Amana Wool Blankets

[mickscove80]

Howdy,

I came across this company while surfing the net and noticed they produce a few reproduction Civil War blankets. I was wondering if anyone has purchased or at least examined one of these blankets and how do they compare to originals & other reproductions on the market?

There website is http://www.amanawoolenmill.com/store/displayitem.cfm?ProductID=11&svPT=15&svBrandID=&svGroupID=4&svSubGroupID=

Best Regards,
- Michael McDonald

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

If what you need is a citizen's blanket (or some CS impressions), these will work just fine. I found them a tad heavy in comparison to many period blankets, but that is a benefit for some events. I felt the price was quite fair for a blanket of that quality. If you are in need of a military blanket, I would look elsewhere, as their offerings do not resemble any documented government issue blankets. You would be best served to look at Family Heirloom Weavers, Charlie Childs, Waterside Woolen Mills, or any of the various vendors that carry those wares.

[Pvt Schnapps]

From time to time the subject of authenticity in blankets arises. I think it's worth noting that the Federal government had problems providing sufficient numbers during the war. I suppose the Confederate government had even greater problems. At one point it became official Federal policy to encourage recruits to furnish their own blankets. Here's something I posted elsewhere on the subject:

"General Order No. 120, dated August 29, 1862:

"As the sudden call for volunteers and militia has exhausted the supply of blankets, fit for military purposes, in the market, and it will take some time to procure by manufacture or importation a sufficient supply, all citizens who may volunteer or be drafted are advised to take with them to the rendezvous,
if possible, a good stout woolen blanket. The regulation military blanket is 84 by 66 inches, and weighs five pounds.
"As all clothing, blankets, and shoes issued by the United States to its troops are charged at average cost, and no soldier who furnishes his own blanket is required to draw one, it is to his interest to supply himself, and thereby avoid much discomfort, as it is impossible for the United States to supply all the
troops immediately."

The source is available on Google Books:
General Orders of the War Department, Embracing the Years 1861, 1862 & 1863 ... by United States War Dept, Oliver Diefendorf, Thomas M. O'Brien - 1864- Page 384

Imports must later have caught up with demand, because the total number of woolen blankets procured by the QM department would reach 5.9 million by the end of the war (ORs, SIII, V5, p. 285), although more than a million remained unissued (p. 278 ). In any case, G.O. 120 would allow for the use of civilian blankets by Federal soldiers during a critical period of the war.

And if Ross says they're OK, I should think they are :)

[RJSamp]

Hudson's Bay Blankets are still made for warmth. Period correct (OK so the smallish modern label has to be snipped off), and used/imported for military warmth/use during the American Civil War.

Make mine a 4 beaver blanket...

[Rob Weaver]

Those 4-point blankets make terrible horsecollars, though -roughly the size of a tractor inner tube! (And if you wrap it with your poncho, it'll feel like one!)

[Bill_Cross]

Wow, you can't beat the price! And a heavy blankie can be a good thing for Spring and Fall events. I love my 4- and 5-pound Charlie Childs blankies for that reason, and carry an Abe Thomas in the Summer months (3-4 pounds).

[Slickrick214]

I've been looking for a second, period correct blanket for those really cold nights in late fall. I didn't want to spend over $100 on another Sekela blanket. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Its period correct, good quality, good price and its not going to fall apart after one year like the sutler row blankets.

[world_warrior]

Really? Those blankets are Kosher around camp? I've always wondered about that. I have 3 but have never brought them out for fear of being drummed out of camp. I know it's preferred to go with something grey or tannish in color with the whole black stripes and US in the middle (for Federal, which I am) but I don't know about Hudsons Bay blankets.

And yes, I DO know that were in business back then but that doesn't exactly make it accurate in a military camp does it? I'm not taking either side of the fence here and definitely not trying to offend any buckskinners (I used to be one until I saw the light and was forgiven of my sins). I'm just inquiring and educating myself.

Ross, your opinions?

Robert 'RJ' Basista
4th OVI Co.E 'Givens Guards"
Wooster/ Wayne County, Ohio

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Really? Those blankets are Kosher around camp? I've always wondered about that. I have 3 but have never brought them out for fear of being drummed out of camp. I know it's preferred to go with something grey or tannish in color with the whole black stripes and US in the middle (for Federal, which I am) but I don't know about Hudsons Bay blankets.

And yes, I DO know that were in business back then but that doesn't exactly make it accurate in a military camp does it? I'm not taking either side of the fence here and definitely not trying to offend any buckskinners (I used to be one until I saw the light and was forgiven of my sins). I'm just inquiring and educating myself.

Ross, your opinions?

Robert 'RJ' Basista
4th OVI Co.E 'Givens Guards"
Wooster/ Wayne County, OhioAll I've got here is opinion, albeit an educated one. Hudsons Bay Co. was indeed in business back then, but like today, were quite expensive. I've seen no reference whatsoever in any period manner in regard to their usage by either army during the Civil War. My opinion, for what its worth, is that they would not be a good choice for a correct Civil War blanket for Federals, but I would offer, however, that a quality blanket, today, as then, is a quality blanket and that usage for CS impressions wouldn't be out of the realm. A good, all wool blanket of most any type is a welcome addition to most CS kit.

[RJSamp]

All I've got here is opinion, albeit an educated one. Hudsons Bay Co. was indeed in business back then, but like today, were quite expensive. I've seen no reference whatsoever in any period manner in regard to their usage by either army during the Civil War. My opinion, for what its worth, is that they would not be a good choice for a correct Civil War blanket for Federals, but I would offer, however, that a quality blanket, today, as then, is a quality blanket and that usage for CS impressions wouldn't be out of the realm. A good, all wool blanket of most any type is a welcome addition to most CS kit.

50,000 Canadians served on the Federal side during the ACW.....am pretty sure that at least ONE Eastern Federal regiment was issued Hudson's Bay Blankets.....forgot exacly whom brought this up on another forum long long time ago but they gave the quantity and regiment.....

Plenty of French Canadian/Indian soldiers from Wisconsin (including a distant GGG uncle Francis Beauregard in the 7th WVI, wounded and captured at the Wilderness, died in Andersonville,...of Chippewa/Quebec descent)...and other states that had dealt with the trading company directly.

There were a couple of regiments issued RED wool blankets as well.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Yep, plenty of red wool references (Burnsides Rhode Island boys, a regiment or two from the Irish Brigade among others), and I remember the past thread talking about Hudson's Bay blankets being issued to at least one regiment, but I still haven't seen an actual reference (doesn't mean there isn't one, just havent' seen it). I wouldn't at all be surprised if a contemporary reference is unearthed, and admitted that it was just my opinion that they wouldn't make a good choice for Feds. My opinion is based only on the mutiple examples of Federal blankets still in existance versus any reference of a point blanket being used/issued. I've even used a Hudson's Bay blanket under other blankets at cold events, and never worried once that the authenticity police were going to arrest me!

[RJSamp]

Yep, plenty of red wool references (Burnsides Rhode Island boys, a regiment or two from the Irish Brigade among others), and I remember the past thread talking about Hudson's Bay blankets being issued to at least one regiment, but I still haven't seen an actual reference (doesn't mean there isn't one, just havent' seen it). I wouldn't at all be surprised if a contemporary reference is unearthed, and admitted that it was just my opinion that they wouldn't make a good choice for Feds. My opinion is based only on the mutiple examples of Federal blankets still in existance versus any reference of a point blanket being used/issued. I've even used a Hudson's Bay blanket under other blankets at cold events, and never worried once that the authenticity police were going to arrest me!


Good stuff. I wonder if Jordan Marsh of Boston bought any Hudson's Bay point blankets for the boys.....oh, his retail store eventually bought by.....Macy's. Ross I also seem to remember some quotes about white wool blankets.....very warm, but showed the mud too easily.....growing up in Wisconsin all of the Hudson's Bay blankets that we saw/used were white, with a few colored stripes in it.....

any way.....didn't GRANT have contact with the blankets when he was in California....Benicia if memory serves....

oh well, sometimes you just have to reread the library...

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

All too true, R.J. Sometimes life is all about the re-read! I'll have to dig back, but I do remember white blankets being issued, one regiment in particular having to purchase them themselves from Federal commutation moeny, and one unit receiving them from naval stores (the navy's predominant blanket being white with blue end stripes). I'm sure blankets are just like about anything else, you'll probably find at least one example for every color and type if you look hard enough. I do sincerely hope nobody finds one in leopard skin though.........

[intheblue25]

So would a Pendleton blanket be appropriate for use for federal or cs. I have one of the greenish grey ones with the stripes on the ends. No one has ever said anything to me in camp about it, although at some point I would like to get a more authentic issue blanket. Just wondering.

[addendum]

So after a quick google search it looks like probably not, although the original company was in business in 1863 under a different name, but if someone could give me some guidance on this for sure...

[Pvt Schnapps]

There was a discussion of blankets awhile back on the "Common Ground" forum: http://commonground.aceboard.com/249612-7627-6309-0-Blankets.htm

FWIW, I did come across one reference of a Federal officer with a Hudson Bay blanket, but then he had a whole collection with him. Here's my post from the CG thread:

'A passage from "Marching With Sherman" by Henry Hitchcock (p. 285)-- who has earlier mentioned a blue blanket and a "double Mackinaw" -- reads "The brilliancy of that gay new red blanket contrasted finely with the 'sombre hues' of the gray ones bought of the Quartermaster, as well as set off the *subdued white* -- we won't call it *dingy yet -- of the 'Hudson's Bay' blanket with its answering gaiety of stripes at either end."'

'Hitchcock was a staff officer and had to buy his own blankets anyway, but he mentions them a number of times and it's interesting to contemplate what one might see in Georgia in those days.

'FWIW, the government price for a woolen blanket in 1863 was $3.60, compared to a monthly clothing allowance of $3.50 for volunteers. By August, 1864 (per contracts 336 & 337 with Dimick & Higgins in NYC) the cost had gone up to $7.50 (vs. an allowance that eventually reached the princely sum of $4 a month), which leads me to suspect they wouldn't have laughed at you back then.' [for bringing your own]


As I said earlier in this thread, blankets from home -- that is, any blanket of period composition and construction -- would be appropriate for a Federal soldier in mid-war, perhaps even de rigueur for some units. By the end of the war, though, government acquisition had more than caught up with demand and I suspect private purchase blankets would not have been as good a deal.

Still, I don't know if G.O. 120 was ever rescinded, so a blanket from home rates a "plausible."

The question then becomes, what sort of blankets available today equate to blankets used 150 years ago, allowing for 15% artificial fiber content.

[world_warrior]

Sorry about that but I'm a truck driver and I've been gone for a while so I'll add in a bit belated.

While it can be said that Hudsons Bay blankets may be authentic to the ERA, it doesn't exactly mean that anyone from my unit, 4th Ohio Co.E, OWNED a Hudsons Bay blanket, let alone used one. While some units can be documented as having them, it doesn't mean that mine did and so I'm going to refrain from bringing out my "Bay" blankets. I don't think any of you can fault me for making that decision and I am pretty confident it is a good one for keeping things authentic.

Now that I got that out of the way. I would THINK that it would be ok to use Hudsons Bay blankets IF you can document YOUR unit using them. Heck, I'd even be open to the interpretation of someone of French/ Canadian descent using them. But from what I've heard in the reenacting community and read on this site, the best way to go is unit-specific equippage, in this case blankets. I'm gonna probably end up getting a Keagy-Noble from one of the Sutlers out there peddling them. A little expensive, but worth it. They're very non-descript and authentic in consctruction. PLUS I'm gonna get it with some of my tax-refund money and do my part to stimulate the economy for our sutler friends. Sounds like a win-win situation for everyone.

Thanks again for your input Ross. You're my go-to guy for Q&A! Love reading your posts!

Robert 'RJ' Basista
4th OVI Co. E
Judge Givens Guards
Wooster/ Wayne County Ohio