North Carolina blanket

[DougCooper]

Comrades this subject has been bandied about for quite some time and the basic answer is still: What did Brit import blankets look like?

Fred Gaede and others have done excellent work here but as far as I know, there is no identified wartime imported blanket other than the 4 surviving "NC" blankets which we believe were imports. All of these have the "NC" sewn in to them. There is a feeling (but no proof) that there may have been loads of these blankets sent through the blockade that were meant for all parts of the Confederacy, but may not have had the NC sewn in. The question is:

1. Did a version of that blue-gray blanket come through without the "NC?"

2. If so, where did they go?

3. What other type of imported blanket came into the CS?

There are tantalizing little snippets from QM reports about blankets in the TMD, Navy OR's, etc, but no smoking gun description that I can find. We would like to plan a blanket issue to the troops in support of preservation at Mansfield 2004. We can get the currently made "NC" banket by Waterside Woolens and are going to negotiate to have a run made without the NC sewn in - but I am interested in everyone's thoughts on whether we are on solid (mushy) ground authenticity wise.

Chime in as you arrive at the cool new site!

[Reserve]

Doug,

There is an original British tan blanket used by a cavalryman in Troiani's Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War. Not sure of the page number though.... It has the WD and arrow stamps so it must have been British issue. An article I had on British imports lists them as white. I will look for it and post the details later on...


Ethan Rogers

[DougCooper]

Doug,

There is an original British tan blanket used by a cavalryman in Troiani's Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War. Not sure of the page number though.... It has the WD and arrow stamps so it must have been British issue. An article I had on British imports lists them as white. I will look for it and post the details later on...


Ethan Rogers

Ethan - yes apparently that was used as a saddle blanket and I have heard of references to white import blankets as well, but no origin. Looking forward to your article. I find it interesting that the Tait cloth (British Army Cloth) and the NC blankets are made from what appears to be the same yarns.

Kevin Black has some interesting finds from some QM reports he is pouring over and will post them once he gets on the forum.

[Reserve]

The article is from the June 22, 2003 Panama City News-Herald (an odd place for such info.) Page 4B. There was a reenactment of an attack on the salt-works in that area and the local Historical Society did the research and submitted it to the paper.

That quoted the Tempestuous Triangle by E.W. Carswell, that is actually where the following came from. "Enfields, lead, powder, white blankets, and cloth came throught the blockade at Saint Andrews. Governor Milton ordered 200 wagons to haul away the munitions and equipment." The date of this import was March 1862. Interesting to see English cloth being imported this early as well as white blankets being specified.

One interesting thing about the cavalry blanket though, is the fact that many CS troopers actually used normal blankets in lieu of special saddle blankets. The Alabama State Museum for example notes this with an original they have.

[Jack Enright]

Dear all,

I've been in touch with Kevin Black ref. these blankets, and got passed on from a local regimental museum in Salisbury to the National Army Museum in London. One of the staff there was kind enough to send me a pretty detailed reply, which I thought might be of interest or help, so first, here are the questions I asked:-


"I am making enquiries on behalf of a friend of mine from Mississippi, Kevin Black, who has been researching the history of the 4th Texas Infantry in the Confederate Army.

He has found some documents indicating that this regiment was equipped with British Army blankets, purchased by the Confederate purchasing agents based in England, and smuggled through the Republican blockade. He says that importing woollen goods from England was quite common, as even at the start of the American Civil War, the Confederacy's manufacturing capacity was very limited, and this was exacerbated when their main blanket factory was burned down in May, 1863. Kevin says he has been shown what is claimed to be a replica, which measures 60" x 80", weighs 4 3/4 lbs, is coloured white, and has a plain weave. It has no markings, such as WD, or the broad arrow. He says he has seen another blanket in a private collection in America, which is claimed to have a provenance back to a Confederate cavalryman. This is coloured grey, and is marked with the letters WD, and the broad arrow.

However, yesterday I visited the regimental museum of the Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, in Salisbury. One of their displays includes a private showing uniform and accoutrements as used in China in 1860. His water bottle was not marked "WD", as I would have expected, but "B O", with the broad arrow in between the B and the O. The curator explained that this stood for Board of Ordinance, which was a purchasing agency working on behalf of the British Army. This made me wonder about the blanket my friend has seen; would a blanket issued around the date he specified have also been marked "BO", rather than "WD"?

My other query is this. I would have thought that a civilian blanket manufacturer would not mark any blankets as being Army property until they were definitely sold; as if the sale was not completed, would the manufacturer have been able to sell the marked blankets to anyone else? I can well believe that a civilian buyer might be wary of buying such a blanket, as it might lay him open to accusations of theft - and the penalties for stealing military property in those days would be pretty fierce!

To sum up; I would like to establish the following points:-

What was the colour, size, weight and markings, of a standard issue British Army blanket through the period 1860-65 (as issued to an Infantry of the Line regiment);

Did the Army sell off any surplus blankets around that time? (I have seen other references to the Tower selling off surplus muskets when they were superceded by Enfield rifle)

Do you have any documentation relating to civilian blanket contractors, who might have sold blanket of the British Army pattern to Confederate agents?

If you have a blanket of this period on display, I would think it well worth the trip to see it. Also, if you think the best way for me to find the answers my friend needs is to get a reader's ticket for your archive, I understand I would need to provide a reference. I am employed in a College of Further Education in Winchester; would a senior member of the academic staff in the History Department be acceptable as a referee?

With thanks,

Jack Enright"
Emma Dixon, of the National Army Museum, sent me the following reply this morning:-

"Our Ref: 8730.7/ED

Dear Mr Enright

Enquiry: British Army Blankets, c.1860-1865

Thank you for your enquiry concerning British Army blankets of the period c.1860-1865.

Unfortunately, there has been very little written on blankets of this period, and I regret that we do not have an example in our Collection which would confirm aspects such as colour, size and weight.

I can inform you however that the initials WD (War Department) superseded BO (Board of Ordnance) in 1856. After 1856 you would not normally find the letters BO on items marked with the Government ownership markings, unless of course a soldier was supplied with an item already in store. With regard to the water bottle you have seen displayed, may I ask if there is a possibility this item may be a replica? It is a common mistake amongst re-enactors and museums to overlook this change of marking in 1856.

I have found a reference to a blanket of the Crimean War period, 1854-1856, which is described as a buff-coloured blanket with a red stripe and BO markings. Unfortunately the British Army Lists of Changes in Military Stores only begin in 1860 and I could not find a reference to how they might have changed after the War. (Emma would be referring to the Crimean War; JE)

It is particularly difficult with this period to assess the type of blankets issued. Both the Army and the suppliers would have sold off excess equipment and you often find unmarked equipment supplied by the civilian blanket contractors who could produce what they wanted for the market.

There are a number of books in the Reading Room of the National Army Museum that cover the equipment of this historical period, but I do not know if they could tell you anything more. If you do wish to conduct further research into this subject, the reference you have suggested would certainly be acceptable.

I hope this information is of assistance and I'm sorry I could be of no further help.

Emma Dixon
Department of Weapons, Equipment and Vehicles"

I've forwarded this info to Kevin, and thanked Emma on behalf of Kevin and myself. I'm sorry, to quote Doug Cooper, that we're still on pretty mushy ground as far as these blankets are concerned! :(

But I'll keep digging at this end, and post any further info I find. That is, as and when I can fit it in with my preparations for relocating to my new job on January 5th! :D

Best regards,

Jack Enright
24th MI Vol Inf (UK)

[Michael McComas]

I likewise was making inquiries for Kevin, and received this response from Bill Adams, a noted collector of British military good:

Some [British blankets] were aboard the schooner Stephen Hart that was captured by the federals in March, 1862. The US Army wound up with the blankets that were in the cargo. The cloth included "white twilled flannel and brown Holland, for lining army overcoats;" and large quantities of Silesia sleeve linings with colors listed as "brown," "drab," or in some cases simply as Silesia. There were 15,432 prs of stockings; 6,800 4 ½ lb gray blankets; 1,600 5 lb white blankets; and 150 5 ½ lb white blankets.

On March 19, 1862 the cargo of the captured blockade runner Stephen Hart was appraised by Orison Blunt. Blunt stated: "I found every article to be of value for use in our own army and navy,except a large quantity of rebel buttons; these buttons having been manufactured in Great Britain for the use of the rebel army, and stamped with a rebel device, I was unable to put any value upon them, except that of old brass."

[DougCooper]

Mike - do you remember or does it state where the Hart was captured?

Thanks everyone for working this baby for us - hopefully we can generate enough info and maybe an original for a reproduction. Troiani's blanket may be the real deal then if there is no difference between a regular blanket and a saddle blanket as issued. I cannot imagine the CS QM sent one type of imported blanket to the cav and another to the other branches.

me thinks the blanket experts need to make a trip to Connecticut :)

[1stMaine]

Comrade Doug,
If anyone ever gets the chance to visit the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London, they will be mightily impressed. It is far and away, imho, a better visit than the Imperial War Museum.
I found the staff and exhibits to be excellent and user friendly. It's a place not as well known as the IWM, and so less-frequented.
There are many collections of regimental clothing and issue equipments around the country, and it will probably boil down to mailing those associations to see what they may or may not have. Two that I know are very helpful is the 23rd Regiment of Foot at Caernarvon castle, Wales, and the 24th Foot at Brecon, Wales. The staff at these regimental homes/museums are normally retired members of the unit, and thus well versed in it's history and the little nuances, etc.
The other source that needs to be investigated further is the Museum of the Confederacy in Hamilton, Bermuda. It has a wealth of data on the blockade runners and their manifests, since most of thrm stopped there on their way to the Southern ports, and had to declare maniefsts, etc, for cutoms officials. When I was last there, there were huge numbers of images of the ships in port, and lots of copies of manifests, but what the stus currently is, and what access their may be I cannot tell.
Respects,

[DougCooper]

Tim - care to join me for a Dark and Stormy at the Grotto on Bermuda? For all, Tim and I were lucky enough to deploy with our P-3 squadrons to Bermuda during the Cold War to track Russki missile subs...now that was tough duty! Dang, I was an ignorant fly boy back then and did not realize a great CW museum was under my nose.

I volunteer to lead a team to Hardship Island - hopefully we can get funding from some obscure historical research grant with limited oversite. :D

[Johan Steele]

I seem to recall the mention of British Army blankets, though I don't think the color was mentioned, along w/ about 15,000 Enfields coming into the CSA through New Orleans in time to arm Johnstons Army prior to Shiloh. I can't recall the source at the moment, though it may have been Sword's book on Shiloh.

I was told by some gents of the 4th Alabama that they had evidence of the white blankets being in Bragg's Army at Chatanooga as they were listed as Captured after Missionary Ridge... I have no idea how accurate their research was.

All forum members are required to sign their full names to all posts. Please create an auto-signature in your profile. 1st Warning. Failure to do so by 12/10/03 will lead to your post being deleted.
Dusty

[1stMaine]

Tim - care to join me for a Dark and Stormy at the Grotto on Bermuda? For all, Tim and I were lucky enough to deploy with our P-3 squadrons to Bermuda during the Cold War to track Russki missile subs...now that was tough duty! Dang, I was an ignorant fly boy back then and did not realize a great CW museum was under my nose.

I volunteer to lead a team to Hardship Island - hopefully we can get funding from some obscure historical research grant with limited oversite. :D

Comrade Doug,
Ah yes, I remember the Grotto well....I also have fond memories of Wine and Cheese at George the Crook's in Lajes. Tough duty stations :)
Anyway, I am always ready for a few day's research in Hamilton. Perhaps we can find some space "A" travel out of Brunswick or Jax...All we'd need is crash space, and I'm certain that a charming and debonair TC can find someone at the O-Club to vouch for our prescence.......hint hint hint...
Anyway, that museum is well worth looking into.
respects,

[Michael McComas]

Doug,

According to the OR's, the Stephen Hart left Liverpool bound for Cardenas in early November 1861, and was noted as having been captured in March, 1862, correspondence to Caleb Huse. March 15, 1862, Mr. Huse sent correspondence stating that the owners of the ship were attempting to recover their property from the US government. He goes on to say,

I beg to suggest to the Department the importance of everything relating to these shipments being kept entirely secret. From the evidence seen in the case of the Stephen Hart, I am confident that, no matter what may be the character of the flag, munitions of war belonging to the Confederate Government will be held by U.S. officers liable to capture, no matter where they may be found.

Based on its course to the West Indies, and Mr. Huse's suggestion that its secrecy had been compromised, I would guess that the Stephen Hart was taken on the open ocean. If she had been intercepted trying to run the blockade, the owners would have no case for recovering the ship and cargo, whereas siezure in international waters is a different matter.

While I was at it, I checked for other possible shipments of blankets from England to the Confederacy. Here is another:

12 December 1862: "By the Leopard, to leave in three days, I shall clear up the odds and ends of the Melita's cargo, besides 50 cases of Enfield rifles ... a large quantity of iron plates, a considerable shipment of woolens, all the blankets and shoes that could be got together..." The Leopard was bound for Charleston with the Antonica. Apparently a second vessel named Antonica was sent from England to St. Thomas, was rerouted to Havanna, where she was to pick up a pilot and run the blockade at Mobile. Her cargo was "22,000 pairs of shoes, 30 tons of gunpowder, blankets, &c."

This same correspondence also offers assurance from a naval authority in Nassau that intercepting a ship on the high seas, no matter that her cargo was Confederate war materiel, would not happen, provided the ship did not attempt to run the blockade. Such action would be considered illegal. This is further evidence that the Stephen Hart was boarded on the open ocean.

Cheers,

Michael

[DougCooper]

Great Stuff Mike. Am going to peruse the OR's for the captures off Texas - they have numerous refs to uniforms and blankets and bolts of uniform cloth.

Did a whole bunch of work on law of the sea over the years in War College, etc. Would have been an insteresting case with the Hart.

Fred Gaede has asked me if anyone is familiar with the "Wilmington Manifests" apparently a collection of blockade runner manifests?

[Michael McComas]

Doug,

The OR's mention multiple siezures off Mexico by the French navy. In some cases, the materiel was confiscated by the Mexican government. Interestingly, at least one of these ships was carrying French army blankets bound for the Confederacy. These ships were laden and sent by a speculator in England who was taking payment in cotton at 150% of the market price, counting on the English mills exhausting their supply of cotton by the time the ships made their round trip. In all, he only managed to deliver something like 4200 Enfield rifles and nothing else and was ruined.

[Scott Sherlock]

About white blankets...


"My camp was among some large pines, not far back, & there I laid under a pine, on a nice pair of white blankets I had been allowed to buy out of an importation through the blockade by the state of Geo. for Georgia troops. Then I took my lunch from my pocket & ate it---two thick camp biscuits, each with a slice of fat bacon in it, while I waited for the doctor, Dorsey Cullen, who was chief surgeon of our corps."

Fighting for the Confederacy The Personal Recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander, Edited by Gary W. Gallagher (The University of North Carolina, 1989) Chapter 19, "Siege of Petersburg" (describing incidents on Wednesday, June 30, 1864) pages 445-446.


Scott Sherlock

[Jack Enright]

Dear all,

having failed to track down a definitive description of a typical blanket, as supplied to the British Army in the early 1860's (which seems to be the type which was also exported to America for military use), via military museums, I've tried checking it from the other end, i.e., the manufacturers.

I've found a historical website, with a forum similar to this, based in Bradford (in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England) which may be able to help. Bradford was the centre of the woollen industry in England for centuries, and still has a wealth of archive material about the industry.

I've posted a message on their forum today, asking for details as to the blankets, such as size, weight, colour, markings and / or stripes, and whether the weave was herringbone or plain. Any info, I'll post it here.

Fingers crossed, chaps! :D

Best regards,

Jack Enright
24th MI Vol Inf (UK)

[DougCooper]

Jack - exactly the right course - the best description will come from them. Thanks for doing yeoman's work here!

[Ken Knopp]

Great Topic!!

I have done quite a bit of research both here and in England on Confederate Blankets, albeit, most in the area of saddle balnkets. Nonetheless, it has afforeded me a great deal of exposure to imported British blankets, CS manufactured blankets and the domestic issue of both (incl. Infantry).
Much of this info was published in my first book, CONFEDERATE SADDLES AND HORSE EQUIPMENT and my second book just released MADE IN THE CSA, SADDLE MAKERS OF THE CONFEDERACY. Both contain quite alot of info including numbers of imported blankets that came from England through Bermuda, Nassau, etc. to the Ordnance Dept's main port of entry at Wilmington NC. I also published an article some years ago on the Spanish Moss Saddle Blanket that many of you may find of interest. See my website for free access to this article or to order copies of my books

www.confederatesaddles.com

I might add a few notes of interest on this subject:
1. The Ord Dept shipped to the South from England "grey" blankets in very large quantities (in "bales" of approx 100 each or so aboard Blockade Runners) and some of the British Army issue "Buff" blankets. I have seen at least one of these buff blankets (kinda cream coloured or "off-white" in a private collection and hav espoken to Trioani about his). These imports began in 1861 and continued to the end with prioritization at various times during the war.
2. The South also purchased from the Brits large numbers of "numnahs" or, wool felt pads that were regular British-army issue items. These were first developed in India and then used extensively by the British in the Crimean War. The South imported these for exclusive sale to officers and as occaisionaly issue to artillery.
3. After the Crenshaw Factory in Richmond burned in May 63, blankets were very scare in the east (always had been in the west however) necessitating a priority on their import especially in the winter of 63-64.
4. Scarcity caused the War Dept to order the confiscation of wool saddle blankets imorted by the Ordnance Bur and turned over the the Quartermaster Bur. for issue to infantry in 63-64.
5. The most preveleant saddle blanket issued east or west was the Spanish Moss saddle blanket. Many, many thousands of this cheap, durable and excellent alternative were made during the war. In fact, some contemporary authorities of the time period thought it superior to the wool blanket for use on riding animals (see article).
6. "Carpet blankets" were issued to infantry aand cavalry on occaision throughout the war. I know of several documented references to carpet being cut up and issued (I think I remember the Arkansas State House carpet being used for this) and even some "Brussels" carpet being purchased from a contractor for issue.

I hope this is of some benefit. My books and articles detail and extensively footnote/document this information. Check out the web site for more info.
www.confederatesaddles.com

Thank you!!
Ken R. Knopp

[RyanBWeddle]

Doug - -

I have some copies of info out of the Wilmington,NC records from the Nat.Archives I believe, I will get it tonight, and post what I have . . .

What I remember they are details accounts of the various bales of blankets, woolens, shirts, etc. that came into the port of Wilmington of various blockade runners - -

Back to the question of blankets - I've said this before - we need to differentiate between two different types of imported blankets from England:

1. British Military Surplus/British Military Regulation Items(i.e. the Troiani example, marked WD, etc etc.)

and

2. Commericial Made/Contracted British Blankets made for export/sale to USA / CSA.


Their is some evidence from Gaede/Childs that the brown "Gettysburg" blanket that County Cloth offers may well be of the second nomenclature, it's coarse 'herringbone' weave according to their research is very commonly associated with British/English looming techniques of the period and very well may be a commercially English produced blanket for exportation/sale/contract to the CSA.

I have to think that more wool blankets coming from England were not any sort of a British Military Regulation blanket, but rather woolen blankets purchased from British Commercial Woolen Mills. Even though they made have been loomed for a military purpose in mind, it doesn't automatically equate them with a Regulation British item.

The quote on "Rotten British Blankets" I found earlier this year supports this claim/thought, in the quote it even states that the "British Imported blankets" in storage in Boston are nothing like the regulation blanket of the British Army:

From: Scientific American. / New Series, Volume 5, Issue 21: pp. 321-336
The English Rotten Army Blankets.

"The editor of the Boston Commercial Bulletin states that he went into the United states depot for army clothing, at the corner of Mercer and Howard streets, and examined the army blankets which have been
imported from England. He pronounces them to be rotten and asserts that they are made of rags taken from the cast off garments of the paupers of the
United Kingdom. He says, “we took hold of one of these blankets in order to pull it out from under five or six for examination, when the piece in our hands
parted company from the main body.” This piece he took to Boston, and it is now in the sanctum of the Bulletin. These imported blankets are gray, and are
not at all like the army blanket of the British soldier, which is white, and made of excellent long wool ; and is capable of enduring two years’ hard service. Has the government been swindled in the purchase of these shoddy foreign blankets, and who is responsible for the fraud?

AND

FROM:
Vanity fair. / Volume 4, November 16, 1861, pp.227

"The Blanket Question"

Under the above heading, articles have appeared in the daily papers for a week or two past from the statements made in which it appears that the gray blankets imported in such large quantities from England for our army are specimen fabrics composed of "shoddy, waster and low noils," instead of wool.

From this we have been led to draw several inferences with regard to the "blanket question". The gray blanket seems to indicate that there must have been a black sheep connected in the business somehow and a good deal of fleece around, generally; but in that case why was there nothing but "shoddy, waster and low noils"? On this we feel ourselves impelled to put the blanket question point blank to the colored animal, in the words of the old nursery rhyme slight altered to suit the requirements of the vernacular:

" Baa! baa black sheep, ain't you got no wool ?"

The spurious blankets are impeached of dirt. They are said to take up no end of that cheap luxury, and to be extremely retentive of it. This suggests another turn of the "blanket question," and we behold in fancy the dirty article putting it to the "proper authorities" in the significant words - "How are you off for Soap?"

As the word "soap" is sometimes used to express the sinews of war, the above query must be rather cutting to the "proper authorities," who paid such a miserable price for the adulterated rugs.

There is another phase of the "blanket question," which may be termed the comic side of it. Adjutant General Thomas, in his famous "journal", records how Assistant Quarter-Master Davis took a contract for blankets at the West, and furnished bad ones. Hereupon, the latter officer states that he was confined to his bed at St. Louis, when the contract was fulfilled, and was not in a condition to think about blankets.

To this we can only say that, if bed is not a fit place to think about Blankets in, then are the Sheet upon which we have written these remarks no better than waste, or wasted paper."

Anyways - my thought is that most of the "British Import" blankets were made by civilian/commercial mills in England and were NOT of a British Military source.

But anyhow - I'll try and post that info tonight on the Wilmington Manifests......

Ryan

[RyanBWeddle]

Here is some of the info I dug out of the National Archives: Record Group 109 Chap. 5 Vol. 218:


Blankets Received by the Richmond Depot

From England: brought through blockade on steam Beauregard to Wilmington on November 26, 1863. Shipped to Richmond via Railroad:

#Bales Total Quantity Color Dimensions Weight (each)
3 142 Gray 68" x 85" Not noted
4 200 Blue Gray 56" X 80" Not noted
4 200 Blue Gray 56" x 85" Not noted
4 200 Blue Gray 58" x 82" Not noted
4 200 Brown Gray 58" x 82" Not noted
2 200 Gray Mackinaw 56" x 82" Not noted
2 300 Single Gray 56" x 84" 6 lbs
2 200 Brown Gray 56" x 78" 5 lbs
1 100 White Mackinaw 60" x 80" 5 lbs
1 100 White Mackinaw 56" x 84" 7 lbs
1 100 White mixed Mackinaw 56" x 78" 8 lbs
1 100 White mixed Mackinaw 56" x 78" 5.5 lbs
1 99 White mixed Mackinaw 56" x 78" 5.5 lbs
1 99 White mixed Mackinaw 60" x 80" 6.5 lbs
2 200 Blue Gray Mackinaw 56" x 78" 6 lbs
2 200 Blue Gray 56" x 78" 6 lbs

Total this shipment: 1,498 blankets



Other blankets rcvd by Richmond Depot - listed in bulk with no descriptions.

Nov. 19, 1863 From Steamer Hansa: 1,200 French Wool Blankets - 24 Bales

Jan. 11, 1864 1,700 Blankets

Jan. 16th.1864 6,400 Blankets

April 8, 1864 750 Blankets (15 bales)


==========

--- That is all for now, I have another record group sumation that would take all night to type in so I'll get around to it some other time....
It is interesting, it lists lots of the ships into Wilmington, Mobile, and Charleston and their cargos - - tune in next time for "bales of overcoats", "tait clothes", "bales of blankets", and much much more - I'll get it in a spread sheet sometime - -

Cool stuff above though, I still maintain most of these blankets being imported are NOT british military issue/regulation.

[tmdreb]

"I would guess that the Stephen Hart was taken on the open ocean. If she had been intercepted trying to run the blockade, the owners would have no case for recovering the ship and cargo, whereas siezure in international waters is a different matter."

International law and the legality issues of cargo seizures did not always stop the USN from confiscating a cargo or capturing a ship. The thought was that while a US judge would probably rule the seizure illegal, if the trial could be postponed until after the War, then the seizure was just as successful as if it were legal.

The situation at Matamoros was really quite interesting. There were at least 5 nations who were very interested in the trade going on at that port. Both American nations, Mexico, France and England all had a stake in the supplies coming into that port to trade for Confederate cotton. When researching this trade, I was interested to find that England considered the trade at Matamoros completely unaffected by the US blockade of the South, due to the fact that it was between two neutral nations. The British ships coming into Matamoros were not blockade runners, as they were technically going around the blockade. Of course, they were frequently harassed by the USN, and England was concerned about this enough to send the Royal Navy to the Gulf of Mexico.

I realize this doesn't tell us anything about what imported blankets look like, but is rather a reminder to remember that the rules weren't always followed, and that they varied from country to country to country....

[RyanBWeddle]

Reposting this from it's earlier disapperance:


I would think either that the term "Mackinaw" refers to either heavy wool blankets (of any color or design) or actual Mackinaw style blankets with a wide plaid pattern over the solid color - - -

No evidence of factory origin, I would suggest searching the "Citizens in Business" record groups with the National Archives to see about possible blanket factories contracting with the CSA.

I am still not convinced that the Tait fibers and North Carolina blanket fibers are a "match", yes they may be similar, but that only proves that blue-grey goods were common in import (we already know that), I would not however be willing to associate a name like Tait or any other to the imported blankets of that color - -

Here is some more info on blockade shipments into the south - it gives a very nice idea of the physical volume of goods coming into the southern ports in '64. Also some interesting items too!


http://authentic-campaigner.com/resources/NARG109CH5V227.pdf

[BorderReb]

A few years ago I read a diary, or at least a diary quote (memory has faded) of a Union soldier that mentions the Rebels shaking out their white blankets on the hills overlooking Chattanooga. Sorry,...that's all I remember. :(



I seem to recall the mention of British Army blankets, though I don't think the color was mentioned, along w/ about 15,000 Enfields coming into the CSA through New Orleans in time to arm Johnstons Army prior to Shiloh. I can't recall the source at the moment, though it may have been Sword's book on Shiloh.

I was told by some gents of the 4th Alabama that they had evidence of the white blankets being in Bragg's Army at Chatanooga as they were listed as Captured after Missionary Ridge... I have no idea how accurate their research was.

All forum members are required to sign their full names to all posts. Please create an auto-signature in your profile. 1st Warning. Failure to do so by 12/10/03 will lead to your post being deleted.
Dusty

[DonSmithnotTMD]

Reposting this from it's earlier disapperance:
I would think either that the term "Mackinaw" refers to either heavy wool blankets (of any color or design) or actual Mackinaw style blankets with a wide plaid pattern over the solid color - - -
http://authentic-campaigner.com/resources/NARG109CH5V227.pdf

It seems a little odd considering the context, but isn't mackinaw a British English term for raincoat?

[RyanBWeddle]

Don,

"Mackintosh" or "Mack" is what you are thinking :stormy: ... Mackinaw is something different.

After some more research and conversations with Childs, etc. Mackinaw in these references probably deals more with thickness and weight descriptions more so than pattern/design...

[LWhite64]

Jeff,
I have read the same account and for some reason I think it has a connection to Phil Sheridan, could this be where you saw it? Ive been trying to remember for some time.

Lee

[NewRichDepot]

I have seen examined several original documents, or copies of original documents - that list British import blankets. Most of these came through Wilmington in 1863 & 1864. One particular document lists several bales of blankets with the color, weight and dimensions of the blankets. I will have dig it up, but once I do I will copy it and make it available to anyone that wants it.

Christopher White

[jandksuttorp]

After a search using the search function, and a search of the Web, I cannot find any information on the North Carolina issue blanket. I need to know what time frame the blanket was issued and used, and who used it? Was it only issued to Tarheels, or did it find its way to other state troops?
I have a beautiful Waterside Woolen Mills NC blanket (Blue with dark stripes and a red N.C.) that I bought off the AC last year, and want to know what impressions I am limited to. Yes, I know that I should have found this out before I bought it, but I couldn't pass it up!:D

Thanks to anyone with info.
John Eric Suttorp

[roundshot]

They were in use as early as mid-1863 as documented by the specimen now in the MOC owned by Capt. JSR Miller of the 1st NC State Troops. Miller was killed at 2nd Winchester in June 1863.

[27thNCdrummer]

Here is a latter from J.N. White NC's chief purchasing agent in the UK.
He purchased most of hi material from Alexander Collie & Co.


January, 1864 Mr. J.N. White
Warrenton, NC N.C Sate Commissioner

Mr. J.N. White
N.C Sate Commissioner


"To His Excellency

Governor Z. B. Vance

While in England I purchased chiefly through the firm of Alexander Collie & Co. for the State and shipped to Bermuda.

I...purchased 20,000 pairs of Army shoes 10,000 pairs of Gray Blankets 160 dozen Flannel shirts 5800 yards of Army Cloth 10,00 of Gray Cloth of finer quality and 70,000 pairs of Cotton and Wool Cards, 5 card setting machines with wire and other furnishings sufficient to keep them running for perhaps 12 months and probably some other articles of small value not now recollected. (These) articles or most of them were expected to be shipped about the first of January 1864 but as I left England early in December I do not know whether they have been shipped or not..."

From "No Soap, No Pay, Diarrhea, Dysentery, and Desertion" by Jeff Toalson.

[27thNCdrummer]

Why did this thread die when I posted.:wink_smil

[jacobite8749]

Stephen Hart was captured on 29th. December 1862 in latitude 24*12’ north and longitude 82*14’wset, off the southern coast of Florida, about 25 miles from Key West and about 82 miles from Point de Yeacos, Cuba. A claim was made by John Myer Harris of Liverpool, England as her sole owner. Charles N. Dyett was the master of the vessel. A claim was also made to the whole of the cargo by Samuel Isaac, on behalf of himself and Saul Isaac as co-partners of a business in England under the firms name of S. Isaac, Campbell & Co.

Her cargo was loaded partly in London and Erith, with arms, ammunition and clothing.
Cargo:
5,740 Enfield Rifles with triangular bayonets
1,260 Short Enfield Rifles with sabre bayonets
660 Enfield Carbines with Sabre bayonets
2,640 British Rifled Muskets with triangular bayonets
200 British Smoothbore Muskets with triangular bayonets
320 Brunswick Rifles with Sabre bayonets
375 Cavalry Sabres
6,500 Gray blankets
1,750 White blankets
4 Blakeley’s 2 ¾ inch bore Rifled Cannon (six pounders)
200 Cartridge bags for above
1,000 Shell for above, loaded and capped
120,000 Cartridges, fixed ammunition for Enfield Rifles
100,000 Percussion caps
2,160 Cartridge Boxes
4,095 Knapsacks
4,000 Ball bags and belts
100,000 Brunswick Rifle cartridges
410,000 Minie Rifle cartridges
5,000 Cartridge for smoothbore English musket, each consisting of a round ball and two buck shot
1,540 yards of Gray Army cloth
11,543 yards of Steel mixed cloth for uniforms
625 Gross of brass buttons marked “C.S.A.” (90,000 buttons)
15,432 Pairs of stockings
2,000 Pairs of brogan shoes
592 Pairs of Russet shoes, Blucher pattern
762 Pairs of black leather shoes, Blucher pattern
2,220 Water-proof covers for mess-tins
17 cases and 3 bales of trimmings for army uniforms, consisting of linings, cord, braid lace, thread buckram, etc.
109 yards of scarlet cloth for army uniforms
7,500 Yards of white twill flannel for lining for army overcoats
2,250 brown Holland for same as above
1,040 Gross of buttons for army uniforms (149,760 buttons)
7,800 Pounds of cannon powder
Considerable quantity of cartridge paper, cones and other apparatus for small arms, gun slings, medicine, lint, bayonet scabbards, surgeons’ equipments, scissors, thimbles, hooks and eyes, shears, canvas lining, alpaca, and tarpaulins. Total value; $ 238,945.37 (about $1,911,562.90 today)

Reports of Cases in Prize 1861-1865

[Vuhginyuh]

Don't sweat it Andrew, that's a fine contribution. The thread is a few years old and the topic has been hashed over more than once. You keep digging up good stuff and the few blessed Tarheels around here will read it.

****

John, what port was she bound for?

[jacobite8749]

The Capt. Charles N. Dyett stated "she was bound for Cardenas; and that is discharged at all in Cuba i was to be discharged in Havanna". As there was no bills of lading, or invoices, nothing was able to be concluded.

This case got roled into also concluding the results of two other cases. That of the "Springbok" and the "Gertrude". though Samuel and his partners had became more careful about including a destination, usually a British colony port, the markings (as seen on the McRae Papers I,C. & Co. invoices tied all three cargos together as the numbers ran on in each ship? One lost, al lost.

I have done a lot of digging about another ship the Gladiator, according to The Aberdeen Journal dated January 15th. 1862. "She is recorded as arriving in Augusta, and on February 5th. She had been reported in a Florida port". I have also read a report by F. H. Morse in London that says "My impression is that Bahia Honda, in the Florida Reef, where they can run inside the reef along the coast, is a favorable point for them to run to, as well as to Fernandina,
Jacksonville, and other ports on the Saint John's River".

So? real port of destination?

[hta1970]

I have finished reading "The Personal Memoirs of Jonathan Thomas Scharf of the First Maryland Artillery." On pg 8-9 he mentions the 22nd North Carolina Infantry giving the 1st MD Artillery, which was "destitute of blankets," plenty of blankets during the winter of 61-62 at Evansport on the Potomac.

Can anyone tell me what these blankets might have looked like?

Thanks!

[Iron Scout]

Folks,

While this is an old thread it's still a good one. Another gentleman on another thread in this folder had asked about point blankets, etc. I thought I'd post three sets of images of CS blankets for everyone's purusal. The first two are from the SCCRR&M. The first, I believe, is an English import product ID'd to Pvt. Isaac Stenhouse c. 1862. The second has no ID but shows much use and several of those funky lines. The last is the famed NC blanket. For those of you freaking on me posting an MOC image, I do have permission. Enjoy the images.

Regards,

Neill Rose
PLHA

[27thNCdrummer]

Mr. Rose,
Could you post a full picture of the first and last blankets?
Thanks,

[Moose]

I was reading the regimental history of the 30th Virginia Infantry, by Robert Krick and came upon this passage:

A member of Company D wrote home on October 8, pleading for pants, a coat, and at least three or four shirts. He had plenty of money - having just been paid, but shirts couldn't be gotten for mere money. Someone sent had sent him a pistol, for which he offered perfunctory thanks, but clothes were what he really was wanting. The arrival of 660 English blankets in late October (at $2.75 each) was a bonanza.

The men of the 30th Virginia at the time (October of 1861) were at Camp Holmes around Brooke Station, located in Stafford County close to the Aquia Creek batteries. A few things jump out at me: one, that English import materials were available in the fall of 1861. Second, that the men had to pay for it themselves. Third, they has just been paid, so does this mean that men were receiving funds from the Commutation system at this time?

Cheers,

[FloridaConscript]

Old topic here I know, but Wash Ives of the 4th Florida mentions getting good quality English blankets in October of 63.