As a brat kid in the 1950's.."we" spent a lot of time digging old FORT RICHMOND. Piles of Muskets were found buried - each and every one of them were damaged. BADLY. Washington went through the Richmondtown area as he headed for his ride across the Delaware from NJ.. There had been a meeting there in Richmondtown w/Washington and other big shots.
A family on the hill there - had been there generation after generation since that day... Artifacts were still in the home - until the last of the family had hung herself in the stairway from the second floor.. All the home and possessions were taken down to Richmond town... Moving the home was a nightmare.
BANNERMAN'S was a treasure trove of Civil War items.. Francis spent his life with CW items for sure.. His son Jimmy and I were good friends. Jimmy had a disability and could not walk well. I helped him out a lot in the Summers. My family was in Greenwich Village. I lived on Staten island and spent Summer in the Village. Was fun.. Hudson Sporting Goods - down by the Bowery was another treasure trove of CW items. As a kid I bought a lot of it ! Was pennies back then. I still have cartridge boxes and Cap boxes from that time..Original metal boxes with minnie balls still in there..
During my 24 years in the US Military - retiring as SERGEANT MAJOR, I learned to never take too seriously what others say ---about "anything" ..unless they "were" there. Books ...are a good resource - but again..a lot of it is assumptions.
I had access to actual Government Records and used them frequently for ID of WW1 and WW2 items. Occasionally for CW items .. I spent most of my time with the sneaky shooters..... building MATCH and SNIPER Rifles for the NAVY and USMC ..and later for the US ARMY.. Sorry...but I have had "hands on " experience -- and am very hard headed - as required by ARMY REGS
Being a SGM was no task for the weak minded... especially in a ghillie suit....
Later............
Taking a 93 year old retired NYC Detective on what may be his last Hunting trip.....
Be back on Monday -- this is Saturday...
DARN it....put the pics of the wrong Flintlock in...I'll dig out the correct pics.. Grandson is 14 - and too quick on the draw..
My grandson did not goof..he took the pics of the Flintlock I told him to - but it is the 1839 SPRINGFIELD..... The Harpers Ferry is in my son's house - over his fireplace... :-(
Frank - the 93 year old - cancelled out. He said he did not feel up to it. He is a WW2 NAVY Veteran - from Brooklyn, NY. He looked pretty weak when he was here Yesterday... Worries me.