by Jim Fulmer | Past President, NMLRA
When do stories become legends? When do myths become facts? There are many stories, legends, and myths told about the accuracy of the flintlock long rifle. All Pennsylvanians are proud of their heritage and many Pennsylvanians answered the call with their flintlock long rifles when rifle companies were formed to fight during the American Revolution.
Shooting contests were common all through the Colonies from New England to Georgia. Stories of the time said they could snuff out candles at 70 paces. Snuffing a candle is where a lead ball fired from a rifle passes through the flame or close enough to it to blow it out without striking either wick or candle. Myth or fact? I have fired in many candle snuff matches and the winner is usually somebody who can snuff it out at about 35 paces or half the distance of the legends.
Captain John Loudon’s Company of Northumberland County Riflemen was said to have to qualify for service by repeatedly hitting a 7-inch circle at 250 yards. Myth or fact? I have seen the best flintlock shooters of this day and age repeatedly shoot an 8 inch diameter steel disc from a prone position at 200 yards.
In June 1775, Pennsylvanian Timothy Murphy and his brother John enlisted in Loudon’s Rifle Company.
In July of 1777, Timothy Murphy was transferred to Morgan’s Rifle Corps commanded by Daniel Morgan— who even at that time was already something of a legend. He was a giant of a man who served as a teamster in the French and Indian War, hauling supplies for the British Army. For punching a British officer, he was given the punishment of 100 lashes. He would carry the scars and memory for the rest of his life. Colonel Morgan and his corps of riflemen were sent north to help at the first Battle of Saratoga.
The British advance was stopped and both armies waited in camp until Oct. 7 when British Brig. Gen. Simon Fraser led an advance on the American lines.
Here is where a legend begins.
Morgan gave an order, some stories say to a dozen riflemen, some say just one— Tim Murphy, that it was necessary that the gallant British officer commanding the enemy’s advance must die. Tim climbed a tree, resting his rifle in a notch, he is said to have hit General Fraser on his third attempt. The story has it that Murphy’s shot was from 250 to 300 yards. The distance varies to as much as 440 yards and to as close 180 yards for the shot.
On May 17, 2014, the City of Greenville and Muhlenberg County, KY, unveiled this towering, life-size bronze statue of Lt. Ephraim Brank of the Kentucky Militia, taking aim once again in celebration of his legendary marksmanship feat during the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 Brank was credited with shooting several British officers off their horses behind the line of soldiers approaching the Americans, creating chaos among the British and, thereby, aiding in their defeat. It is believed by some that his success in making rifle shots well out of rifle range and the effect it had on the battlefield, resulted in his being promoted to lieutenant the next day after the battle on Jan. 8, 1815. The statue was designed and sculpted by renowned sculptor, Raymond Graf, of Louisville, KY.
Another man who made the flintlock long rifle famous would fight some 30 odd years later during the War of 1812. His name was Ephraim McLean Brank of Greenville, KY. It was his courage and skill at the Battle of New Orleans that helped change the name of the flintlock long rifle to the Kentucky long rifle.
On Jan. 8, 1815, Ephraim would stand on top of the breastworks and repeatedly fire from a standing position without any support, at the advancing British soldiers.
This is part of the account of the battle by an anonymous British officer: “We could see the position of General Jackson, with his staff around him. But what attracted our attention the most was the figure of a tall man standing on the breastworks dressed in linseywoolsey, with buckskin leggings and a broad-brimmed hat fell around his face almost concealing his features.” The author goes on about Ephraim’s stance and the cannon fire and how he remained motionless. Then the British officer writes, “At last he moved, threw back his hat brim over the crown with his left hand, raised his rifle, and took aim at our group. At whom had he leveled his piece? But the distance was so great that we looked at each other and smiled. We saw the rifle flash and very rightly conjectured that his aim was in the direction of our party. My right hand companion, as noble a fellow as ever rode at the head of a regiment, fell from his saddle. The hunter paused a few moments without moving the gun from his shoulder. Then he reloaded and resumed his former attitude.” This was seen over and over again as the British officer and his party advanced toward the American breastworks. Again he reloaded and fired with the same unfailing aim and unfailing results. The account says he fired four times with four hits. At what distance did this all take place? The most educated guess is that he fired his first shot at about 300 yards and last shot about 80 yards.
This year’s 18th Century Marketfaire and Rifle Frolic, Oct. 10-12, sponsored by the NMLRA and Village Restorations, will add a number of new matches to the Rifle Frolic portion of its event. The Timothy Murphy and the Ephraim Brank matches will duplicate the distances of their shots.
These matches will be fired with open iron sighted flintlocks and in period clothing. The Murphy match will be shot from a rest out to 300 yards and the Brank match will be shot offhand out to 250 yards. Due to the long range of these shots, they will only be fired on Saturday morning, 8:30 am until noon.
The Marketfaire and Rifle Frolic will be held at Fort Roberdeau, outside Altoona, PA, and will run Friday through Sunday. Early set up is Thursday the 9th and everyone must be out of camp by noon the 13th. To see more information about the shoot go to marketfaireandfrolic.com or nmlra.org for a more detailed listing. Come out and make history with us.
A second terrific event in Jacobsburg, PA, Oct 25-26, will be a Market Faire and Rendezvous. The location is the home of the Boulton historic site near Nazareth, PA. It is a great historic site and event. The rifle works located there produced muzzleloading firearms during our country’s early years. Check out more info at jacobsburghistory.com.
In Pennsylvania we do have a lot to celebrate. As a Pennsylvanian, we point with pride at our state symbols: the Eastern Hemlock tree, Mountain Laurel, Ruffed Grouse, and Whitetailed Deer, and now the Pennsylvania long rifle has become a part of our state emblems. On June 6, 2014, the state’s House of Representatives let HB1989 out of committee and brought it up for a vote. It passed with a good majority, 173 to 24. It went on to be passed by the state senate on June 16 unanimously 48-0. Ten days later, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed Act 73 proclaiming the new state symbol into law.
A big thanks to all of the people who made this grassroots effort possible and a big thanks to Dave Ehrig who wouldn’t let the dream die. We have a lot to celebrate.
