1
00:00:00,530 --> 00:00:02,810
- Hello everybody and welcome
to Heritage Weeks Online.

2
00:00:02,810 --> 00:00:05,470
I am Master-At-Arms
First-class Travis Hagerty

3
00:00:05,470 --> 00:00:06,740
and this is my station.

4
00:00:06,740 --> 00:00:10,850
This is the 1812 Marine musket station.

5
00:00:10,850 --> 00:00:12,660
What we're gonna do here is
we're gonna go through a little

6
00:00:12,660 --> 00:00:14,530
bit of the history and then dive into

7
00:00:14,530 --> 00:00:17,593
what it is to fire a 1812 era musket.

8
00:00:18,460 --> 00:00:21,260
So traditionally we did
have 50 Marines on board

9
00:00:21,260 --> 00:00:23,410
on the USS Constitution and their duties

10
00:00:23,410 --> 00:00:26,530
were to climb up into the fighting tops,

11
00:00:26,530 --> 00:00:29,800
do a little bit of a musketry
from the fighting tops,

12
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,340
sharpshooters, they would
shoot down on the enemy.

13
00:00:32,340 --> 00:00:34,490
They'd also lead boarding parties.

14
00:00:34,490 --> 00:00:39,160
They would also be the captain's
personal security on board.

15
00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:40,830
So anytime they pull into ports

16
00:00:40,830 --> 00:00:42,260
and they needed to go retrieve goods,

17
00:00:42,260 --> 00:00:44,220
or the captain just
wanted to get some grog,

18
00:00:44,220 --> 00:00:49,100
they'd have to have a personal
Marine escort to do that.

19
00:00:49,100 --> 00:00:52,960
To dive a little more
into the in-depth history

20
00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,990
of the Marine Corp, back in 1812,

21
00:00:55,990 --> 00:00:58,480
we do have a very special person on board,

22
00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,150
he is the Lieutenant of
the 1812 Marine Guard,

23
00:01:01,150 --> 00:01:04,810
specifically attached
to the USS Constitution.

24
00:01:04,810 --> 00:01:08,110
I'm gonna introduce you
to Lieutenant Matt Magrath

25
00:01:08,110 --> 00:01:09,960
of the USS Constitution Marine Guard.

26
00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,650
- As MA1 Hagerty mentioned the Marines

27
00:01:12,650 --> 00:01:15,410
aboard Constitution had
a variety of duties.

28
00:01:15,410 --> 00:01:17,810
She had a 50 man detachment composed of

29
00:01:17,810 --> 00:01:20,790
two officers, two
sergeants, two corporals,

30
00:01:20,790 --> 00:01:23,243
a fifer, a drummer and 42 privates.

31
00:01:24,090 --> 00:01:25,750
Normal duty aboard ship,

32
00:01:25,750 --> 00:01:27,860
they would provide sentries
of the captain's cabin,

33
00:01:27,860 --> 00:01:30,624
the officer's wardroom,
the powder magazines,

34
00:01:30,624 --> 00:01:33,060
as well as the spirit room
for the obvious reason

35
00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:35,400
of keeping the run from the crew.

36
00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,270
Additionally to that, they had sentries

37
00:01:37,270 --> 00:01:39,810
posted on either side of the main mast.

38
00:01:39,810 --> 00:01:41,830
The quarter deck extending
out from the main mast

39
00:01:41,830 --> 00:01:44,120
was in fact officers country
the Marine sentries there

40
00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,340
would make sure that no unlisted men

41
00:01:46,340 --> 00:01:48,690
were there who were not
required there by duty.

42
00:01:48,690 --> 00:01:51,670
In port, an additional
Marine would be posted port

43
00:01:51,670 --> 00:01:52,700
and starboard at the gangway

44
00:01:52,700 --> 00:01:54,240
to watch for boats approaching the ship

45
00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:55,870
to alert the officer of the deck,

46
00:01:55,870 --> 00:01:57,990
and to help prevent unauthorized departure

47
00:01:57,990 --> 00:02:00,923
of the ship from the
ship of various boats.

48
00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,830
In combat things changed,
once speak to quarters

49
00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:06,830
is given by the Marine drummer,

50
00:02:06,830 --> 00:02:08,240
the Marines swing into action.

51
00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,090
Seven to 10 Marines are assigned

52
00:02:10,090 --> 00:02:11,690
to each of the ship's main tops.

53
00:02:11,690 --> 00:02:14,070
The main top four top and mizzen top.

54
00:02:14,070 --> 00:02:15,940
Their muskets are hauled up in sacks,

55
00:02:15,940 --> 00:02:19,030
along with casts containing
their powder charges.

56
00:02:19,030 --> 00:02:21,230
They shed their bayonet
cartridge box and shakos

57
00:02:21,230 --> 00:02:23,500
before they go up to the
sharpshooters main target

58
00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:25,040
or the ships officers,

59
00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,620
easily distinguished in their uniforms,

60
00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:29,220
to kill them to prevent the ship

61
00:02:29,220 --> 00:02:30,670
from being properly commanded.

62
00:02:30,670 --> 00:02:34,480
Control is taken away by shooting
anyone at the ships helm.

63
00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,390
And to overwhelm the enemy with firepower

64
00:02:36,390 --> 00:02:38,930
and to silence his guns
the enemies powder monkeys

65
00:02:38,930 --> 00:02:41,350
charged with carrying
powder from the magazines

66
00:02:41,350 --> 00:02:43,240
to the guns would be the next target.

67
00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,800
After that ship's gun captains,
any sailors, or Marines

68
00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,400
on the enemy deck as many
people as they could kill.

69
00:02:50,270 --> 00:02:53,200
The remainder of the ship's
Marines would have been drawn up

70
00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,700
along the ship's waist on
either side of the main hatch,

71
00:02:55,700 --> 00:02:57,580
armed with bayonets, ready to either repel

72
00:02:57,580 --> 00:02:59,160
at the enemy assault or to lead

73
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,203
a boarding party aboard the enemy ship.

74
00:03:02,510 --> 00:03:05,000
An example of this resulted
in the death of the first

75
00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,960
United States Marine
officer killed in action.

76
00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,450
On the 19th of August 1812
as the Constitution battled

77
00:03:10,450 --> 00:03:12,630
with Guerriere, the two
ships close together,

78
00:03:12,630 --> 00:03:14,840
her Marine Lieutenant William S. Bush

79
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,250
grabbing his sword, leaped
up onto the taffrail,

80
00:03:17,250 --> 00:03:19,180
ready to lead the boarders
aboard the British ship,

81
00:03:19,180 --> 00:03:20,650
turned to Captain Hall for permission

82
00:03:20,650 --> 00:03:22,310
saying, shall I bored her, sir?

83
00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:24,430
He was immediately killed
by a British musket ball

84
00:03:24,430 --> 00:03:25,580
through the left cheek.

85
00:03:26,540 --> 00:03:28,520
Her last action in the war of 1812,

86
00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:29,960
her Marine detachment was commanded

87
00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:31,750
by one of the most famous Marines

88
00:03:31,750 --> 00:03:33,620
in the United States history then captain

89
00:03:33,620 --> 00:03:35,220
Archibald Henderson.

90
00:03:35,220 --> 00:03:37,670
Henderson had reported to
Constitution after serving

91
00:03:37,670 --> 00:03:40,400
as the barracks commander here
in the Charlestown Navy yard.

92
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:41,920
And he led his Marines into action.

93
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:43,450
Their musketry was much praised

94
00:03:43,450 --> 00:03:45,770
by Captain Steward after the action.

95
00:03:45,770 --> 00:03:48,920
Following the war of 1812 and 1820,

96
00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:50,380
Henderson would be selected to become

97
00:03:50,380 --> 00:03:52,700
the Lieutenant Colonel
commandant of the Marine Corps.

98
00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:57,430
His ability he held for 39
years until he died asleep

99
00:03:57,430 --> 00:03:58,880
in his office in a chair one day

100
00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,230
in his afternoon nap in 1859.

101
00:04:02,230 --> 00:04:04,070
The most famous and noted Marine

102
00:04:04,070 --> 00:04:05,690
in the United States history.

103
00:04:05,690 --> 00:04:07,750
Next thing I'd like to do is
introduce you to the Marines

104
00:04:07,750 --> 00:04:11,020
of the ship and their weapons
with a firing demonstration.

105
00:04:11,020 --> 00:04:13,150
Now's the time for our
musket firing demonstration.

106
00:04:13,150 --> 00:04:15,150
Interestingly, as we fought the British

107
00:04:15,150 --> 00:04:16,360
during the war of 1812,

108
00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,860
the standard Marine Corps
musket was the third

109
00:04:18,860 --> 00:04:21,840
or East India pattern, Brown
Bess, a British weapon.

110
00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:23,010
How did we come by them?

111
00:04:23,010 --> 00:04:25,650
Between 1795 and 1800

112
00:04:25,650 --> 00:04:27,840
the United States
government purchased 5,000

113
00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:30,470
of these from the crown and
approximately 500 or more

114
00:04:30,470 --> 00:04:31,980
went to the United States Marine Corps.

115
00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:34,160
It was actually preferred
to the US Springfield

116
00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,300
because it was thought to
be a better manufacturer.

117
00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:38,360
And the difference was it
also was heavy caliber.

118
00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:43,170
The Springfield was a 69 caliber,
this is 75 caliber weapon.

119
00:04:43,170 --> 00:04:44,900
What we're gonna do to
demonstrate the firing,

120
00:04:44,900 --> 00:04:46,230
First I will take the Marines

121
00:04:46,230 --> 00:04:48,380
through what is known as load by word.

122
00:04:48,380 --> 00:04:50,180
There is a separate command for each step

123
00:04:50,180 --> 00:04:51,620
in the loading process.

124
00:04:51,620 --> 00:04:53,830
These commands are what Marines

125
00:04:53,830 --> 00:04:56,430
were trained by to gain knowledge

126
00:04:56,430 --> 00:04:58,080
and to gain the experience
with the weapon.

127
00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,460
The last two volleys will be
known as loading quickest time,

128
00:05:01,460 --> 00:05:02,380
this is how they would load

129
00:05:02,380 --> 00:05:04,950
and fire in combat under command.

130
00:05:04,950 --> 00:05:09,140
Attention, shoulder, arms, open, hand.

131
00:05:09,140 --> 00:05:10,810
And at this command the
Marine turns the weapon,

132
00:05:10,810 --> 00:05:12,670
drops it, throws open the hammer

133
00:05:12,670 --> 00:05:14,650
exposing the pan of the weapon

134
00:05:14,650 --> 00:05:16,470
for the next step which would be priming.

135
00:05:16,470 --> 00:05:17,820
Handle, cartridge.

136
00:05:17,820 --> 00:05:19,110
They're biting the end of the cartridge

137
00:05:19,110 --> 00:05:20,750
off to expose the paper.

138
00:05:20,750 --> 00:05:21,583
Time!

139
00:05:21,583 --> 00:05:22,520
Pouring a little bit of the powder

140
00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:24,320
into the pan as a priming charge,

141
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:25,400
bring the weapon about,

142
00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,140
the pan is closed to hold
the powder in the pan.

143
00:05:28,140 --> 00:05:29,100
Charge, cartridge.

144
00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:31,050
The cartridge is up ended, the powder,

145
00:05:31,050 --> 00:05:32,690
and if it was a live cartridge,

146
00:05:32,690 --> 00:05:34,600
the ball would be lowered down the barrel.

147
00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:35,523
Draw, rammer.

148
00:05:36,910 --> 00:05:39,260
Rammer's drawn, inserted,
waiting for the next command.

149
00:05:39,260 --> 00:05:40,500
Ram, cartridge.

150
00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:43,890
Cartridge ball and paper
would be rammed down tightly.

151
00:05:43,890 --> 00:05:44,853
Return, rammer.

152
00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:48,463
Shoulder, arms,

153
00:05:50,350 --> 00:05:54,383
make ready, take aim, fire.

154
00:05:55,928 --> 00:05:58,680
(gun blasting)

155
00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,133
In quickest time load, arms.

156
00:06:06,650 --> 00:06:08,660
In combat each Marine, or in the case

157
00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:10,240
of the army, a soldier,
would load the weapons

158
00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:11,700
as quickly as they possibly could,

159
00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:14,620
and then they will bring the
weapon up to a carry position.

160
00:06:14,620 --> 00:06:16,790
Once I looked down the line
and see that they're all ready,

161
00:06:16,790 --> 00:06:18,360
then I can give the next command.

162
00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,260
In the tops they're doing this

163
00:06:20,260 --> 00:06:22,050
and they're just getting
ready, once the weapons loaded,

164
00:06:22,050 --> 00:06:24,830
they're holding it out ready
for the sharpshooter to fire.

165
00:06:24,830 --> 00:06:26,060
Your average red coat was trained

166
00:06:26,060 --> 00:06:27,700
to fire three rounds a minute.

167
00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:29,310
So we need to at least equal that.

168
00:06:29,310 --> 00:06:30,960
That's what we try to do.

169
00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:32,803
Shoulder, arms, make ready,

170
00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,059
take aim, fire.

171
00:06:37,059 --> 00:06:40,100
(guns clicking)

172
00:06:40,100 --> 00:06:43,293
Shoulder, arms, half-cock,
shut the pan, bring it up.

173
00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:51,343
Well right about, pace, dismiss.

174
00:06:53,872 --> 00:06:55,010
I'd like thank you all very much.

175
00:06:55,010 --> 00:06:56,850
It's been an honor to
take part in Heritage Week

176
00:06:56,850 --> 00:06:58,060
and we would like to wish on behalf

177
00:06:58,060 --> 00:06:59,340
of the 1812 Marine guards,

178
00:06:59,340 --> 00:07:02,750
we'd like to wish all of you
successful careers as chiefs.

179
00:07:02,750 --> 00:07:04,497
Keep the tradition going, oorah.