Gun – I can carry a Pennsylvania Long Rifle or a “Brown Bess” musket. The differences between the two guns are distance and accuracy. The long rifle is accurate from 200 to 300 yards. It’s accurate because of the groves in the barrel spins the bullet. Its primary use is a hunting gun. The musket has a smooth pipe-like barrel. It starts to become effective around 80 to 100 yards. This and its poor accuracy are why the armies had to stand so close to battle. There is a hole in my gun’s stock in which I can put grease to help the bullet slide down the barrel. If you look close, you will see a stone in the “hammer” part of the gun. It provides the spark to set off the gunpowder. When I am not in battle, I use my rifle to hunt. Since I live in the woods, it is how I feed my family.
Knife – My knife is made from an old file that had lost its raspy nature. Why should I discard such a fine hard piece of metal? I can sharpen the edges and make it into a knife. It so happens that I also have the bottom part of a cow’s leg bone. It died a couple years ago. Because the bone is hollow and fits my hand quite comfortably; therefore, I used it as a handle for my knife using a little cloth to cover the rough places. This is one of the most useful tools I carry. For instance, if I am out hunting to feed my family and shoot a deer, I can use the knife to remove the skin and meat. Then I wrap the meat in the skin, which make it easier to carry. Without my knife, I would have to carry that heavy deer on my back for miles and miles to my home or hang it in a tree until I could return for it.
Tomahawk – This tool is most useful in the woods, which is where I spend most of my time. This ax serves me as a hammer to fix my wagon, or as something to cut wood with, or to repair my log cabin.
Tin Canteen / Bottle Canteen– Sometime drinking water is not available, but I must confess that water carried in tin takes on quite an unpleasant taste. I am looking for a bottle encased in a leather pouch to hold my water. (Many objects that used lead to hold it together, like cups and canteens, also exposed its user unknowingly to lead poisoning. What you do not know can hurt you!)
Purse – This bag on my belt holds my coins (hard currency) and valuables. Of course the continental paper money they pay me with is simply worthless.
Whip – Sometimes My lead horse doesn’t want to pay attention to me. If I snap this whip above his ears, then he listens. Do I beat my horses with it? Why would I risk injuring my horses? Remember these are the same horses I risked my life to save!
Haversack – It is a bag I carry slung over my shoulder. I carry what I need in it to survive in the woods or anytime I need to have what I need with me. The following are some of the things I carry in it.
Tin Plate – I’ve must eat off of something.
Tin Cup – Tin is a cheap and strong metal. I have something to drink from now.
Hardtack – This is dry hard bread. It will keep for a long time. It’s better than starving. [but not much]
Tow – These are fibers that come from the flax plant. My wife uses it to make thread and then clothing. I use it in making fire.
Tape – Which is cloth ribbon.
Flint and Steel – This is a stone I use to start a fire with. When I strike it with iron I get sparks. Coupled with tow and char-cloth, making a fire is easier than rubbing sticks together.
Char Cloth – This is partly burned cloth that is easily re-ignited with a spark from flint.
Horn Spoon / Horn Comb / Horn Cup– These are Items made from a cow’s horn. Cow horn when boiled can be shaped. We treat this material the way you treat plastic in your time.
Wrought Iron Fork – Good strong metal that will not break on me and can resist high cooking heat.
God’s Pins – Long thorns my wife uses like a straight pins to hold clothing in place.
Broadside of the Declaration of Independence – A big printed sheet that is posted in public places to inform the community about things.
Knapsack – This is used to carry things like clothing, blanket, and such on my back.
Quill/Pen – I used a “pen knife” to cut the end of a feather to make a pen for writing.
Bed roll – My rolled up blanket to sleep in.
Sword and Scabbard –
Bayonet – Allows the musket to be used like a spear.
Wax – Bee’s wax can be used for many things, such as candles, medicine, storage, cosmetics, and many other uses.
Lantern –
Powder Horn and Shot Bag – Musket balls and loose gunpowder is kept in these.
Half-Gaiters – Helps to keep dirt, stones, and muck out of my shoes.
Cartridge Box – The charges for the musket is kept in this bag.
Horse Collar –
Vent Prick and Hammer – Artillery tools – The vent prick is used to puncture the “charge” [the pre-measured bag of gun powder that was loaded into the cannon] through the vent hole on top of the cannon. The hole allows the fire to reach the gunpowder through the bag. The hammer can be used to pound or remove retaining pins in place or to “spike” the cannon.
Hand Cuffs – Can be used to transport dangerous prisoners
