"Junior officer weaponry" Topic
6 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please remember not to make new product announcements on the forum. Our advertisers pay for the privilege of making such announcements.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the American Revolution Message Board
Areas of Interest18th Century
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Link
Top-Rated Ruleset
Featured Showcase Article
Featured Workbench Article
Featured Profile Article
|
| advocate | 20 Jul 2020 3:17 p.m. PST |
Once again, I show my ignorance of the period.
I always assumed that most infantry officers in the 18th century carried a sword or on occasion a half pike. However, I have seen pictures and a few accounts suggesting that at least some officers carried muskets. How true was this of junior officers of the various armies in the American Revolution?
And to extend the question, what of sergeants? British Napoleonic sergeants seem to have carried a half pike, but was this true in the American Revolution? Again, for all of the participants. |
79thPA  | 20 Jul 2020 4:35 p.m. PST |
From memory, British NCOs and junior officers would have a fusil. The F&IW demonstrated that a polearm was not a particularly practical weapon in North America. Washington hated the idea of his junior officers carrying fusils and he ordered them to carry espontoons. |
| Major Bloodnok | 20 Jul 2020 7:11 p.m. PST |
Early on British sergeants would carry a halberd, as did some early war Rebel NCOs. Later on the halberds were abandoned and muskets/fusils were carried. I believe it was in the 1790s +/- that the halberd was officially dropped in favour of the half-pike. |
| Brechtel198 | 21 Jul 2020 7:13 a.m. PST |
Washington ordered junior officers to carry spontoons as he believed it was their job to lead and not to be preoccupied by loading and firing a fusil. The spontoon was carried so that the officers could defend themselves in a bayonet fight or a melee. |
| 42flanker | 21 Jul 2020 8:56 a.m. PST |
Link from TMP thread in 2017 (remember then?) British Infantry Officer Weaponry, 1768-1786
link TMP: "British Officers with fusils"
TMP link |
| advocate | 21 Jul 2020 2:38 p.m. PST |
Thanks everyone. 42, I wasn't interested then! |
|
paints brigs for the British fleet.
