[El Gato]

And I have NEVER seen a militia law specifying a smoothbore musket rather than a rifle. I defy you to show me any such thing.

From Militia Act of 1792,Passed May 8, 1792 section I (starts about halfway down the page)

That every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of power and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and power-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a power of power; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack.

[ccmay]

That section specifically allows for the optional use of a rifle instead of a smoothbore musket. The original poster seemed to be implying that rifles were not used or allowed in militia service, which I thought was preposterous.

-ccm

[CRBDeuce]

OK, El Gato,
as a historian, you’ve found a new word for me: “firelock”. I’ve seen flintlock, wheel-lock, snaphance, box lock, dog lock, Spanish lock, and match lock, but never firelock. Had you seen that before anywhere but in the Militia Act?