Leather Neck Stock

[Nick61stnewyork]

Hey
How common were Leather Neck Stocks. I know they were part of a dress uniform and to stop sabers blows. Were they issued to all troops? I dont see them in many origional photos. One of which is General Sheremn wearing one.

General Sherman
http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh317/NickGunning/Civil%20war/?action=view&current=sherman.jpg

Picture from Dells Leather Works Leather Sock Item.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Hard to say exactly how common, but the government acquired 745,814 over the course of the war (ORs, Series III, Vol. 5, p. 285).

Or these, 386,952 remained in storage at the end of the war (ibid, p. 278 ).

This still indicates that more than 350,000 leather stocks were issued to the troops, or about one to every nine enlistments, or one to about every six men who served.

They cost 14 cents in '61, 10 cents in '62, 9 cents in '63, and 12 cents in '64-65.

They may have been pointless, uncomfortable, and wasteful, but a lot of them got issued. It seems to me that any regiment that spent a lot of time in garrison might have been expected to have them.

[Regular3]

more than 350,000 leather stocks were issued to the troops, or about one to every nine enlistments, or one to about every six men who served.Pointless, uncomfortable, and wasteful don't begin to cover it. And the fact that not even half of those ordered ended up being issued should tell you how much emphasis the Army placed on that particular item ... I feel safe in saying that every one issued ended up disappearing or being used for something practical like cone proectors, which the Regulations also required every soldier to have.

[IsleGuy57]

Nick, I am by no means an expert on this item and may well be going out on a limb here but that picture does not look like a neck stock to me. It appears to be a neck scarf. Neck stocks, as worn by British Redcoats in the Napoleanic era were high, tight collars of stiff leather. Their purpose was to cause the soldier to have a proper "military posture, ie: head high, not turning about". These items were so high and tight that they constantly left red marks from chafing on the soldiers necks. This is only part of the reason they were so detested. In addition, they were only worn by the common soldier. Never was there an officer that wore one. I have no imformation on their construction or us in the ACW period but thought I would give you what little info I had on prior period neck stocks. Hope it sheds a little light.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Pointless, uncomfortable, and wasteful don't begin to cover it. And the fact that not even half of those ordered ended up being issued should tell you how much emphasis the Army placed on that particular item ... I feel safe in saying that every one issued ended up disappearing or being used for something practical like cone proectors, which the Regulations also required every soldier to have.

What amazed me was how many they actually bought!

But I could see them getting some use among the regiments garrisoning Washington. The 34th Massachusetts sprang for white gloves from their regimental fund, and there were a fair amount of equally useless shoulder scales produced as well.

Say, wasn't the 3rd US camped in Franklin Square for a while?

You just don't want anyone asking you where yours is, do you? :)

[Regular3]

What amazed me was how many they actually bought!

But I could see them getting some use among the regiments garrisoning Washington. The 34th Massachusetts sprang for white gloves from their regimental fund, and there were a fair amount of equally useless shoulder scales produced as well.

Say, wasn't the 3rd US camped in Franklin Square for a while?

You just don't want anyone asking you where yours is, do you? :)Hmm ... The Third may have been camped in what is now Franklin Square at some point. I do know that they spent the spring of 1861 in the area now occupied by George Washington University (and again after Bull Run), moved across the river on July 4 and made a new camp roughly where the southeast corner of Arlington Cemetery now lies. When they came back to the city in October 1864 after spending the spring & summer in Washington Square in New York City, they were camped somewhere along 7th Street.

Feel free to ask me where my stock is -- As you pointed out, they cost 14 cents in '61, 10 cents in '62, 9 cents in '63, and 12 cents in '64-65 ... So, at the rate of two per enlistment, by a rough calculation I'd pay a total of not more than about 25 cents in fines for "losing" them -- Not a bad tradeoff :twisted:

We do have a few members who have them, and our First Sgt. has even been known to wear his on occasion. Bully for him, I say.

[ScottWashburn]

Gosh, I still have MY neck stock from when I was in the regulars! :) What's the army coming to these days?

[Regular3]

Gosh, I still have MY neck stock from when I was in the regulars! :) What's the army coming to these days?Scott, As the War wears on and casualty figures rise, and with states offering outrageous bounties, it's hard enough to convince young men to sign away 3 years of their lives in the Regulars without scaring them by encasing their necks in dog collars. :shock:

[Mojo1842]

Heck, I know where mine is; it goes on every time my scales go on. Actually, I find that one you get used to it being there you forget its on until someone looks at you funny.;) Maybe I'm just a masochist though...

[Nick61stnewyork]

Im shure the soldiers just would throw them away if they did not want them. You do not see them in many photos. The whole point is I just wanted to know if they were issued to everyone/how many were issued. Thanks

Nick

[Gary]

Neck stocks, as worn by British Redcoats in the Napoleanic era were high, tight collars of stiff leather. Their purpose was to cause the soldier to have a proper "military posture, ie: head high, not turning about". These items were so high and tight that they constantly left red marks from chafing on the soldiers necks. This is only part of the reason they were so detested. In addition, they were only worn by the common soldier. Never was there an officer that wore one... Hope it sheds a little light.

Concur with IsleGuy57. Neck stocks were not intended to ward off sabre blows. Remember, a well delivered blow can hack off a man's arm (read about a Russian who lost his arm that way during the Crimean War). Rather, like IsleGuy57 says, it was to "help" the solider maintain his soldierly appearance and bearing.