Rising international tensions in the 1790s, particularly with France, declining arms inventories and insufficient production at the national armories led to the issue of new contracts for muskets from domestic makers in 1798. Deliveries stretched into the early 1800s and proved fortuitous as Britain replaced France as the greatest potential threat and proved itself such with the War of 1812. Eli Whitney was one of 27 manufacturers given contracts in 1798-99 for a total of 40,700 (of which 40,197 were actually delivered.) Whitney’s manufacture involved the specialization of labor, which did not produce interchangeable parts, but was a major step forward. He was well regarded: his contract for 10,000 muskets was a quarter of the total contracted for, and he was permitted extensions for delivery, which stretched into 1809. His muskets under this contract fall into three types, all based on Charleville pattern muskets- the U.S. standard at the time- varying slightly by the pattern guns he used, with minor changes in the flash pan, etc. His first type follows a US 1794 contract; the second, a French 1766 pattern; and, the third, a French 1777. This is one of his Type-III muskets, the bulk of his production for the contract and bears a worn, but legible, large “MARYLAND” brand on the right forestock, indicating it was one of 3,050 muskets supplied to the state from 1809 to 1812 by the U.S. government and covered by the 1808 militia act. (Another 4,550 allocated to the state were funded by the government, also under the militia act, but privately supplied: see Gaede and Marsden for details on the consortium involved in supplying those arms.)

The musket is full length, with all bands, springs, swivels, rod, front sight and bayonet stud in place, and not messed with. The barrel is .69 caliber and mounts the bayonet stud on top at the muzzle and is brown overall with pitting around the muzzle forward of the upper band, some shallow crustiness and light pitting from there to the breech, which shows deeper pitting, but has a very clear C/P proofmark on top of James Carrington, foreman of Whitney’s factory from 1799 to 1825, and of good enough reputation that he was allowed to proof the barrels even though employed by Whitney. (Daum and Pate note his mark on “the final lot of Whitney’s 1798 muskets,” which is ambiguous in terms of the numbers involved. Moller simply notes some Type-III muskets show no proofs and others have this mark, which he attributed to Carrington.) All the metal is brown and matching in color. The barrel bands match, with the lower and middle show some crustiness and the top band deeper pitting, but with the sight in place. The lock plate and the correct 1777-type rounded hammer also show pitting, but have a clear eagle over “NEW HAVEN” forward of the hammer and “U STATES” in a vertical arc at the rear of the plate, which shows slightly smoother metal. The rounded brass pan has a pleasing, aged patina. The buttplate matches the rest of the iron in color, and shows expected pitting, with some roughness to the edges. Only the triggerguard bow shows any scaling, a small patch forward on the left. The screws are good- only the breechplug screw shows any significant turning. The wood as good color and surface. The edges along the barrel show just minor chips forward and natural thinning from handling between the upper bands and below the lower. The edges of the lock apron and counterpane are good, but the latter shows numerous dings and handling marks. The buttstock has nice contours, but with some chipping along the breechplug tang and at the toe of the butt and common handling dings. The ramrod channel shows wear from drawing and returning the rod and some chipping on the underside of the forestock at rear of the lower band from the rod wearing through the channel. Action functions but is a bit sloppy.  Bore is dark and dirty with pitting throughout.

Maryland and its troops saw a lot of action in the War of 1812 as the British targeted the strategically important Chesapeake region with both sea and land operations, culminating in the attacks on Baltimore and Washington, the Battle of Bladensburg, etc. Needless to say, with its “MARYLAND” stock mark this musket has an extremely close connection not just with that conflict, but with those raids, skirmishes, battles, and campaigns.  [sr] [ph:L]

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