Excerpts from the US Quartermaster manual

Below are the shipping specifications as published by the US Quartermaster in the manual used during the American Civil War.

Chapter Eleventh:
Bailing of Clothing & Equipment

Table, showing the kinds of clothing and camp and garrison equipment which is baled at the Schuylkill Arsenal, with the quantity of each article; and the weight, size and cubic feet of each bale. Clothing is packed in assorted sizes, and the contents marked on the end of each package. The bales are covered with stout burlap; first lined with petroleum paper, then with packing paper, then securely sewed with double thread and bound with three or four iron hoops according to the size of the bales, fastened with iron buckles or loops.

Clothing Shipping Table
Quantity of article in each bale Weight in lbs Dimensions of each bale
Long Wide Deep Cable Length Comments
ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. ft. in.
100 Pairs of Drawers 63  9.5" 2' 1" 1' 10" 3' 1" 4 bales of 100 pairs each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
200 Pairs of Drawers 125 2' 3" 2' 1" 1' 4" 6' 3" 2 bales of 200 pairs each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
400 Pairs of Drawers 250 2' 3 2' 1" 2' 8" 12' 3"  
75 Infantry Coats, Privates 292 3' 0 1' 10" 2' 0" 11' 0"
75 Artillery Jackets, Privates 170  3' 2 2' 0" 2' 3" 5' 1"
50 Sack coats, Lined 61 11.5" 2' 0" 2' 3" 5' 1" 3 bales of 50 each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
100 Sack coats, Lined 120  2' 5" 2' 1" 1' 9" 8' 10"  
150 Sack coats, Lined 185 2' 5" 2' 1" 2' 6" 12' 7"
75 Sack coats, Lined 88 4' 2" 2' 2" 1' 4" 6' 7" 2 bales of 75 each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
50 Sack coats, Unlined 46 1/2 1' 1" 1' 11" 1' 8" 3' 5" 3 bales of 50 each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
100 Sack coats, Unlined 95 2' 1" 1' 11" 1' 7" 6' 3"  
150 Sack coats, Unlined 145 2' 2" 2' 0" 2' 4" 10' 1"
40 Great Coats (mounted) 226 3' 2" 2' 0" 2' 1" 13' 2"
50 Great Coats (foot) 29 3' 2" 2' 2" 2' 1" 14' 4"
50 Trowsers, (mounted) Pair 103 1' 6.5" 2' 0" 1' 11" 5' 11" 2 bales of 50 pairs each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
75 Trowsers, (foot) Pair 131 1/4 1' 6.5" 2' 0"  2' 3" 6' 11" 2 bales of 75 pairs each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
100 Trowsers, (foot) Pair 180 2' 5" 2' 0" 1' 11" 9' 3"  
200 Stockings (pair) 50 3/4 9" 2' 3" 2' 0" 3' 5" 4 bales of 200 pairs each to be shipped together, making 1 bale
50 Wool Blankets 265 2' 11" 2' 7" 2' 5" 18' 3"  
100 Shirts 92 1' 10" 11.5" 1' 9" 5' 2"
150 Overalls (pairs) 185 3' 0" 2' 0" 1' 5" 8' 6"
200 Stable Frocks 195 3' 3" 2' 1" 1' 9" 11' 10"
12 Pieces, 366,m 3-4 sky blue kersey 340 2' 6" 2' 6" 2' 4" 14' 7"
5 Pieces, 366,m 6-4 sky blue kersey 200 2' 6" 2' 6" 2' 4" 9' 3"
5 Pieces, 140,m 6-4 dark blue coat cloth 190 2' 6" 2' 6" 2' 4" 8' 9"
These bales are bound with 3/4 inch, No 19 and 7/8 inch No 20, strap Iron of the best quality and cut into 3 different lengths, 6 1/2, 7 1/2 and 9 1/2 feet long; fastened with a buckle or loop of best malleable round iron, 3-16 inch diameter and measuring on the outside edge 1 3/8 inches on the inside and 15/16 by 13/16 of an inch.

 

When sizes are not specified in the order for issue, the article enumerated below are furnished in the following proportions to the 100.
Articles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total
Boots for Troops west of the Alleghany Mtns   8 16 40 30 4 2 100
Bootees or Troops west of the Alleghany Mtn   2 8 16 40 28 4 2 100
Boots & Bootees for Troops east of the Alleghany Mtns   5 8 30 40 12 4 1 100
Hats and caps 5 10 35 35 10 5 100
Uniform Coats and Jackets 20 40 30 10                 100
Great Coats 20 40 30 10                 100
Sack Coats 20 40 30 10                 100
Fatigue Frocks 20 40 40                   100
Trowsers 20 40 30 10                  
Drawers 20 40 40                   100

 

Camp Equipment Shipping Table
Quantity of article in each bale Weight in lbs Dimensions of each bale
Long Wide Deep Cable Length
ft. in. ft. in. ft. in. ft. in.
60 Tent a'bri 285 3' 0" 2' 2" 1' 10" 11' 11"
4 Wall tents and 4 flies 216 3' 1" 1' 11" 1' 7" 9' 4"
15 Common Tents 230 3' 3" 1' 11" 1' 8" 10' 5"
2 Hospital Tents and 2 flies 269 3' 0" 2' 2" 1' 10" 11' 11"
100 Bedsacks, double 200 3' 2" 2' 1" 1' 7" 10' 5"
125 Bedsacks, single 223 3' 1" 1' 9" 1' 3" 6' 9"
Hospital tents and Flies require 18 Large and 24 Small pins
Wall tents and Flies require 12 Large and 18 Small pins
Sibley tents require 12 Large and 24 Small pins
Common tents require 12 Large and 17 Small pins

 

e-news | contact us  

 
P.O. Box 598, Yorktown, VA 23690       757-229-2834  (8 pm-10 pm est)      e-mail tailor@cjdaley.com
 

2006 CJ Daley Historical Reproductions, Inc All Rights Reserved

 
 

webmaster