Artifacts & Documents: Browse
The People in Arms: Military Items
There are 20 items in this category.
- Bill from Deerfield Selectmen for Military Supplies
- 1787
- This invoice, dated 1787, itemizes the supplies and services Deerfield residents provided to the government in January and February of 1787.
- British Short Land Pattern Musket
- 1768
- The British Short Land Infantry Musket, popularly known as "Brown Bess" by the late 1700s, was "the" weapon of the 18th century British infantryman.
- Cannon
- c. 1770
- Massachusetts militia fired a cannon like this on the Regulators advancing on the United States Arsenal at Springfield, Massachusetts.
- Cannon
- c. 1770
- Massachusetts militia fired a cannon like this on the Regulators advancing on the United States Arsenal at Springfield, Massachusetts.
- Cannonball
- A light artillery piece fired shot like this three-pound, iron cannon ball into the Regulator column advancing on the United States Arsenal at Springfield.
- Canteen
- 1780
- This canteen, used in the Revolutionary War, could have seen service again during Shays' Rebellion.
- Cartridge Box
- 1775
- Photograph of an American cartridge box, probably carried in the Revolutionary War. It might have been used by the owner during Shays' Rebellion.
- Cavalry Saber
- 1775
- This 18th century cavalry saber was used during the American Revolution.
- Charleville Infantry Musket
- 1764
- Thousands of these French-made .69" caliber muskets were in storage at the United States Arsenal at Springfield in the 1780s.
- Drum
- 1770
- The most important military musical instrument of the 18th century was the snare drum.
- Fife
- 1780
- Small and easy to carry, the shrill tones of the fife made it an ideal instrument for communicating orders and organizing troops on and off the battlefield.
- Howitzer
- c. 1770
- Government militia fired a howitzer such as this one at the Regulators as they approached the Springfield Arsenal.
- Hunting Shirt
- 1800
- This hunting shirt was worn by Michael Crow who lived in Green County, Pennsylvania.
- Log of Weapons Confiscated from Regulators
- 1787
- Joseph Stebbins, Jr., was a Colonel in the militia during the Revolutionary War and was, in 1787, serving as keeper of the arms used and confiscated in Deerfield during Shays' Rebellion.
- Map of the Springfield Arsenal, 1801
- 1801
- This copy of a fragment from an early map is the earliest known surviving depiction of the United States Arsenal Massachusetts, dating to about 1801.
- Map of Troop Movements During Shays' Rebellion
- 1787
- The Reverend Ezra Stiles, the president of Yale College, drew this map of troop movements during Shays' Rebellion.
- Obadiah Foote Requests Deerfield to Raise a Regulator Company
- January 3, 1787
- Deerfield received this letter from a Regulator officer requesting that the town form a military company and choose officers to lead it.
- Payroll for Joseph Stebbins' Regiment
- April 10, 1787
- Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Stebbins and his company marched from Deerfield to Springfield to help protect the Springfield arsenal from the Regulators.
- Remnant of Revolutionary Flag
- 1776
- As they had in the American Revolution, Massachusetts government militia and the Regulators who opposed them marched under homemade flags, or colors like this fragment from a revolutionary flag remnant owned by Colonel Hugh Maxwell of Charlemont, Massachu
- Soapstone Bullet Mold
- 1775
- Bullet molds like this one were used to make lead musket balls.