Making Copies Of Orders an Desks

[Lightningslinger]

http://users.lmi.net/mcm20me/20th_Maine/CompG/research/desk3.JPG

The image at the above link shows an especially design'd field desk which I was once able to intimately inspect at the Civil War Library and Museum in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is merely a pigeon-holed box with finger-holes to lift it out of it's carrying box which also doubled as a desk table. Angled iron brackets fit into footmen to hold the writing surface board at right angles from the box sides, and are not unlike those provided to military saddles for fastening coat/blanket straps.

There are two lids, both hinged on opposite sides of the box and so fitted as to overlap one another when the box is closed for shipment. When opened for use, one lid serves as the platform where the pigeon hole box is sitting and the other being supported by the iron angle brackets is used to support the writing surface.

The ink wells, as there is one behind the other in one slide and the slide board to the left holding a sand shaker (with hole in the top) are held in place by sandwiching the conical bottles between two pieces of wood (the lower piece of wood is somewhat recessed to hold the base of the ink well). When both pieces of wood are joined to hold the bottles tightly, the whole affair is slid into two side slots and brought out to use.

Beginning in the fall of 1864, Federal General U.S. Grant used a "Philp & Salomons' Highly Improved Manifold Writer," which allowed the Union chieftain to write multiple copies of his dispatches and reports. Interestingly enough, a high proportion of documents from this period are still extant in Grant's own handwriting.

The book with the fancy printed labeled frontispiece lying open on the desk's writing surface was produced by the Francis and Loutrel Company of New York. Manifold Writers employed chemically treated carbonic paper and was used perhaps by military leaders oon both sides between 1862 and 1865.

For more reading on early writing and allied instruments please see:

David N. Carvalho's 1904 work entitled: "Forty Centuries of Ink" available at the Electronic Text Center, in the University of Virginia Library http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/CarFort.html

Enjoy,
Walt

[Slickrick214]

I was there not that long ago but I can't remeber this desk. Do you remeber which floor it was on. For some reason I'm thinking the third or fourth floor.

[Lightningslinger]

I was there not that long ago but I can't remember this desk. Do you remeber which floor it was on. For some reason I'm thinking the third or fourth floor.

Rick,

If I recollect rightly the desk observed at the Civil War Museum and Library in Phila., Penna., was on the third floor. It has been more than a few years ago that I made my observations and during the times of Russ Pritchard. It could have been the forth if there are that many floors there. Seems that the floor I ascended to was mostly used for storage at that time.

There were no appointments to the desk as seen in the image provided with my first posting excepting the iron brackets, the ink wells and their sliding trays.

I was especially interested in seeing the manifold writer and the cardboard quill box and its featherless barrels. I asked Russ about them in particular but neither seemed to be available. These and the other items on display with the desk may have come to-gether from other collections for this particular photo session. I never found out for certain what the case was.


One last thought:

Two finger lift holes to remove the pigeon-holed framework straight up from within the carrying box were drilled on the wooden top plate near each of the two short ends of the lift-out pigeon-holed frame. There was but a sliver of clearance between the box and the framework all around. This being the case, I can only assume that very little weight could be stored in the pigeon-hole'd rack at any given time or one had to have very strong fingers to lift the whole affair out from within the box.

The above draws me to wonder if this particular desk was designed solely as an on-site routing desk or was always accompanied by yet another, more substantial box, used to carry the reams of other weighty material. It could have been either case I should think.

This desk was a fascinating study as I have seen no other quite like it in all my travels.

Thanks for asking Rick.

Cheers,
Walt

[TimKindred]

Walt,

There os also the possibility that the desk was used as a field post office for sorting official correspondence, etc.

I agree with your consideration that it was a sorting device of some sort, rather than an actual production desk.

Lastly, regarding carbon coppy notebooks, they were indeed used by both sides. Alexander recollects using the copies from his book to write his after action reports to Longstreet post-Gettysburg. He intimated that they were a common and invaluable asset for all officers.

respects,

[Slickrick214]

I thought it would probably be on the third floor. Next time I go back there I'm going to look for that desk and if they still have it out on display I want to take a closer look at it.

[creek]

Sir, I ran across this from another thread so will drop it in, hope you enjoy. From "Civil War Collector's Encyclopedia" by Francis A. Lord, may I quote, "Wagon, Field Office. The office wagon of the XVIII Army Corps before Petersburg in 1864 had 3 panels on each side and 1 at the rear. All these panels let down to serve as desks. When they were opened, pigeon holes were disclosed, holding various papers, orders, etc. When not on the move, the wheels were removed and the desk rested on wooden horses. The wagon was kept under a large tent, the rear part of which was utilized as corps headquarters". Thanks.

[Lightningslinger]

Sir, I ran across this from another thread so will drop it in, hope you enjoy. From "Civil War Collector's Encyclopedia" by Francis A. Lord, may I quote, "Wagon, Field Office. The office wagon of the XVIII Army Corps before Petersburg in 1864 had 3 panels on each side and 1 at the rear. All these panels let down to serve as desks. When they were opened, pigeon holes were disclosed, holding various papers, orders, etc. When not on the move, the wheels were removed and the desk rested on wooden horses. The wagon was kept under a large tent, the rear part of which was utilized as corps headquarters". Thanks.

Mel,

Thanks for the above input. If it had pigeon-holes it must be worth stuffing things into them.

It wouldn't take much imagination to fully understand why the XVIII Army Corps' hd. qtrs. staff would removed the wagon wheels and jack the body down onto saw horses... for one thing they wouldn't have to use high-chairs, and, for another, wheel hubs and shins have a tough time being in close proximity to one another.

Isn't it also the case that if a set of wheels are allowed to sit in one spot under load for a longish period of time, the circle has a tendency to shift and create an oblong effect with the wooden fellows and iron tires?

One can only guess at how large this wagon must have been if it was occasionally, "kept under a large tent, the rear part of which was utilized as [the XVIII Army Corps'] headquarters"

I almost think I may have seen an image of this seemingly top-heavy hd. qtrs. wagon sometime back. Anyone else recollect it too?

Walt

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

yes there is indeed a image of this wagon around somewhere, as I'm digging through my reference books right now. I recall it had a couple of clerks sitting at it on high stools or chairs and sorting work. Hopefully I'll find it soon a post a pic.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

The back of my leather, officer-haversack often serves as an easily transportable field desk.

[Pvt Schnapps]

For reenactments a lot depends on the scenario, of course. John Otto records officers' baggage being reduced to a valise on the Atlanta campaign. W. S. Lincoln states that the 34th Massachusett's regimental stationery on Hunter's march down the valley was reduced to what the adjutant and QM could convince their clerks to carry in their haversacks. Newton T. Hartshorn writes of bringing his paperwork up to date on the peninsula using one of the company books for a desk top. Wilbur Hinman has Si Klegg and his comrades re-upping on a "desk" improvised from a gum blanket thrown over a stump.

Since I sometimes have to carry rather more paper than the officer I'm working for :), I prefer a portfolio carried in the knapsack.

On the other extreme, here's G. W. Sala's description of Rufus Ingall's office in the field:

"My Diary in America" George Augustus Sala, London, Tinsely Brothers, 1865


[pp. 311-313]

"I was permitted to peep in at the Chief Quartermaster’s [Ingalls’] office where, almost since daybreak, the scribes in uniform had been employed. I was taken to the printing-tent, where a couple of compositors were busy setting up a general order....

"I was shown, in the course of the morning, a remarkably practical and ingenious contrivance for carrying on the business of the adjutant-general’s department in the active service of the campaign. There stood, under a tent, a compact-looking machine upon wheels, varnished black, and picked out with a good deal of red, and looking remarkably like a fire-engine. It occupied very little space, and four horses could easily take it over the roughest ground. Still, for all its lightness and compactness, it was a whole Horse Guards in itself. Directly the word was given to unlimber, a complicated battery of flaps flew down; compartments started out; writing-desks, hitherto invisible, rose into view; and there were disclosed whole nests of drawers and pigeon-holes, containing every variety of printed form, and all kinds of stationery. A dozen or more clerks could be at once set to work at this improvised bureau; and the tent that sheltered them could, when it was requisite to move the office on wheels, be struck in a few moments and snugly furled on top of the vehicle."

[Lightningslinger]

... looking remarkably like a fire-engine. It occupied very little space, and four horses could easily take it over the roughest ground. Still, for all its lightness and compactness, it was a whole Horse Guards in itself. Directly the word was given to unlimber, a complicated battery of flaps flew down; compartments started out; writing-desks, hitherto invisible, rose into view; and there were disclosed whole nests of drawers and pigeon-holes, containing every variety of printed form, and all kinds of stationery. A dozen or more clerks could be at once set to work at this improvised bureau; and the tent that sheltered them could, when it was requisite to move the office on wheels, be struck in a few moments and snugly furled on top of the vehicle."

Ah! If we only knew who had built such a thing we might wittle down the plans and possibly locate plans.

Tks for the quote Michael. Its a gem!

Walt

[Pvt Schnapps]

Of course, the number of events at which we would actually need to reenact the QMG for the AOP are probably pretty limited...

[Lightningslinger]

Of course, the number of events at which we would actually need to reenact the QMG for the AOP are probably pretty limited...


Herr Schnapps, You live near to and have a situation in Washington City and are no more than an hour from the long sought AoP prize --- Richmond. Unlike those outside of the District of Columbia, you could make such a wheel'd rig a pretty unlimited affair. I would wager that Forts Ward and Washington would draw lots, in a heart beat, to see who could gain the right to store such a waggon for you... albeit - when not on the hard trabbled road to Richmond.

You are indeed correct, of course. I was just joshing. :wink:

Walt

[Regular3]

The Civil War Soldier Life Museum in Fredericksburg, VA, has one of those field desks that belonged to either the 106th or 116th Illinois - the owner/curator bought the thing and discovered that it still contained original documents.

If you're in or passing through Northern Virginia, it's worth a stop.

[Lightningslinger]

The Civil War Soldier Life Museum in Fredericksburg, VA, has one of those field desks that belonged to either the 106th or 116th Illinois - the owner/curator bought the thing and discovered that it still contained original documents. If you're in or passing through Northern Virginia, it's worth a stop.

Darrell,

Are we speaking about a pigeon-hole frame within a box type of field desk that looks exactly like the one in the Philly Civil War Library and Museum or is the one you viewed more like a stand-up, drop-front, writing desk with pigeon hole compartments? Either way, I hope to examine the one you have seen in Fredericksburg someday.

Thanks for announcing it,
Walt

[Regular3]

Darrell,

Are we speaking about a pigeon-hole frame within a box type of field desk that looks exactly like the one in the Philly Civil War Library and Museum or is the one you viewed more like a stand-up, drop-front, writing desk with pigeon hole compartments? Either way, I hope to examine the one you have seen in Fredericksburg someday.

Thanks for announcing it,
WaltI wouldn't bet money since I saw it only briefly last month, but my recollection is that it's very similar to the one in the photo.

[Lightningslinger]

I thought it would probably be on the third floor. Next time I go back there I'm going to look for that desk and if they still have it out on display I want to take a closer look at it.

Richard,

Do let us know when you find the time to slip back over to Philly to see the field-desk-in-a-box at the Museum and Library. Taking your own pair of white gloves will no doubt mpress the curatorial staff too. 8-)

Tks,
Walt