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![The sign says: Ferguson Rifle.
In 1776, Captain Ferguson demonstrated and patented a breechloading "rifle gun of a new construction" and British Ordnance ordered 100 of them to arm a temporary "Corps of Riflemen" under Ferguson's command for service in North America. Ferguson's Rifle Corps arrived in time to participate in the 1777 Philadelphia Campaign; the unit came under heavy fire during the battle of Brandywine on September 11th, where Ferguson was seriously wounded. The corps was then disbanded and the men (apparently with their rifles) were incorporated into British light infantry units, where they still performed marksmen duties. Although accurate, quick-loaded and provided with a bayonet, the rifle was not completely successful as it had an inherent weakness in the stock between the lock and trigger. The resulting crack and subsequent repair can be seen in this specimen, which bears the serial number "2" and Ferguson's own inspection mark signifying it as one of the original 100 military rifles produced.
[Ferguson was later killed at the battle of Kings Mountain.]](/Graphlib/GraphData3.nsf/Images/2003_NJ_Morristown_0160/$File/MTOWN_031005_163.JPG) |
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![Another sign: Morristown
Morristown was a village of about 70 buildings in 1777.
General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, brought his tired troops to Morristown for rest and reorganization in January 1777. They had just completed successful attacks against the Hessian and British troops at Trenton and Princeton. The new year brought an end to many enlistments and Washington's regular army dwindled in size to a few thousand men. He warned the Continental Congress "to the Situation... of scarce having any army at all." Encouraged by the recent military victories, enlistments increased by spring and the army regained its strength, numbered about 10,000 men.
General Washington lodged at Arnold's Tavern, once located near the base of this hill next to the Green. The soldiers stayed in houses or encamped at various places near the town. A Delaware light infantry company stayed at the Colonel Jacob Ford on the eastern edge of town [which would become Washington's headquarters during the subsequent winter encampment here].](/Graphlib/GraphData3.nsf/Images/2003_NJ_Morristown_0160/$File/MTOWN_031005_322.JPG) |