General Information

Background on the Pattern (P) 53 Enfield

The P53 Enfield Rifle-Musket was the standard British Infantry weapon from 1853-1867. It was originally produced at the Royal Arms Factory at Enfield, England.

A Confederate Ordnance officer, J.W. Mallet recalled that "in the early part of the war" Confederate infantrymen were armed with "Springfield and Enfield muskets, Mississippi and Maynard Rifles, Hall’s and Sharp’s carbines, and arms of English, German, Austrian, and Belgian manufacture, of many different calibers."

The P53 Enfield Rifle-Musket was used by the North and the South and merits the distinction of being the second most widely used infantry weapon (surpassed only by the Springfield) in the Civil War. The Confederates imported more Enfields during the course of the war than any other small arm. Although the British government would not sell weapons to either side, private contractors who would then sell the Rifle-Musket to the North or South produced the British made firearm. It has been estimated that over 900,000 P53 Enfields were imported to America and saw service in every major battle from Shiloh in April, 1862, Vicksburg in 1863, and the final battles of 1865.

The P53 Enfield weighed about 9 lbs. And was about 53" in length. The bore .577 caliber and a 16" bayonet could be fixed to it.

 Ammunition

Small Arms ammunition was normally stored in the soldier’s cartridge box. A normal issue of ammunition could be around 40 rounds. The ammunition was a paper wrapped cylinder, which held the ball and powder. The cartridge was tied and glued to prevent spillage of powder. Normally cartridges were packaged in groups of 10, wrapped in paper, with 12 or 13 percussion caps, and issued to the soldier. The soldier would have to tear open the cartridge using his teeth, pour the powder down the muzzle, remove the ball from the paper and then place the ball in the muzzle pushing it down the barrel with a ramrod.

 Percussion Caps

The principal means of ignition in firing the Civil War small arm was by the percussion cap. The percussion cap looked like a tiny "top hat" or cap, thus the name. The cap was made of copper, slightly conical, with a rim or flange at the open end. The interior of the percussion cap had a small quantity of fulminate of mercury and then waterproofed by coating it with shellac varnish. The percussion cap would explode when struck with a sharp blow. The percussion cap would be placed on the cone at the breech (back) end of the gun. When the trigger was pulled, the hammer would strike the percussion cap causing a flame to go through the cone and ignite the powder in the barrel shooting the ball out.

Firing the Rifle-Musket

The National Park Service (NPS) has modified the original Civil War Small Arms Drill. The original drill was a battle drill designed to fire the rifle-musket under combat conditions. Although the soldier’s safety was paramount, speed was essential. Since combat is not an issue in Civil War parks today, the National Park Service has altered the drill to enhance the safety of the demonstrator.

The musket is brought from the shoulder and the butt of the musket is placed between the feet, holding the weapon with the left hand about arm length from the body. The right hand goes to the cartridge box on the right side of the body and unfastens it.

1. HANDLE CARTRIDGE

A cartridge is taken from the cartridge box and brought up to the mouth

2. TEAR CARTRIDGE

Using the teeth, the paper cartridge is torn, exposing the powder

3.  CHARGE CARTRIDGE

After tearing open the cartridge, bring the cartridge next to the muzzle of the weapon, and at this command pour all the powder down the barrel, place the ball in the muzzle. The paper will follow on top of the ball. (Note - Live ammunition is not used in NPS weapons demonstrations, only powder and paper commonly referred to as a blank charge)

The ramrod is removed from the pipes, waiting for the next command

5.  RAM CARTRIDGE

Insert the rammer into the muzzle and press the cartridge home, then remove the rammer placing it back into the pipes

6.  RETURN RAMMER

Return the rammer so that it is fully seated

Raise the weapon so that the muzzle is about eye level, keeping the lock above the waist. Using the thumb of the right hand, half cock the weapon. Reach into the cap pouch and put a cap on the cone of the weapon.

Using the right thumb, full cock the weapon

Bring the butt of the weapon to the shoulder, taking aim on your target

FIRE

Press the forefinger against the trigger, firing the weapon

After the weapon was discharged the soldiers would wait for the command to RECOVER ARMS and bring the weapon off the shoulder to either reload or cease firing.

The above procedures would be used under the best of circumstances. A soldier on the drill field would be expected to load and fire a musket 3-4 times a minute. In combat it was much different.