The Charleston Museum has acquired a “Brown Bess” musket and a folding camp bed from the Revolutionary War era, both of which will be featured in a special exhibit next year to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The “Brown Bess” was a widely used flintlock musket carried by both American and British troops. The museum’s new artifact is a Short Land Pattern version that was produced in Dublin, Ireland and features a 42-in barrel. Curatorial staff plan to investigate a possible obstruction in the barrel.
The museum also obtained a folding camp bed (think:a portable cot typically used by military officers.) While most soldiers slept on the ground, these beds provided a more mobile resting option for higher-ranking individuals.
If you can’t wait until the special exhibit next year, check out “Becoming Americans” — the museum’s permanent Revolutionary War exhibit — which explores key historical events in Charleston and the broader war effort.
