Early in 1813, Major Wadsworth, Chief of Ordnance, understood the urgent need to simplify the confusing U.S. Ordnance system. He cited, by way of example, that at the Springfield and Harper’s Ferry Armories “every superintendent selected whatever pattern and introduced whatever alteration his fancy suggested... The necessity of some regulation to secure simplicity and uniformity must be obvious to all; yet men of reflection and experience alone can duly estimate the importance of these two qualities.”

In 1815, Wadsworth shepherded through Congress a major reorganization of U.S. army ordnance.  In June, Wadsworth called together the present and former superintendents of the two national armories, as well as his old friend Eli Whitney.  They agreed to develop uniform production.  They decided to create pattern muskets similar to the French Model 1777 musket, as well as those developed during the War of 1812 at Springfield Armory and by Eli Whitney. To successfully achieve uniform production, they would need to extend identical standards to arms made by private contractors.

Background on Eli Whitney