Burke speaks to John Milledge Chapter

The John Milledge Chapter Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution held its monthly meeting, Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at New Life Foursquare Church in Milledgeville, GA at 12:00 noon. President Terry Stair presided, with 16 members in attendance.

The program for the meeting was presented by Compatriot Steve Burke. Steve is Vice President of the Wiregrass Chapter in Swainsboro and lives in Millen, GA with his wife Renee. Steve's presentation was on a "Sharpshooter's Shooter, the History of the American Sharpshooter.

Steve began by telling the gathering about the period rifles that he brought for demonstration. The Matchlock 50 cal. musket (1600's), which had a burning piece of rope that would fall onto the powder when the trigger was pulled. The flintlock eventually replaced it.

The flintlock (1700's) had a much better ignition system, and they came in rifled 50 Cal. barrels, 69 Cal. and 75 Cal. smooth bore muskets that could mount a bayonet for hand-to-hand fighting.

In 1842 the percussion cap was invented to replace the flint on the rifle and smooth bore muskets. The fourth weapon that Steve showed us was the sniper percussion cap smooth bore Whitworth 45 Cal. musket.

Compatriot John Trussell then talked to the Chapter about the Kettle Creek Battle numbered prints that the Georgia Society has for sale.