you very much!
A pleasure (as always) to watch what must have been frightening as hell to be part of
Thank you!
Saturday morning and a new video by Rob. This is the way.
Haha! Yes it is.
Love it, the opening sketch was great.
Cheers!
Outstanding video! I'm sure it will be appreciated by any historian or fond of Napoleonic Era.
Thank you!
Brilliant video! It's nice to see genuine, unbiased, Stateside interest in Napoleonic warfare, especially when centred on the British.
Stateside?..... Province-side, thank you very much... 🙂
@@britishmuzzleloaders Apologies! I fell victim to common parlance! Haha
Excellent presentation,as always sir!! I clicked immediately. Your throughness and attention to detail are unparalleled! Don't know how you don't have a million subs. Eagerly awaiting the next video!!! 🇺🇸☠️🇺🇸🇨🇦💂🇬🇧
Thank you kindly. Pass the word, maybe we can get some more people interested?
Excellent video on how to load the Brown Bess "by the numbers"!
Thank you. That was indeed the premise of the video.
@@britishmuzzleloaders This video is particularly excellent though. I wanted a video that would teach me how to load and fire by the historical method, and this is hands-down the best tutorial I've seen on it. It's well-cited, and shows the steps clearly, both quickly and slowly in detail. Thanks so much for making it!
As someone who has handled flintlocks from a reenactment perspective (both Brown Bess and 1816 Springfield, using correct equipment and drill), the concept of "spit" loading is often asked about by the general public, no doubt thanks to the popularity of Sharpe. Thanks for pointing out how ahistorical this practice is. Excellent stuff as always, Rob!
Thanks Chuck!
But is it actually a myth? (so an idea that been around way before the sharps books where written) My Impression is that it is something Cornwall just made up, knowing full well that it was not historical...
@@thomasbaagaard Personally I haven't come across, or seen any mention of primary source material, either official or anecdotal regarding this practice. Have you seen the "cdsadler" Channel's take on it?
@@britishmuzzleloaders That is my point. Was it ever mentioned in any secondary sources before the sharps books? If not I would not call it a myth, but something invented by Cornwell. And yes I seen it... a few times over the years.(but have not re-watched it)
Didn't American Indians and frontiersman do something similar on horse back?
The mountains and forest look amazing.
They are!
Rob I seriously love your videos. I really wish that there was a comparable channel for US musketry, too.
Thank you kindly!
Great video. Trivia. Keeping balls in the mouth was a matchlock pre paper cartridge practice with priming from the priming horn/flask and long abandoned pre Brown Bess.
Good addition to the story, John!
Got me looking at brown bess muskets now lol. Love the channel.
Cheers!
Wow, what a beautiful gun you've got there. What a treasure to have survived this long. I have extreme respect for the work you do sir. Thank you
You are most welcome! Very kind.
I eagerly await part 2 on this
Me too... It'll be very ammo intensive and lot's of hobby grade effects...
I find military drill fascinating. I'd love to one day see a video in this style of the 1817 infantry sword exercise.
Matt and Scholagladiatoria.
I imagine the pedantic way of drilling the troops was to build unit coherency and highlight to under-performing soldiers that they were slowing the unit down, in much the same way enlisted recruit and officer cadet platoons are punished all together even today. The annoyance of their fellow soldiers providing further encouragement to develop efficiency on top of the colorful screaming of the NCOs towards those perceived to be dragging their heels :)
Not so much the mutual shaming bit, but drill is for muscle memory so under stress, things are automatic...
Great video, I was watching and listening while painting some Imperial Guard Grenadiers.
Nice!
Epic landscape!
I'm pretty lucky that way...
And there sits my Track of the Wolf BB kit, mouldering in the shop, neglected year after year. The way almost all of them are according to my gunsmith, who won't touch it for love nor money.
Small steps.....
@@britishmuzzleloaders Yeah, need to drill some holes. That business of shaping and heat treating cast steel springs is another matter. But I'm already old and not getting younger, time to get a move on.
great stuff! You can really see the time and energy that has been put into making these vids. side note: where are you filming these? the scenery is incredible !
G'day, He dwells in Kanadia. A mythical magiKal Land, Northwards of the 48 Contiguous Excited Status of Norte ArmedmeriKano... Have a good one. ;-p Ciao !
I live in Canada
@@britishmuzzleloaders G'day, One was not wrong (!). Have a good one. ;-p Ciao !
Another excellent vid
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video Rob. Minor point; according to the research I've published, the weapon was known as "Brown Bess", never "the" Brown Bess. The name continued in use for the P'42 percussion musket as well.
Right,... yes. Brown Bess. "The" Firelock, but just "Brown Bess".
I have just found my new favorite KZhead channel
That's great news!
Excellent video I like the back ground.
Thanks!
I was digging out some old 35mm photos I had of a re-enactment I was at some 15 years back, the Battle of Lake George, between the British and the French and their various Native American allies. While it was a different era, one of the photos I have was from behind the French lines looking straight across to the British lines and the smoke was so thick that you could just make out the British, only in shapes, barely 50 yards away. It's not hard to imagine say in later years where the British fired a volley and having that smokescreen per se mask a bayonet charge at close range. The opposing line might get one volley off before the British were right on top of them.
I think the fire using blank cartridges would have been far more than with ball. Having shot flint and percussion over the years with ball or as breech loaders the smoke has only been excessive in damp weather with little breeze when it does hang about close to the ground.
@@petergosden1 It would be significantly less, indeed, however en masse it would still be a ridiculous amount of smoke overall.
Lot's of smoke regardless.
Excellent video and demonstration of the India Pattern Brown Bess Musket. What regiment are you representing in this video? I look forward to watching more videos from you in the future.
It's a likeness of the 78th Highlanders. It's briefly talked about in the Bess, Intro video. Cheers.
Thank you for this great video. I love my Brown Bess! When I go out shooting with my buddies they can’t understand why why I prefer the musket to their polymer framed semi autos. Don’t fully understand it myself! Also, I appreciate how well the coat and gaiters fit. Looks like a uniform, not a costume. Do you make your uniforms yourself? Disregard question - just found kit videos.
Glad you found the vids... there will be another in the Kit series with this stuff in it... Cheers.
A most superb video! @ 15:15 If I had to guess, the assumption is that the first shot would be loaded on your own time, before deploying. Thus when you're on the battlefield, the first thing you'd do in practice is to proceed as if the weapon were loaded: make ready, present, fire, followed by a reload. I guess the boffins figured that they needed to explain how to get her loaded prior to the battle in the first place, so tacked on this second section--perhaps as an afterthought You see the same thing during manuals from earlier, only they don't have a start from the unloaded drill:. @ 21:32 Also known as the typical Seven Years War firefight: both sides just shot at each other till they ran out of ammunition (or at least, could no longer fire, due to either an over-hot barrel or exhaustion). They also tended to start at 150 yards or so and advance to a closer range where possible. It was surprisingly rare to go under 100 yards--though it did happen, as at Zorndorf, Hochkirch, Quebec, Minden (against cavalry), and Vellinghausen. The British were the most likely to start at close range--80 to 100 yards was typical, though at Quebec it was as little as 20 yards.
There is understanding that points to the "reasoning" behind the way the manual is laid out.... It's not logical to the modern mind, though.
😊 The intros are enough but that headgear is so awesome I’d give ground and bow the fields of battle.. out of respect for uniform alone! Less we speak of fields of the Americas.. then your just a target to me! Love thy neighbor less they come by one lantern! I have no country so I must have a Brown Bess! lol.. new montre: Give me Liberty or Bess!
Cheers!.
I’ve known a couple Private Mckenzies in my time. My favourite was a Lt. Colonel who’s beret was more akin to Yorkshire pudding than anything I’ve ever seen.
Haha!
New subscriber here from the Midwest like the channel
Thanks for the subby! Cheers.
Thank you again, Rob. Another feather in your bonnet! A slight correction if I may. The drill was for 3 lines because that was how the English planned and expected to deploy. A regiment (battalion) covered a standard frontage in the battle line. A full strength battalion would cover that frontage with three ranks. We see that with the Guards at Waterloo and likewise the 52nd Light Battalion. Too many other line battalions were nearly always understrength and had to cover the same frontage with fewer men, hence two lines. It should be noted that the battalions that precipitated the route of the French Old Guard alongside Hougomont were both at full strength. The 52nd arrayed on the French flank and pouring fire into the column with the rear, 3rd, rank reloading for the 2nd.
Hello petergosden1, In ‘The History and Actual State of the Military Force of Great Britain', written by Charles Dupin and translated by an anonymous British officer in 1822, Dupin wrote: "Notwithstanding the precision of the orders here quoted [the 1792 Regulations], the British Infantry in many circumstances*, manoeuvre and engage in two ranks. So slight an order of formation, which appears demanded by the numerical weakness of English regiments can only be justified by the excellence of their fire. This excellence may be ascribed to three causes; the frequency and the perfection of their exercise, and the goodness of their ammunition." The translating officer corrected Dupin in a footnote: "*The author might have stated not only ‘in many circumstances', but, under all circumstances: For we believe it would be difficult to give an exception to the custom of forming two deep in our service during the Peninsula War. Yet it is incorrect to ascribe it, as he proceeds to do as arising from the numerical weakness of battalions, which had very commonly (actually in the field) from 600 to 800 bayonets, a strength quite sufficient for a formation in three ranks, had such been thought desirable." An anonymous field officer wrote about the subject in the United Services Journal: "But had the General [Dundas] seen this point, the necessity of the 3rd rank satisfactorily settled, - that the British infantry had gone through the glorious war of the Peninsula without the third rank, and that it had been repeatedly proved, that in two ranks our troops could either make or repel a charge of bayonets, he, too, would have preferred the two-deep formation. He would have seen that in the British infantry, the third rank was not essential. The experience that has satisfactorily proved that the British infantry may adopt the formation two deep as its fighting order, is not by the French deemed a sufficient test to justify its inclusion in that army. They are of the opinion that there are special reasons why we might so form our troops, which do not apply to their service. In our army, the question, however, has been set at rest, and almost forgotten." An officer of the 97th wrote in 1814: "The forming of 3 deep an army in the field is at present quite abolished." The same officer wrote of an earlier campaign: "An instance of this kind happened in the memorable action of 21st March 1801, between the British and French forces in Egypt…the General ordered the rear rank to face about, and to direct its fire upon the enemy cavalry in our rear, the front rank continuing to fire on the enemy in its front….our infantry was formed two deep." An officer of the 1st recalled the surrender of the French garrison at Flushing in 1809 during the Walcheren expedition, speaking as if two deep was accepted normality: "They (the French) were halted and formed into line three deep. This formation, I afterwards found, was the general practice of the French army, whilst we continued at two deep; and Wellington afterwards proved to them that ours was the most convenient method, and consequently the best." Also, according to Major General Frederick Adam, his brigade (which included the 52nd) was deployed "in line four deep" at the time he learned of the Imperial Guard's advance. And Lieutenant Richard Cocks Eyre of the 2/95th (also in Adam's Brigade) described the "whole army in line four deep" when the general advance was given after the defeat of the Guard. The reason many battalions formed four deep at Waterloo was to facilitate switching from line to square.
Thanks, Peter. Ewan has certainly answered better than I ever could.
Please do a run down of your uniform. I love the content
It will be included in the next instalment in the "Kit" series when I have enough to talk about to make it worthwhile.
Strangely interesting! Why is such an underlying motivator in learning. A GENIOUS once said if it is not happening now it is not a part of our reality. Well I replied that to know the why will give us the foundation of knowledge where upon we may stand when unpredictable circumstances may be presented tonight or tomorrow. To balance habitual training with intuitive response may be the deciding factor in who tells stories to grand children.when they are curious about scars. What happened and how it came to pass. And back to why. Cannot reload without a thumb. Hoho!
?
I ask myself who,what,when,where, why????? And you answer them like an expert. History is very important. Even if we are not aware of it for decades!
@@lorenray9479 Ah! Thank you for clarifying!
Sharpe would be proud. Great video!
Who?
Richard Sharpe. That fictional character. By Bernard Cornwell
@@AlexanderWolle Yes,.... that was a bit tongue-in-cheek.... 🙂
well done on video considering how windy it was
Thank you.
Great video, have you ever thought about doing a collab video with Brandon F, my 2 favorite 18th and 19th century reenactors
It's kind of hard to do shooting videos when in different countries... Never say never though.
Fantastic Video sir! Where did you purchase your Napoleonic Era Feather Bonnet?
Hi. The bonnet proper is from Sally Pointer in Wales, the hackle was online, and the feathers, etc were made by me.
@@britishmuzzleloaders Thank you
I would love to see something like a 7 years war impression, I feel like it’s either that, or the American Revolution
The Channel focusses on the arm, not the era. Maybe if there is a Long Land Pattern in the works at some point, but certainly not right now.
This is my favorite channel on KZhead. God save the Queen and long live British longarms! I collect Lee-Enfields and miss shooting them since this plandemic started
My personal favorite is my 1944 Lithgow SMLE. Shoots like it has eyeballs
Thank you!
@@britishmuzzleloaders God bless you sir!
I'm a somewhat new viewer coming in through Bloke on the Range and Forgotten Weapons. What is the oldest firearm you own? And is there a video of it?
Welcome! You are looking at it. 1820 Brown Bess.
I Love the Muskets and B.C Mountains !!!!!!!!!!
Me too!
Hello, i would like to ask a question: where do you get your music, and where do you find the pictures,paintings and daguerotypes?
From this thing we have here called "the google".... 🙂
@@britishmuzzleloaders thanks.................
If Sean Bean did it, it must be right. ;-) A great video, Rob, I really enjoyed it.
😂
Who?
@@britishmuzzleloaders Exactly! A man who spits his balls down the barrel deserves no notice.
Can you make an episode about Enfield pattern rifle musket used in indian munity of 1857.
Have you looked in the Enfield Muzzleloaders playlist?... There might be something there that appeals to you.
Is this tricky to do with bayonet on? It doesn't look like there's a lot of room to work up there with it on. Thanks for another great video!
No, not at all. If held correctly, the bayonet is off the opposite side to the hand. Not in the way at all.
When given the choice, what would you prefer to carry into battle? The Pattern 1800 Baker Rifle or the India Pattern Brown Bess?
The Baker of course. Shorter, lighter, and a more versatile bayonet. The accuracy is better, but riflemen received paper cartridges so they could choose, shoot fast or shoot accurate. The disadvantage I consider would be maintenance. PS However, personally I am indifferent with rifles of the Napoleonic Era, but a fan of muskets. So if not in battle, I would take the Bess, but I prefer the Charleville.
Lol...wait...you serious?...definitely Baker for me. It was a joke don't worry friend.
I would take a musket because of it being easier to load, usually I would choose baker but the musket is easier to load and fire quicker
@@terrorfire8505 Guess you have not seen Robs video on this exact topic. ;-) The baker can give you the same RoF by loading loose unpathced balls. It simply turn the rifle into a smoothbore since the balls no longer grip the rifling. you can find it here: kzhead.info/sun/equLm9GKeXlomIE/bejne.html
I would take Brown Bess, but that’s just me
So I own a 1766 Charleville replica that is in the white and I love the beautiful look of the polished steel. However I've been having a terrible time trying to keep it from rusting. I use Goex and none of that Pyrodex trash. I clean it with scalding hot water, dry it thoroughly and coat it in Remington oil but I'm still having issues with rust popping up especially around the pan, cock and hammer. So as for my question is there anything else that I can do to help keep the beautiful polished steel rust free or do I need to brown it and if it comes to browning it are there any good sources you would recommend on the subject. I figured you were the guy to ask.
They were issued brick dust to polish barrels so even they couldn't keep it rust free.
@@britishmuzzleloaders Welp it looks like I'll be adding a bag of brick dust to my haversack Thanks for responding
Could you provide links to the manuals and other sources you used for this video? I would like to read them.
You can take the names as given and use google.
@@britishmuzzleloaders Thank you very much, I will do that. I wish I would have figured out how to search these sooner because I wrote a paper about technology during this time and I discussed the musket. I think the paper would have worked even better with these sources.
It depends where you start timing. If you start timing from the first shot, for example.
There is a lengthy explanation as to the procedures used here.
Epic
👍
What is the name of that beautiful snow peak in the background?
Mt Frosty,...... kidding, I don't know. They are a dime a dozen around there...
4:50 -- The way of doing things in "the book" didn't reflect the reality of how they did things in the field? I'm shocked! Shocked, I say! LOL! I'll bet that hasn't changed since at least the time of the Romans.
Hittites
Of course.
So...is Part 2 to this video coming any time soon? It seems like every other arm featured in your "Drill" series has subsequent installments _except_ the Brown Bess. =/
Yes, Part Two will eventually get done... a ton of green screen work for it... and ammo....
@@britishmuzzleloaders \m/_(^o^)_\m/
I've got a replica one of these beauties, though for the life of me I cannot get her to spark reliably. I've tried a half-dozen different flints but still get a rather small spark (Often not enough to get her to fire) at best. Any recommendations on what I can do or who I can send the lock to to get her sorted? Thanks in advance good sir.
There is a lock/flint maintenance video on the Channel in the Baker Playlist, if you are interested. Cheers.
If you could get historically accurate black powder, would be great to learn how the different manufacturing and refining process affected ballistics, fouling, and consistency of the propelant though it's historical evolution. Maybe Elementalmaker or other KZhead chemist could make some for you in a colab.
The powder in the early 19th century wasn't very good, by many accounts.... it certainly increased in quality to be the best ever seen (including today) by the late 19th though.
One thing I don't understand is the shoulder arms evolution between reload and present for the second shot. As a drill I understand the practice making every shot the same but if the intention is to get off a second volley as fast as possible, why not go straight from the reload to the present?
This is very much the basic evolution. The next video in the series will go into the application in collective firing.
If you are in a re enacting group/living history group, could you make videos on the events?
I am not. I do make videos about some of the shooting events that I attend though.
The flappy feathers at the end😂👍
It was windy, what can I say...
@@britishmuzzleloaders another great video, thanks again and best wishes
If anyone is looking for a Brown Bess in Alberta, Things Military in Calgary have a good selection. Got 2 of mine from there.
OK.
where can i get a Napoleonic uniform reproduction and what brands/tailors do you reccomend
Part 8 of the Kit Series will get you there. Cheers.
Sad that you only focus on British Riflemen .Wish I had someone like you for Argentinian military history or handguns ranging from the percussion cap , SA revolvers to the modern , double-stack , DA/SA pistols
Paul Harrel does a little bit of the pistol stuff, but use, rather than history, sadly. No other country is fortunate enough to have an ArgentinianMuzzleLoaders, or an AmericanMuzzleLoaders, or a RussianMuzzleLoaders, sadly.
Build the channel and they will come.
Sad?.... Sounds like an opportunity for someone....
“I look to my left! I look to my right! I look forward to my next covered/concealed position! I put my weapon on safe! Cover me while I move!”
Huh?
I can imagine a lot of new recruits accidentally getting stabbed by the bayonet when they remove or return the ramrod. Maybe it's the vintage version of a garand thumb.
Surprisingly it doesn’t really get in the way..
Where did your get your brown bess and bayonet from?
It's a repro..
@@britishmuzzleloaders what company did you get the musket from?
@@patstrzeszewski3240 Company? It’s an original.
I find it interesting how a lot of these steps are similar to the 1764 Manual of arms, almost 45 years after its creation
Effectively the same weapon.
Yes, as John says, it's essentially the same weapon. These exercises and drill exist along a continuum that extends to this day...
I know this is gonna be cool already.
Cheers!
I have a question. I have te same rifle, but on the right side it has a crown and below this says "London". Can someone tell me what rifle is it?
Not with that description. Sorry.
@@britishmuzzleloaders how can i send you a photo? I really want to know this.