The Third Bristol County Militia Regiment wanted their men to have the following at muster: "a good firearm with steel or iron ramrod, and spring to retain the same, a worm, priming wire and brush, and a bayonet fitted to his gun, a tomahawk or hatchet, a pouch containing a cartridge box that will hold fifteen rounds of cartridges at least, a hundred of buckshot, a jack knife, and tow for wadding, six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden balls fitted to his gun, a knapsack and blanket, a canteen or wooden bottle suffiecient to hold one quart.

(Continental Journal and weekly adviser, January 22, 1778)

 

 

Another early company document mentions : a powderhorn, a bullet pouch to contain 40 leaden balls, a knapsack, a canteen, a firearm of good worth, a haversack,a belt, a good pair of overalls (Mass Archives, Boston Gazette May 26, 1777)

 

 

"List of Men & accoutrements of Each man [illegible words] Regiment in Bristol County [Massachusetts]" in a private collection. Its dated 1776 - but no month or year:

"Men including officers - 678, Firearms - 446, Ramrods - 129, Springs - 9, Worms - 160,

Priming wires - 193, Brushes - 138, Bayonets - 175, Scabbards - 142, Belts - 181, Cutting swords & hatchets - 255, Cartridge box and powder - 274, Buckshot - 10373, Jackknives - 403, Tow for men - 258

flints for men - 2084, pounds powder - 244 1/2, Bullets - 11934, Knapsack - 365, Blankets - 386

Canteens - 295"

 

A deserter was described in the 1 June Constitutional Gazette in a brown coat, old hat flapped down, checked shirt, black breeches and white stockings. (Uniforms of the Continental Army, Katcher)