HISTORY

Missing Muskets

Being a member of the militia was a requirement of living in most states in 1812. When you mustered or appeared on call you were required to bring your musket. Since most of the companies were assembled at different times, members of the militia often loaned muskets to each other to avoid the high expense of buying a musket. This meant that when full units were called up during the war, many of the militia members were without arms.

States often kept no stocks of powder and ammunition; meaning that those that did have muskets would not be able to fire them. Maryland had not a single cannon and hoped that some might be obtained from its numerous privateers … as soon as they were captured.

States were forced to approach the federal government for help in obtaining weapons via the Militia law of 1808. Many states received limited help from the federal government, who was having its own problems procuring weapons for the regular army. Massachusetts proved to be the exception. When they requested weapons via the 1808 law, the War Department flatly told them that since they would not dispatch they militia to join the armies then forming in New York they would not receive any weapons as 'none would be needed by troops not reporting for duty.'