From collection Mount Desert Island Historical Society - Objects Collection
Musket
Brown Bess Musket. Lock missing. Originally a flint lock musket. This type of arm was most widely used by both sides in the American Revolution. Having an effective range of less than a hundred yards, these guns were emplyed in massed fire. The smoke from the first volley obscured the enemy, so subsequent volleys were delivered in the right general directions. In 72 or 76 caliber, the ball was nearly 3/4” in diameter. The gun was converted to a caplock civilian shotgun, probably between 1820 and 1835. .76 caliber.
