Reproduction 18th Century
Wood and Iron
Courtesy of the Wilton Historical Society Collection

Before landing at Compo Beach on April 25, 1777 British forces learned of the store of Patriot provisions in Danbury which may have included muskets, commonly known as a “brown bess” or the British Short Land Pattern musket. The firearm was a standard issue weapon for British forces during the Revolution: though the firearm was inaccurate, soldiers massed together to shoot sending a wall of round lead balls towards their enemy. When returning to their ships the British fixed bayonets to the ends of their muskets to drive back the colonists while in close quarter combat.