Muzzleldrs Wet Weather And Muzzle Loaders

[David Trogdon]

In 1914 John Turner wrote a series of articles about his experience in the 22NC during the Civil War. In one article just before the regiment was engaged at Beaver Dam Creek on 16 June 1862 he writes:

"When we got to the river we were halted. Every man had to have a good cap on his gun for we were marched down the stream."

Now I know percussion caps had replaced flintlocks as far back as 1840. These caps have been found in quantity on various battle fields.

I am not very familiar the minutia of muzzleloaders but as I understand it, percussion caps them selves are not water proof and can become non-functional if wet. The caps them selves were carried in a water proof percussion cap box. Some also carried a leather cover they tied over the lock of their rifle to keep it dry in the rain. These covers were called a 'cows knee'.

Now I'm wondering if John Turner was simply making sure he had a dry percussion cap on his gun or if there was some other type of 'cap' he is referring to that kept water out of the barrel etc?

I'm thinking that they had just marched down a stream, were now on dry land and wet as they approached the river. Since they had gotten wet, they needed to make sure they had a dry percussion cap.

Your thoughts, input?

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The military percussion caps of the period were sealed with Lacquer over the fulminate in an attempt make them waterproof. It actually worked rather well. By changing to a fresh cap before being marched down the river would increase the odds that the musket would fire when needed.

The "Capbox" they carried the caps in was most definitely not waterproof. Water resistant would be a better term. It was literally a removeable leather pouch on the waist belt that had two flaps with a piece of Sheep's Wool at the top of the entrance to the box itself where the caps were held. This was to keep the caps from bouncing out while running, falling down, etc., if the outer flap was not secured by a tab on the outer flap, which hooked over a stud on the bottom of the cap box.

The "Cow's Knee" was not a military item. These were much older civilian items predating the ACW and were used on flint lock Kentucky Rifles. They fell out of favor with the advent of the percussion cap.
J.

 

[Yankeedave]

I don't know the prescribed method but I put a tampion wraped in wool. The cap was covered in a patch with the hammer down. It got dry, but don't forget to remove the tampion into the ground.

 

[frankconrad]

IN a report to Jefferson Davis, Sec War about tests of the 1855, reference is made to the caps that they must survive at least 7 days submerged in water
Also they had loaded the musket with successive loads until it no longer pushed a bullet out the barrel, but with a loud wistle, the only problem was that the nipple had to be replaced.
I don't know the book it was in but Johan should be able to find it.

 

[Rhea Cole]

It was & is still common practice to keep a spent cap in place on the nipple of muzzloading weapons. It seals the nipple & cushions the hammer blow when dry firing. A spent cap is also a safety device when the weapon is loaded. It will not go off if the hammer is struck accidentally. A wooden plug for the muzzle was & is standard equipment. As to being water proof, water resistant is closer to the truth. Rain, humidity, dew & falling damps are all bugaboos for blackpowder muzzleloaders, no matter how careful you are.

 

[DixieRifles]

It was & is still common practice to keep a spent cap in place on the nipple of muzzloading weapons. It seals the nipple & cushions the hammer blow when dry firing. A spent cap is also a safety device when the weapon is loaded. It will not go off if the hammer is struck accidentally. A wooden plug for the muzzle was & is standard equipment. As to being water proof, water resistant is closer to the truth. Rain, humidity, dew & falling damps are all bugaboos for blackpowder muzzleloaders, no matter how careful you are.

I agree. The tampion would help seal the muzzle but you also need to protect the small hole in the Nipple. You wouldn't expect a lot of water to get through that small hole but if it did then the water would be sitting at the back of the barrel where the powder would be packed down. A cap fits quite snug and will keep it dry. Of course, they could place a thick cloth or leather under the hammer to protect from leaks.
Before I fire my muzzleloaders, I fire a blank cap that performs several purposes. It clears the path from the nipple to the bore of any small obstruction such as lint. It also clears the bore of any excess oil, which could dampen the powder when loaded. This is very important if you are loading loose powder down the barrel. When firing the cap, you can point the muzzle at a leaf or blade of grass to see if the pressure disturbs it.
For my long rifles, I also like to fire a "blank" powder load which will definitely burn off any oil or moisture. Why? It is easier to clear out an powder load that mis-fired than trying to remove a ball and powder that didn't fire.
I would think the soldier of that day would fire off a cap or two to dry out the barrel. They probably swabbed the bore with a dry cloth. They didn't carry loose powder to burn out the moisture, however, I would think it would be worth tossing a Minie away and firing a blank to make sure your gun will fire when needed.