Fredricksburg Gun Manufactory

[David R. Pennington]

Do any of the muskets produced at the gun manufactory in Fredricksburg, VA during the revolution still exist?

[Dennis Glazener]

I went to the Richmond VA Civil War show yesterday and I believe I saw one at the show but I saw so many VA Manufactury arms I may have them  mixed up. I was looking through Giles Cromwell's book and I remember seeing info on Fredricksburg Forge.
Dennis

[David R. Pennington]

I just learned about the gun manufactury in Fredricksburg reading a biography on Meriwether Lewis and found out his father was instumental in the operation of it. Evidently they were plagued with a lack of funds and resources. I read a transcript of a letter from one of the operarors to Jefferson about needing provisions (for workmen?) walnut plank, iron and steel. Looks like they were producing their own barrels?
Wondering what their weapons looked like?

[Dennis Glazener]

Below are some interesting links, no particular order.

https://emergingrevolutionarywar.org/2016/11/07/defending-the-new-nation-the-fredericksburg-gun-manufacturing-plant/

http://fredericksburgva.us/gunnery-spring/

The link below has a photo of one of the Rappahannock Forge Muskets
https://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=446

http://www.history.army.mil/news/2013/130325a_amusettes.html

https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Lewis_Fielding_1725-1781_or_1782

https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=2729

Virginia founded a State Gun Factory in Fredericksburg (1775), but most of the states resorted to encouraging private gunmakers in favorable locations, such as Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, Connecticut’s Goshen and Virginia’s Rappahannock Forge. The rebels’ most complete manufacturing resources were in Pennsylvania, which had important iron furnaces; but much of this capacity was focused on civilian long rifles, which are not covered in this article. (More at the link below)

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/3/29/american-made-muskets-in-the-revolutionary-war/

The  Fredericksburg Area Museum located at 907 Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 has some muskets on display but I am not sure if they are from the manufactury or not. I made a call to the museum and the person that answered had no clue but she transferred me to her boss. I left a message but have not heard back from them.

Looks like the Fredricksburg Manufactory of Arms was seperate from both Raphanock Forge and VA Manufactory of Arms. I had them mixed together.
Dennis

[David R. Pennington]

I made a mistake in my post, the Lewis involved with the gunworks wasn't Meriweather's father, but a relative.

[Mattox Forge]

Below are some interesting links, no particular order.

https://emergingrevolutionarywar.org/2016/11/07/defending-the-new-nation-the-fredericksburg-gun-manufacturing-plant/

http://fredericksburgva.us/gunnery-spring/

The link below has a photo of one of the Rappahannock Forge Muskets
https://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=446

http://www.history.army.mil/news/2013/130325a_amusettes.html

https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Lewis_Fielding_1725-1781_or_1782

https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=2729

Virginia founded a State Gun Factory in Fredericksburg (1775), but most of the states resorted to encouraging private gunmakers in favorable locations, such as Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, Connecticut’s Goshen and Virginia’s Rappahannock Forge. The rebels’ most complete manufacturing resources were in Pennsylvania, which had important iron furnaces; but much of this capacity was focused on civilian long rifles, which are not covered in this article. (More at the link below)

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/3/29/american-made-muskets-in-the-revolutionary-war/

The  Fredericksburg Area Museum located at 907 Princess Anne St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 has some muskets on display but I am not sure if they are from the manufactury or not. I made a call to the museum and the person that answered had no clue but she transferred me to her boss. I left a message but have not heard back from them.

Looks like the Fredricksburg Manufactory of Arms was seperate from both Raphanock Forge and VA Manufactory of Arms. I had them mixed together.
Dennis

Rappahannock Forge was in Westmoreland County near Leedstown wasn't it?

The Virginia Gun Manufactory in Richmond was not founded until well after the War of Independence if I am not mistaken.

Mike

[Ed Wenger]

The Rappahannock Forge was located in Falmouth, VA, Stafford County, just across the Rappahannock river, north of Fredericksburg.  The Fredericksburg Manufactory was supposedly located in Fredericksburg, VA.  It's my understanding that the Manufactory was a State founded operation, the Rappahannock Forge was privately operated.  The Rappahannock Forge was a huge operation by the days standards, and they produced arms for the Continental Army.  I believe the forge was owned by James Hunter, Frederick Klette was the supervisor of operations.

There are a handful of muskets from the Rappahannock Forge that have survived.  I have a book around here someplace on the Rappahannock Forge, I'll search around and see if I can come up with it...


             Ed

[Dennis Glazener]

he Rappahannock Forge was a huge operation by the days standards, and they produced arms for the Continental Army.  I believe the forge was owned by James Hunter, Frederick Klette was the supervisor of operations.

Ed I assume that Klette was also the maker of the Klette rifle?
Here is a good article on the Forge http://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/B033_Swayze.pdf
Dennis

[Nordnecker]

mmcalc- There was a foundry on the Rappahannock above Leedstown. I believe it was called Bristol Iron Works. I could be mistaken. Although I have never been there, A friend of mine owns or adjoins the property. He sais you can still find slag and pieces of iron. I'm not sure if it is in Westmoreland or King George. It might be right on the border.

[satwel]

On page 143 of the book Long Rifles of Virginia by Butler and Whisker, there are photographs of a Fredericksburg Manufactory of Arms musket. The caption reads "photograph courtesy of and used by permission of Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts." Can we assume if they provided photographs of the musket, it must be in their collection? I've never heard of that museum but it might be worth an email inquiry.

[Dennis Glazener]

On page 143 of the book Long Rifles of Virginia by Butler and Whisker, there are photographs of a Fredericksburg Manufactory of Arms musket. The caption reads "photograph courtesy of and used by permission of Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts." Can we assume if they provided photographs of the musket, it must be in their collection? I've never heard of that museum but it might be worth an email inquiry.

That is MESDA which is at Old Salem NC (Winston Salem NC) great place to visit.
Dennis

[Mattox Forge]

mmcalc- There was a foundry on the Rappahannock above Leedstown. I believe it was called Bristol Iron Works. I could be mistaken. Although I have never been there, A friend of mine owns or adjoins the property. He sais you can still find slag and pieces of iron. I'm not sure if it is in Westmoreland or King George. It might be right on the border.

You are right. That is the operation I was thinking of. There is an historical marker on the highway.

Mike

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

The Rappahannock Forge still exists in that the brickwork foundation was 1/ probably still is present in the woods above the dam just west of the 95 bridge. I lived near by and frequented the area walking in the woods. Debris (? slag) was easy to find in the area.