31 December, 1861 - Invoice for Accoutrements and Knapsacks

[paulcalloway]

Am attaching an invoice for accoutrements and knapsacks dated December 31, 1861.

These images are the property of the South Carolina Relic Room and are posted here with their expressed permission. All rights reserved by the SC Confederate Relic Room.

More information at: http://www.crr.sc.gov/support<WBR>/mcrae/ (http://www.crr.sc.gov/support/mcrae/)

[Jefferson Guards]

A great original Ball Bag from the GNMP collection. It is manufactured of black waxed leather.

[SCTiger]

These documents are very clear and well written, are the rest of the documents similar in this quality? Also this is late 1861, so I would theorize that these goods could have arrived in the field around Feb-March 1862, adjusting for transport. Nice.

[Iron Scout]

Folks,

I'll share more information as time goes by, but off the cuff:

English Army Cloth, Oxford cloth and English blue cloth-first shipment November, 1861

Knapsacks and Accoutrements-1861

etc., etc.

Yes, all of the documents are crystal clear as business invoices and documents should be. Huse immediately knew what the fledgling Confederacy needed to get men into the field as a cohesive and armed fighting force. It will be interesting to note that accoutrements actually trailed off over time and bulk leather shipments increased. Possibly due to the development of the arsenal system and the need for more raw materials.

Glad everyone is enjoying this...so much more!

Neill Rose
PLHA

[Foust JW]

Brian,

Any shots of that "ball bag" against a ruler?

Thanks,
Joel Foust

[jacobite8749]

"so I would theorize that these goods could have arrived in the field around Feb-March 1862, adjusting for transport".

That shipment intially went out on the Southwick as the invoce shows, it was later trans-shipped to the Thomas Wragg. They could not have reached the troops by earlier than August or perhaps later.

CHARLESTON, April 11, 1862.
Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War, Richmond:
DEAR SIR: We had the honor to receive in due course your dispatch of the 7th instant, and Captain Maffitt having consented to go to Richmond and see you personally in relation to the Theodora, a reply to the dispatch seemed unnecessary. We have now the satisfaction to inform you that the steamer Southwick has arrived safely at Nassau with her valuable cargo.


O.R.--SERIES IV--VOLUME I [S# 127]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES, DECEMBER 20, 1860-JUNE 30, 1862.(*)--#47

A letter dated June 28, 1862. to Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH, states:The cargo was transfered to the Thos. L. Wragg, "which sailed hence on the 20th, was compelled to return yesterday to Turtle Bay, about forty-six miles from here, short of coal. She was discovered making for Charleston Harbor and chased back by three steamers for twenty-four hours. The requisite coal will be dispatched this afternoon, and she will try it again on the 1st of July, I hope with better success".

[Jefferson Guards]

That shipment intially went out on the Southwick as the invoce shows, it was later trans-shipped to the Thomas Wragg. They could not have reached the troops by earlier than August or perhaps later.

The goods in the invoice were shipped on two steamers, the Economist and the Southwick. The Economist arrived in Charleston Harbor in March from Bermuda. The Southwick, for whatever reason, was delayed and it was feared lost as it was thought it had tried to run the blockade.

The early 1862 period was a transitional period when the slower steamers were sometimes able to run the not yet fully developed blockade. It was the capture of the Stephen Hart and all its cargo that standardized the practice of shipping goods to Bermuda, Havana, Nassau &c. and then transhipping the items onto smaller, but faster runners.

[Jefferson Guards]

Brian,

Any shots of that "ball bag" against a ruler?

Thanks,
Joel Foust

No shots against a ruler. I took detailed measurements of the item seperately.

[Iron Scout]

Gents,

Regarding images of English goods. It's my intention to work with the AC folks to develop a folder for images of original English goods in various public and private settings. There are so many varioations and misinformation that, truly, a picture is worth a thousand words. These ball bags also came with the oiler bottles which are sometimes listed seperately.

Neill Rose
PLHA

[Malingerer]

Neill,
Have you noticed anything regarding canteens yet? We had a discussion on this forum a while back regarding the importation and use of English canteens and it would be interesting and useful to know if these papers contain any mention of them.
Best regards,

[Iron Scout]

Peter,

Interestingly enough, there is zero mention of canteens and only one mention of haversacks. Now Frank Vandiver's book does show one shipment (case) of canteens in 1864. Seems like Huse knew the South had the capacity to produce both. Great question though!

Regards,

Neill Rose
PLHA