Historian Jim Leinicke, an expert on muskets and early

Historian Jim Leinicke, an expert on muskets and early rifles, describes a musket used by the U.S. military after his Nov. 23 presentation at the Illinois State Military Museum entitled "The Evolution of U.S. Military Firearms, Part 1, the Colonial Period to 1865." One of the lessons that can be learned from this time period, Leinicke said, is that U.S. Commanders were slow to adapt tactics to the new capabilities of their weapons, often negating the advantages the new weapons offered. Leinicke also lamented a lack of marksmanship training in early U.S. units. Leinicke's uniform is of the 20th Illinois Springfield Greys. Prior to the Civil War the uniform of the militia, today's Illinois National Guard, was grey. Leinicke has had a passion for early American firearms "since I watched Davy Crockett as a kid." Most of the weapons used in the presentation were from his personal collection. The presentation drew about 75 people. (U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Brad Leighton)