There is a myth that when George Washington was in battle on his horse, people kept firing bullets at him, and after the battle there were 3 bullet holes in his jacket, but he was not dead, or injured. There was not even a mark on his skin. Is this possible?

Considering the accuracy of Revolutionary-war era muskets, certainly.

Hahaha bikewer that was most sarcasm I think I've ever seen. Absolutely no malevolent insinuation whatsoever. lol.

Anyone who has fired muskets of that era, using the type of musket ba11s issued, will know that was not sarcasm.

How do you tear a hole in a shirt with high velocity molten lead (respective to stationary molten lead, I know muskets are a low velocity firearm), without hitting the person underneath? Yes muskets are inaccurate, but as far as I know, musket balls don't change direction once they leave the barrel (save losing altitude from gravity. They especially don't make 90 degree turns when they hit a shirt. So could you please explain how this is possible?

FIND button keyword 'Ferguson' or 'King's Mountain' for accounts of just how lucky Washington was from an enemy eyewitness.

Psykostx, the holes were in his coat, not in his shirt.

Musket ba11s frequently curve in flight. (Though not like the bullets in the film 'Wanted'. )

Molten lead? where does that come into it?

SO are you people saying that it is possible, for this myth or not??

Quite possible, indeed quite likely, that his apparel was shot through.

But apparel does not just mean his jacket, it would include his cloak. A hole in a corner of a cloak would, after time, 'move' closer and closer to his body. Newspapers of the time were no different to those of today, if slight exaggeration sold more copies they'd exaggerate.

Remember that to many people Washington was, indeed still is, a hero. Making him appear invunerable gave people more faith in him - they did the same with Nelson, Patton, Churchill and a host of other leaders.

Could you say that in simpler terms??

quote:

Could you say that in simpler terms??

Seems pretty clear and simple to me...

But, this was not in a newspaper, it was told by an actual witness!

Witnesses do not always get their facts right. Especially when hero worship might be involved.

I'm not suggesting the witness was lying, just that what he thought he saw may not have been what he really saw.

I don't think the witness would consider Washington as a hero, because from what I read the witness was a redcoat.

Ferguson did not shoot him, either, and he was a British officer.

Did the redcoat actually get close enough to see the holes?

The redcoat, was using guerilla warfare. He was one of the few british people who did.

We are British, not british.

Just who was this witness?

First of all, the article I read this in did not specify, the name of the witness.

quote:

Originally posted by bikewer:
Considering the accuracy of Revolutionary-war era muskets, certainly.

Muskets were made to be fired in volleys, they weren't exactly too accurate... And taken in account that the muskets also developed a lot of gunsmoke when fired, hitting anything beyond maybe a foot from you would be next impossible..

So you are saying that it is possible for there to be 3 bullet holes in his jacket, but yet not one on his skin?