On View
On viewMusket Ball
Date1774-1775
Dimensions1.65 cm (5/8 in.)
Credit LineMusket ball, Massachusetts, 1774-1775. Concord Museum Collection, Gift of Mr. Walton Ricketson and Miss Anna Ricketson; Th69a-c.
Object numberTH69A
DescriptionThree bullets (shot) of different sizes.
In April 2016, Daniel Sivilich, conflict archaeologist and author of the book Musket Ball and Small Shot Identification (2016) measured (diameter and weight) the musket balls (Th69 a-c) with a history of recovery by Henry Thoreau at the North Bridge. He determined that the three balls have been fired and landed with low impact. Th69 (2) shows the impress of fabric from the patch and a slight flattening from the ramrod. Th69 (2) also has the flattened medial band occasioned by travel through the barrel. He determined the following calibers:
Th69 (1): 69 or70 caliber
Th69 (2): 63 caliber
Th69 (3): 66 caliber
The British Long Land pattern musket (Brown Bess) was 75 caliber and the balls they fired generally 69 caliber (to allow for barrel fouling). If these balls were in fact, as it appears, fired during the April 19, 1775 action, Th69 (1) may be from the musket of a British Regular (or a provincial with a 75 caliber weapon); Th69 (2) and (3) may be presumed to have been fired by provincials.
Label with object reads: Three bullets / Supposed to have come from the battle field at Concord. / Thoreau collection
In April 2016, Daniel Sivilich, conflict archaeologist and author of the book Musket Ball and Small Shot Identification (2016) measured (diameter and weight) the musket balls (Th69 a-c) with a history of recovery by Henry Thoreau at the North Bridge. He determined that the three balls have been fired and landed with low impact. Th69 (2) shows the impress of fabric from the patch and a slight flattening from the ramrod. Th69 (2) also has the flattened medial band occasioned by travel through the barrel. He determined the following calibers:
Th69 (1): 69 or70 caliber
Th69 (2): 63 caliber
Th69 (3): 66 caliber
The British Long Land pattern musket (Brown Bess) was 75 caliber and the balls they fired generally 69 caliber (to allow for barrel fouling). If these balls were in fact, as it appears, fired during the April 19, 1775 action, Th69 (1) may be from the musket of a British Regular (or a provincial with a 75 caliber weapon); Th69 (2) and (3) may be presumed to have been fired by provincials.
Label with object reads: Three bullets / Supposed to have come from the battle field at Concord. / Thoreau collection
Object number: M2086A
Object number: M2086B
Object number: M2086C
Object number: M2086D