Ken R KNopp
08-10-2009, 09:34 PM
Folks,
The Camp Chase has been kind enough to publish another article of mine in the “Authentic Campaigner Section” of their current edition. Its title, WAS THERE A SHORTAGE OF HAVERSACKS & CANTEENS AMONG WESTERN CS CAVALRY OR.....WAS IT A SHORTAGE BY CHOICE? The genesis for this article was a post made on the Authentic Campaigner Forum some years ago. I have since expanded upon it quite a bit with new information I have found. Since this is very relative, somewhat novel information and certainly new research to cavalry reenactors I include excerpts here for your perusal, enjoyment and to “tweak” your interest. I hope you might find it of value enough to take the opportunity to read the full article and offer your opinions. Thank you! Ken R knopp
(Second in a series of articles on Confederate Cavalry arms and equipment exclusively for the Camp Chase)
Official inspections taken of Confederate cavalry during the war are incredibly revealing as to the arms, saddlery, accoutrements, ammunition and other equipment found in the ranks. From them, we can learn a lot about what was actually used in the field. So, why are otherwise very necessary items like haversacks and canteens- that is, individual vessels to hold food and water, habitually in short supply in the inspection reports for virtually every western cavalry command? This discrepancy is also found to some slightly lessor degree in the records of eastern (ANV) cavalrymen but the question remains simply- Why? This question is important as it may well illustrate a case of our modern historical mis-understanding of the Confederate cavalryman’s daily existence and perhaps, to highlight yet another flagrant reenactor “disconnect” in accurate equipment........................... (Paragraphs omitted)
............3.A month prior to the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads, the Confederate War Department ordered an inspection of Forrest Cavalry Corps which by that time, comprised a major portion of the west’s cavalry. Dated May 26, 1864, it was the most complete report of Forrest’s Cavalry during the war.
Command Effective Men (Approx.) Haversacks % Canteens %
Chalmer’s Div 4,067 1,842 45% 1,437 40%
Buford’s Div. 3,615 1,503 42% 1,572 43%
Gholston’s 1,213 245 20% 257 21%
TOTAL: 8,895 3,590 40% 3,266 37%
4. After the remarkable success by Forrest at Brice’s Crossroads, the resulting capture of Federal arms and equipment certainly augmented supply to a great degree..........as a relative sample of what then might be typically found throughout Forrest’s Cavalry.
Command Effective Men (Approx.) Haversacks % Canteens %
Chalmer’s (2nd Brigade) 1,072 496 46% 675 63%
*1st Brigade (Neely’s) detached and not included.
Now, compare the percentages of Chalmers’ May report to the July report. Keep in mind that at the Battle .......Not noted in Forrest’s battle report but obvious would be the assumption of the many, many haversacks and canteens that were part of these captures. As a result, one should be able to reasonably assume.....................Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that despite all of the above one still finds the percentage of haversacks virtually the same and canteens only marginally higher in the Chalmer’s July inspection report. But WHY????
5. About this same time, the west’s other large cavalry command was with the Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joe Wheeler........ (Paragraphs omitted) ...........this extremely detailed report of Wheeler’s Cavalry Corps (taken July 31, 1864) shows the number of haversacks and canteens on hand but again, significant shortages are noted. 6.
Command Effective Men (Approx.) Haversacks % Canteens %
Wheeler’s Cavalry Corp’s 6,734 3,228 47.9% 4,120 61%
SUMMARY AND OBSERVATIONS: For certain, throughout much of the war there was never a full compliment of canteens and haversacks in the western cavalry commands. Although we can speculate, there is no clear reason why they are not found in greater numbers. There are however, questions to ponder:....................................(Paragr aphs omitted)
-Can we assume an anomaly in the Inspection Reports?............(Paragraphs omitted)
-Can we say that the Inspection Officers only noted “Confederate government issue” items? Possibly, but.............(Paragraphs omitted)
-Can we assume that the number of haversacks and canteens were inadequate due to a lack of access to supply sources such as captures? .........................(Paragraphs omitted)
How about access to Confederate supply sources? While complete records are impossible to obtain those available suggest Confederate manufacture of these items was quite good.
A. Atlanta Ga. Arsenal: July 1, 1862 - June 30th, 1863 Rec’d & Purchased Issued 8.
Haversacks 42,889 67,834 Canteens 72,147 64,250
B. Macon Ga. Arsenal: “Stores on Hand”, March 1863 - Mid-Feb. 1864 * 9.
On hand at beginning of period Rec’d or Fabricated Issued
Haversacks: 1,356 3,263 3,618
Canteens: 9,641 4,425 12,996
C. Augusta Ga. Arsenal: Records are scant on these items but from Nov, 12, 1861 to Oct 23, 1864 one local contractor, George Wyman & Co. provided to the arsenal 30,565 haversacks and thousands of canteen straps.
D. Columbus Ga. Arsenal: Again, records are scant but the huge textile mills in Columbus no doubt provided copious amounts of cloth for every need including haversacks allowing the arsenal to ship significant numbers throughout the war.
Other manufacturing at places like Selma, Montgomery and elsewhere in the western Confederacy no doubt provided many more. While incomplete and therefore largely circumstantial, the manufacturing notes above strongly suggest Confederate production of canteens and haversacks was apparently adequate for the army’s needs. While transportation issues may have impacted issue to the cavalry, manufacturing was clearly not a problem......(Paragraphs omitted)
So, how do we account for a clear lack of haversacks and canteens in the ranks of the cavalry? It is quite possible this obvious lack of a seemingly important item may well have been by “choice”. In other words, many of the west’s (and east’s) cavalrymen simply chose NOT to carry these articles. But why? Well, it is difficult to know for sure but, the mid-19th century was a different era and with a different mind set, so here are some theories:....................
((Paragraphs omitted. I don’t want to give away the “meat” of the article but I do urge you folks to get a copy. Ken R Knopp)
CONCLUSION: Perhaps it was “all of the above” or maybe, the real reason or “reasons” may always elude us. Whatever it is, it is clear on average only about 48% of western cavalrymen carried a haversack and 52% a canteen. So, while carrying a canteen for safe hydration on the battlefield makes good sense, perhaps, as reenactors maybe we should consider emulating our gallant heros a bit more in other ways such as..... (Paragraphs omitted)
............As cavalry reenactors, we should (within reason) strive to wear, use and ride the right stuff, travel, fight, eat, sleep and live the way they did- the “cavalry way”. What better way to capture the real experience? In short, we must ask ourselves, are we “reenactors” or, just “costumed campers”?
END
If you get a chance pick up a copy of the current (August) Camp Chase. I hope you will find this effort of mine interesting and worthwhile. Comments welcome.
PS: I am sorry this is so scrambled and long! I hope you can make sense of it.
Thank you!
Ken R Knopp
www.confederatesaddles.com
The Camp Chase has been kind enough to publish another article of mine in the “Authentic Campaigner Section” of their current edition. Its title, WAS THERE A SHORTAGE OF HAVERSACKS & CANTEENS AMONG WESTERN CS CAVALRY OR.....WAS IT A SHORTAGE BY CHOICE? The genesis for this article was a post made on the Authentic Campaigner Forum some years ago. I have since expanded upon it quite a bit with new information I have found. Since this is very relative, somewhat novel information and certainly new research to cavalry reenactors I include excerpts here for your perusal, enjoyment and to “tweak” your interest. I hope you might find it of value enough to take the opportunity to read the full article and offer your opinions. Thank you! Ken R knopp
(Second in a series of articles on Confederate Cavalry arms and equipment exclusively for the Camp Chase)
Official inspections taken of Confederate cavalry during the war are incredibly revealing as to the arms, saddlery, accoutrements, ammunition and other equipment found in the ranks. From them, we can learn a lot about what was actually used in the field. So, why are otherwise very necessary items like haversacks and canteens- that is, individual vessels to hold food and water, habitually in short supply in the inspection reports for virtually every western cavalry command? This discrepancy is also found to some slightly lessor degree in the records of eastern (ANV) cavalrymen but the question remains simply- Why? This question is important as it may well illustrate a case of our modern historical mis-understanding of the Confederate cavalryman’s daily existence and perhaps, to highlight yet another flagrant reenactor “disconnect” in accurate equipment........................... (Paragraphs omitted)
............3.A month prior to the Battle of Brice’s Crossroads, the Confederate War Department ordered an inspection of Forrest Cavalry Corps which by that time, comprised a major portion of the west’s cavalry. Dated May 26, 1864, it was the most complete report of Forrest’s Cavalry during the war.
Command Effective Men (Approx.) Haversacks % Canteens %
Chalmer’s Div 4,067 1,842 45% 1,437 40%
Buford’s Div. 3,615 1,503 42% 1,572 43%
Gholston’s 1,213 245 20% 257 21%
TOTAL: 8,895 3,590 40% 3,266 37%
4. After the remarkable success by Forrest at Brice’s Crossroads, the resulting capture of Federal arms and equipment certainly augmented supply to a great degree..........as a relative sample of what then might be typically found throughout Forrest’s Cavalry.
Command Effective Men (Approx.) Haversacks % Canteens %
Chalmer’s (2nd Brigade) 1,072 496 46% 675 63%
*1st Brigade (Neely’s) detached and not included.
Now, compare the percentages of Chalmers’ May report to the July report. Keep in mind that at the Battle .......Not noted in Forrest’s battle report but obvious would be the assumption of the many, many haversacks and canteens that were part of these captures. As a result, one should be able to reasonably assume.....................Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that despite all of the above one still finds the percentage of haversacks virtually the same and canteens only marginally higher in the Chalmer’s July inspection report. But WHY????
5. About this same time, the west’s other large cavalry command was with the Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joe Wheeler........ (Paragraphs omitted) ...........this extremely detailed report of Wheeler’s Cavalry Corps (taken July 31, 1864) shows the number of haversacks and canteens on hand but again, significant shortages are noted. 6.
Command Effective Men (Approx.) Haversacks % Canteens %
Wheeler’s Cavalry Corp’s 6,734 3,228 47.9% 4,120 61%
SUMMARY AND OBSERVATIONS: For certain, throughout much of the war there was never a full compliment of canteens and haversacks in the western cavalry commands. Although we can speculate, there is no clear reason why they are not found in greater numbers. There are however, questions to ponder:....................................(Paragr aphs omitted)
-Can we assume an anomaly in the Inspection Reports?............(Paragraphs omitted)
-Can we say that the Inspection Officers only noted “Confederate government issue” items? Possibly, but.............(Paragraphs omitted)
-Can we assume that the number of haversacks and canteens were inadequate due to a lack of access to supply sources such as captures? .........................(Paragraphs omitted)
How about access to Confederate supply sources? While complete records are impossible to obtain those available suggest Confederate manufacture of these items was quite good.
A. Atlanta Ga. Arsenal: July 1, 1862 - June 30th, 1863 Rec’d & Purchased Issued 8.
Haversacks 42,889 67,834 Canteens 72,147 64,250
B. Macon Ga. Arsenal: “Stores on Hand”, March 1863 - Mid-Feb. 1864 * 9.
On hand at beginning of period Rec’d or Fabricated Issued
Haversacks: 1,356 3,263 3,618
Canteens: 9,641 4,425 12,996
C. Augusta Ga. Arsenal: Records are scant on these items but from Nov, 12, 1861 to Oct 23, 1864 one local contractor, George Wyman & Co. provided to the arsenal 30,565 haversacks and thousands of canteen straps.
D. Columbus Ga. Arsenal: Again, records are scant but the huge textile mills in Columbus no doubt provided copious amounts of cloth for every need including haversacks allowing the arsenal to ship significant numbers throughout the war.
Other manufacturing at places like Selma, Montgomery and elsewhere in the western Confederacy no doubt provided many more. While incomplete and therefore largely circumstantial, the manufacturing notes above strongly suggest Confederate production of canteens and haversacks was apparently adequate for the army’s needs. While transportation issues may have impacted issue to the cavalry, manufacturing was clearly not a problem......(Paragraphs omitted)
So, how do we account for a clear lack of haversacks and canteens in the ranks of the cavalry? It is quite possible this obvious lack of a seemingly important item may well have been by “choice”. In other words, many of the west’s (and east’s) cavalrymen simply chose NOT to carry these articles. But why? Well, it is difficult to know for sure but, the mid-19th century was a different era and with a different mind set, so here are some theories:....................
((Paragraphs omitted. I don’t want to give away the “meat” of the article but I do urge you folks to get a copy. Ken R Knopp)
CONCLUSION: Perhaps it was “all of the above” or maybe, the real reason or “reasons” may always elude us. Whatever it is, it is clear on average only about 48% of western cavalrymen carried a haversack and 52% a canteen. So, while carrying a canteen for safe hydration on the battlefield makes good sense, perhaps, as reenactors maybe we should consider emulating our gallant heros a bit more in other ways such as..... (Paragraphs omitted)
............As cavalry reenactors, we should (within reason) strive to wear, use and ride the right stuff, travel, fight, eat, sleep and live the way they did- the “cavalry way”. What better way to capture the real experience? In short, we must ask ourselves, are we “reenactors” or, just “costumed campers”?
END
If you get a chance pick up a copy of the current (August) Camp Chase. I hope you will find this effort of mine interesting and worthwhile. Comments welcome.
PS: I am sorry this is so scrambled and long! I hope you can make sense of it.
Thank you!
Ken R Knopp
www.confederatesaddles.com