Historic musket tours schools

JACKSONVILLE — In conjunction with the 175th anniversary of Texas Independence, Jacksonville ISD students got an up-close look at the life of a Republic of Texas solider and his weapon — a Tryon 1816 Model, Type III, .69 caliber smoothbore, one of only five like it in the world.

Lon Morris College, owner of the 172-year-old musket, hosted presentations at Jacksonville Middle School, West Side Elementary, and The Compass Center on Thursday and Friday. Lon Morris College Director of Instrumental Music Charles Davis played the part of 1st Sgt. Samuel Enochs, a Republic soldier dressed in a 1st Sergeant, 1st Regiment of Regular Infantry Winter Fatigue Uniform from 1841.

“In 1840, (musket) was the cutting edge,” Davis said. “Three shots a minute was about as fast as you could go.”

The musket, purchased by the Republic of Texas from the Pennsylvanian company Tyron Son & Company for $12 in 1839, is now valued at $100,000. The Republic of Texas ordered 1,500 muskets but only 860 were delivered in 1841 due to a Cholera epidemic in the Eastern United States and the Republic of Texas’ inability to pay for the remaining 640 muskets. Records are unclear if the Republic later fulfilled the contract.

Of the 860 muskets delivered, only five are known to be in existence today. One explanation for their disappearance is the Texas-Santa Fe Expedition of 1841, said Elizabeth Appleby, curator of the San Jacinto Museum of History.

“The Texans were forced to surrender to (New Mexico) Governor (Manuel) Armijo and they were ordered to fire their rifles into the air and lay them on the ground at the surrender,” Appleby said. “The New Mexicans gathered up the long rifles, placed them in a wagon and carted them off and possibly destroyed them as only a few are known.”

Seeing the rare firearm and a Republic of Texas soldier’s uniform and equipment brought history book pages to life, said Rachel Barbey, 12, a 7th grader at Jacksonville Middle School.

“It was really cool because we talk about it in class, about how they were going to the Alamo,” Barbey said, “and it’s actually kind of weird to see what they actually looked like, what they wore, how they talked and their accent, and it’s cool (to see) what they fought with, just to know what they used and they didn’t have time to reload the gun but they improvised.”

Davis showed students the many items a Republic of Texas soldier had to carry, in addition to the eight-pound musket.

“I have a cartridge box to carry paper cartridges, a haversack, (which is) a pouch to keep personal items,” Davis said while in character. “In mine, I have a leather pouch with lead balls, a bar of lye soup that would have been carried by more clean-conscious soldiers, something called a ‘house wife’ that has pockets with needles and threads and sentiments from my sweetheart, a canteen to hold a pint and a half of water, usually rusty water but better than nothing.”

The Republic of Texas soldier had a hard trail to trek, Barbey said.

“It looks like it’d be really, really heavy lugging all that stuff on your shoulders and then the eight-pound gun that they’d have to carry,” she said.

The presentations were eye-opening for teachers too, said Alice Ray, a 4th grade teacher at West Side Elementary.

"I was watching and paying attention the whole time," Ray said.

The opportunity to see and touch a musket used during the era of the Alamo was something Ray said she would have liked to have as a kid.

"It's a great opportunity for our kids to learn about Texas History," she said.

The presentations solidified Texas history in the minds of students, said Nancy Heron, 7th grade history teacher at Jacksonville Middle School.

“Anything visual, hands-on really sticks with them,” she said. “They ask more questions.”

Compass Center Principal Faustina Martinez said the presentation was great way to celebrate Texas independence.

“I feel our school was very fortunate to have this opportunity and witness history,” Martinez said. “We appreciate (Lon Morris) and we're very glad to have this chance.”

The musket will soon be put on display at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, where it will remain on loan for up to 50 years, said Scott Gilpin, vice president of development at Lon Morris.

But before it makes its way to the capital, it will be available for viewing at several places in East Texas.

On March 10 at 11 a.m., Gilpin will show the musket at the First United Methodist Church, 1031 SE Loop 456, in Jacksonville. On April 14, the musket will make an appearance at the Texas Historical Foundation’s quarterly meeting in Beaumont. On April 16, the musket will go to the San Jacinto Museum of History in Deer Park near Houston.

The musket may return to Lon Morris for more public viewing opportunities before being sent to Austin, Gilpin said.

Staff Writer Tim Monzingo contributed to this story.

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