Resource File: Examples of Continental Army Camp Equipage and Vehicle Returns, 1775-1781 (John U....

Resource File: Examples of Continental Army Camp Equipage and Vehicle Returns,

1775-1781 (John U. Rees)

So, what were the men who fought at Bunker Hill in 1775 wearing or carrying in their

knapsacks? How many wagons did a Continental regiment have, and what kinds of tools

were considered necessary. Were there enough tents to shelter the men, or sufficient

quantities of knapsacks, bowls, spoons?

This compendium of returns shows numbers of clothing and equipment issued to the

Continental Army or in use by various units. I have used these documents in my own

research, and make them available in case someone else may find them of some use and

interest. Also included are images of some of the items listed.

Two of four Continental soldiers drawn in 1781 by French Sublieutenant Jean-Baptiste-Antoine de

Verger, Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment. The soldier on the left has long been thought to be from the

Rhode Island Regiment of 1781, that on the right of Hazen’s Canadian Regiment. Another version,

found in French officer Baron Ludwig von Closen’s journal, is headed “Costumer de l’Armé

Américaine en 1782.” Closen’s copy notes that the left-hand soldier belongs to a Massachusetts

Continental regiment, that on the right a New Jersey regiment. Howard C. Rice and Anne S.K.

Brown, eds. and trans., The American Campaigns of Rochambeau's Army 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783, vol. I

(Princeton, N.J. and Providence, R.I.,: Princeton University Press, 1972), between pages 142-143

(description on page xxi). Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University. Sidney Kaplan, The

Black Presence in the Era of the American Revolution, 1770-1800 (Greenwich, Ct.: New York Graphic

Society, Ltd. in Association with the Smithsonian Institution Press, 1973), 42.

Contents

1. Clothing and Equipment Lost at Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775 (including a discussion of

“snapsacks”)

2. Cooking and Other Equipment in Brig. Gen. John Sullivan’s Brigade, 24 March 1776

3. Main Army: Return of Arms and Accoutrements issued from 1 April to 1 August 1777

4. Return of Camp Equipage Delivered to the Army during the 1777 Campaign

5. Partial List of Stores Captured on the British Ship Symmetry, Wilmington, Delaware,

January 1778

6. Camp Equipage in the 1st Pennsylvania Brigade, Valley Forge, 3 June 1778

7. "A Return of Quarter-Master-General's Stores in The Brigades at West Point &

Constitution Island," 1 August 1779: North Carolina, 4th Massachusetts, and Paterson’s

(Massachusetts) Brigades

8. "A Return of Quarter-Master-General's Stores in the Second Pennsylvania Brigade ... at

Camp West Point," 4 August 1779

9. Return of Quartermaster’s Stores for Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s Army, Tioga, 21 August

1779.

10. Return of Clothing and Camp Equipment in Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair’s Pennsylvania

Division in the Hudson Highlands, 1 October 1779.

11. Return of Quartermaster’s Stores in the 1st Connecticut Brigade (Including Brigadier

General and Staff), Hudson Highlands, 25 May 1781

12. "Return of Waggons, Horses … &c the property of the United States Army – Camp

Tappan – 27th

September 1780"

13. "Return of all Public Property in the Quarter Masters Department with the Southern

Army"

14. Two Returns of Horse and Wagons with the Pennsylvania Line in Virginia, 12 June and 27

November 1781

Appendices:

1. Overview of Wheeled Transportation.

2. Material Culture Articles Related to Items on the Equipment Returns

While tin or sheet-iron camp kettles were usually sought to supply a mobile army, cast-

iron pots were more widely available early in the war. This example measures 11

inches at its widest point (10 inches wide at the mouth) by 7 inches high, weighs in at 6

pounds, 15.5 ounces, and holds 2 gallons (8 quarts). Of the same construction as a

larger pot found on the Gunboat Philadelphia, cast-iron cooking vessels of this capacity

were provided for the Connecticut militia in autumn 1776. (Original iron pot from

author's collection Photo by Ross Hamel.)

1. Clothing and Equipment Lost at Bunker Hill, 17 June 1775

Minute Company officer, April 1775, carrying a knapsack with a tumpline and

blanket. Greg Hurley, Captain David Brown’s Company of Concord Minutemen,

19-20 April 2014, Minuteman National Historic Park. ____________

At the Bunker Hill action (17 June 1775), a company of Hollis, New Hampshire men

served with Col. William Prescott’s Massachusetts regiment. Their captain tallied the

equipment they lost that day, beginning with six who died:

Cambridge, Dec. 22, 1775.

Nathan Blood, Isaac Hobart, Jacob Boynton, Thomas Wheat, Peter Poor, Phineas Nevins.

The men whose names are above written belonged to Capt. [Reuben] Dow's company,

and Col. William Prescott's regiment and were all killed in the battle of Bunker Hill, on

the 17th of June last, and were furnished each of them with a good gun, judged to be

worth Eight Dollars apiece — also were furnished with other materials, viz. Cartridge

Boxes, Knapsacks and Tump-lines *

— and were well clothed for soldiers — Also had

each of them a good blanket. Nathan Blood had a good Hanger.15

[*A strap made of woven

fiber, linen webbing, or leather, used to carry a load. A Native-American innovation.]

Captain Dow then listed lost items for twenty-eight men who survived. Of those, twenty-

five lost knapsacks, and twenty-three lost tumplines; both items were valued at one shilling,

six pence each. All of Dow’s men were using tumplines in conjunction with knapsacks,

leading to the assumption that the former were used to carry blankets, the latter extra

clothing and small necessary items. There seems to be no other explanation; the only thing

that quashes this notion is that there were no blankets included in the roster of lost goods.

Perhaps they were not considered valuable enough to include or were not personal

property.16

Besides Dow’s men, ten companies in Col. James Reid’s New Hampshire

regiment tallied equipment lost that day: Note in the synopsis below the further use of

tumplines in conjunction with packs, and several alternate spellings of knapsack.

Reid’s New Hampshire Regiment, Equipment Lost on 17 June 1775 17

Capt. Hezekiah Hutchins’ Company Capt. Jacob Hind’s Company

10 knapsacks 20 knapsacks (spelled “napsack”)

5 packs 1 tumpline

19 blankets 11 blankets

Capt. Levi Spalding’s Company Capt. Ezra Town’s Company

2 (or 20?) knapsacks (spelled “snapsack”) 6 knapsacks (spelled “napsack”)

26 blankets 2 tumplines

3 blankets

Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb’s Company Capt. William Walker’s Company

2 knapsacks (spelled “snapsack”) 13 knapsacks (spelled “snapsack”)

4 blankets 7 knapsacks (spelled “gnapsack”)

1 bed rug 13 blankets

Capt. Philip Thomas’s Company Capt. Benjamin Mann’s Company

1 pack 11 knapsacks (spelled “snapsack”)

5 haversacks 5 tumplines

8 blankets

Capt. Josiah Crosby’s Company Capt. John Marcy’s Company

5 knapsacks (spelled “gnapsack”) 1 knapsack (spelled “snapsack”)

3 blankets 14 tumplines

1 coverlet 18 blankets

*Ens. James Taggart lost “2 good shurts, 3 pr stockings, 1 pr sadelbags, 1 pr Shous, 1 tumpline, 1

pillar case”

[Note: See endnote 18 for discussion of the term “snapsack.”]

A 3-point blanket (53 inches by 72 inches) carried by Private Henry Marble of

Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. White wool, with 2 3/4 inch indigo blue stripes

and points. Museum of the Fur Trade Collections, Chadron, Nebraska. Frederick C. Gaede

and E. Bryce Workman, "Notes on Point Blankets in the Military Service," The Museum of

the Fur Trade Quarterly, vol. 15, 2, (Summer 1979), 1-2.

Of those listed for Captain Marcy’s company, one ensign and thirteen enlisted men lost

pillow cases (out of a total of three officers and twenty-eight enlisted men), the only

company to list that item. Possibly the pillow cases were used as a wallet to store extra

clothing and personal items carried in knapsacks or rolled inside the slung blankets. The

British 40th Regiment used specially made linen wallets for that purpose in 1777. (Complete

lists of the lost equipment in Reid’s Regiment are included in endnote 18.)

These early American knapsacks likely had two shoulder straps attached to a body with a

single large pocket in which gear was carried. Bennett Cuthbertson’s 1768 treatise, System

for the Compleat Interior Management and Oeconomy of a Battalion of Infantry, available

in the colonies, laid out his opinion on the best design:

Square knapsacks are most convenient, for packing up the Soldier’s necessaries, and

should be made with a division, to hold the shoes, black-ball and brushes, separate from

the linen: a certain size must be determined on for the whole, and it will have a pleasing

effect upon a March, if care has been taken, to get them of all white goat-skins, with

leather-slings well whitened, to hang over each shoulder; which method makes the

carriage of the Knapsack much easier, than across the breast, and by no means so

heating.18

Massachusetts militia colonel Timothy Pickering, who wrote his own manual of

discipline in 1775, endorsed similarly-made packs:

A knapsack may be contrived that a man may load and fire, in case of necessity, without

throwing down his pack. Let the knapsack lay lengthways upon the back: from each side

at the top let a strap come over the shoulders, go under the arms, and be fastened about

half way down the knapsack. Secure these shoulder straps in their places by two other

straps which are to go across and buckle before the middle of the breast. The mouth of

the knapsack is at the top, and is covered by a flap made like the flap of saddlebags.- The

outside of the knapsack should be fuller than the other which lies next to your back; and

of course must be sewed in gathers at the bottom. Many of the knapsacks used in the

army are, I believe, in this fashion, though made of some kind of skins.19

Returns of Clothing and Equipment Lost 17 June 1775

15. Samuel T. Worcester, History of the Town of Hollis, New Hampshire, from its First Settlement to

the Year 1879 (Press of O. C. Moore, 1879), 155-156.

16. Ibid., 155. “Cambridge, December ye 22d, 1775.

This may certify that we the Subscribers in Capt Reuben Dow's Company in Col. Wm. Prescott's Regt

in the Continental Army, that we lost the following Articles in the late engagement on Bunker's Hill at

Charlestown on ye 17th of June last.

James McConnor, 1 gun, 1 napsack, l hat, 1 Jaccat, 1 tumpline.

Wm. Nevins, 1 knapsack, 1 jacket, 1 tumpline.

Minott Farmer, 1 knapsack, 1 sword, 1 tumpline.

Sam1 Hill, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Ephraim Blood, 1 gun, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

James Macintosh, 1 knapsack, 1 jacket, 1 tumpline.

Libbeus Wheeler, 1 knapsack, 1 hat, 1 tumpline.

David Farnsworth, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Noah Worcester, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Elias Boynton, 1 gun.

Francis Blood, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Abel Brown, 1 gun, 1 cartridge box, 1 tumpline.

Nahum Powers, 1 knapsack, l hat, 1 jacket, 1 bayonet, 1 tumpline.

Isaac Stearns, 1 gun, 1 knapsack.

Israel Kenney, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Titos Pratt, 1 gun, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Nath1 Patten, 1 knapsack, 1 jacket, 1 tumpline.

David Ames, 1 knapsack, 1 cartridge box, 1 tumpline.

Sam1 Jewett, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Wm. Wood, 1 gun, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Benjn Cumings, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Francis Powers, 1 gun, 1 bayonet.

Wm. Adams, 1 knapsack.

Josiah Fisk, 1 knapsack, 1 cartridge box, 1 tumpline. >

Wilder Chamberlin, 1 knapsack.

Nehemiah Pierce, 1 knapsack, 1 hat, 1 tumpline.

Abel Conant, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.

Uriah Wright, 1 knapsack, 1 tumpline.”

[Note: The estimated value of the above said articles, was (on an average) for a gun, £2: 4.11; a knapsack,

0: 1:6; a jacket, 0: 16: 0; a cartridge box, 0: 4: 8; a tumpline, 0: 1:6.]

“It appears that the eight Hollis men in Capt. Spalding's company, in the New Hampshire regiment of Col.

Reed, were all present in the battle, and that each of them lost portions of his clothing or equipments, as is

shown from the returns of losses made after the battle, now to be found in the New Hampshire Provincial

Papers (Volume 6, page 592). These losses … were as follows: Andrew Bailey, 1 coat, 1 shirt, trousers, stockings,

Job Bailey, 1 cartridge box, knapsack, and shirt,

Phineas Hardy, 1 blanket, coat, shirt, breeches,

Thomas Hardy, 1 blanket, coat, jacket, stockings,

Ephraim [?] 1 gun, breeches and shirt,

Samuel Leeman, 3 coats and 1 blanket,

Ephraim Rolfe, 1 gun, blanket, shirt, stockings,

Ephraim Smith, 1 knapsack, shirt, stockings”

Concord Minute Company on the march before dawn. All carry knapsacks based

on the extant David Uhl pack. Blankets are carried on tumplines, or by tying to the

top of bottom the knapsacks. Captain David Brown’s Company of Concord

Minutemen, 19-20 April 2014, Minuteman National Historic Park.

17. Nathaniel Bouton, ed., Provincial Papers: Documents and Records Relating to the

Province of New-Hampshire, from 1764 to 1776, vol. VII (Nashua: Orren C. Moore, State

Printer, 1873), 586-597, 603. (page 590)

A Return of the packs & Bagag lost by the Solders to Capt. Hezekiah Hutching Company, lost in the

Battle of the 17th Day of June, 1775.

Sargent James Goss 1 great coat ;

Sargent John Lane 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 2 shirts, 1 pr Trousers, 2 prs stockens, 1 lb [i.e., pound] rope, napsack

and catterage Box ;

Corp'l John Tuck 1 Blankett, 1 coat, 1 shirt, 2 pr stockens, 1 pr Trousers, 1 jacket, 1 knapsack, with sundry

articles.

Wil'm Harraman 1 coat, 1 Tin Quart [canteen?].

Benj'n Couch, 1 Blanket, 1 coat, 1 shirt, 2 pr. Stockens, 1 pr. Trousers, 1 Tin poynt [pint canteen?], 1

knapsack with rope.

Levi Hildreth 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 1 pr stockens, 1 pr Trousers, 1 pr Breeches, 1 shirt. 1 pack, 1-2 lb rope.

John Clifford 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 1 shirte. 1 pr. Trousers, 1 pr. stockens, 1 pack.

Sam'l Heath 1 pr Breeches, 1 shirte, 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 1 pr Stockens.

Moses Webster 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 1 shirte, 1 pr Trousers, 1 pr Stockens. 1 Tin poynt [pint canteen?].

Thomas Wilson 1 coat, 1 pr Breeches, 1 Blanket, 1 shirt, 1 pr stockens. 1 pr shoes, 1-2 lb rope, 1 Tin poynt

[pint canteen?] , 1 knapsack.

Gilbert Bond 1 Blanket, 1 pr Breeches. 1 shirt, 1 jacket, 1 pr stockens, 1 coat, 1 knapsack.

Simon Norton 1 coat, 1 jacket, 1 shirt, 1 pr stockens, 1 blanket, 1 pr shoes, 1 knapsack with sundrys.

John Lane 3d 1 coat, 1 shirt, 1 pr stockens, 1 pr Breeches.

Thomas Waddly 1 shirt, 1 pr stockens, 1 knapsack, 1-2 lb rope.

Amos Knowls 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 1 shirt, 1 pr stockens, 1 knapsack.

Ebenezer Wells 1 pr shoes.

Sam'l Healy 1 coat & jacket, 1 pr Breeches, 2 pr stockens, 2 shirts, 1 Blanket, 1 pack, 1 pr Trousers.

Simon Merrill 1 gun, 1-2 lb rope, 1 Tin poynt [pint canteen?].

Wm. Severance 1 pr shoes, 1 pr stockens, 3-4 lb. rope.

Peter Severance, Josiah Morss 1 blanket.

Moses Kimball 1 coat, 1 pr Breeches, 2 shirts, 1 pr Trousers, 1 pr stockens, 1 Blanket, 1 knapsack.

Wm. Gross 1 Blanket, 1 shirte, 1 pr stockens.

Sam'l Morrill 1 blanket, 2 jackets, 1 shirte, 2 pr trousers, 1 pr stockens, 1 pack, 1 gun.

Thomas Wadley 1 shirt, 1 pr trousers, 1 pr stockens, knapsack, 1 lb rope.

Nath'l Levite 1 gun, 1 knapsack, 1 shirt, 1 blanket, 1 coat, 1 pr Breeches, 1 pr stockens.

John Varnum 1 blanket, gun, shirt, coat, pack.

Moses Quimby 1 gun, 1 blanket, 1 shirt, coat, pack.

Stephen Peabody 1 blanket, 1 shirt.

A Dutch blanket, numbers were issued from early war up to 1783.

“DESERTED from Capt. Nathaniel Fox's company of the 6th Virginia, James Anderson,

a black soldier, six feet high, about forty years of age … and fond of liquor; had on when he

went away, a light grey cloth coat and waistcoat: the coat faced with green, a pair of

oznabrig overalls, and a small round hat with a piece of bear-skin on it: He took with him a

pair of leather breeches which he had to clean, and also his firelock, cartridge-box, and new

Dutch blanket … John Gibson, Col. 6th Virginia Reg.” (Pennsylvania Packet, 13 May 1778)

“Report of Clothing Committee,” 1780: ““To Colonel [Daniel] Morgan, for the use the

Light Infantry, twenty four Dutch Blankets & four pair of rose Blankets.”

Walter Clark, ed., The State Records of North Carolina, XIV, 1779-1780 (Wilmington, N.C.:

Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1993), 120. (Blanket is a copy of an original artifact; “Striped

duffel , a trucking cloth of English manufacture, was found at Burr’s Hill, Warren Rhode

Island, a seventeenth century burial site of Wampanoag Indians.” Florence M.

Montgomery, Textiles in America, 1650-1870 (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.,

2007), plate D21 (images following page 140). (Reproductions of the Burr Hill blanket are

available from Robert G. Stone, Weaver, [email protected]

(page 591)

An acount of the things that was lost in Capt. Jacob Hinds company in Col James Read's Ridgment lost

in the Field of Batel on the 17th Dav of June at Charlestown 1775.

Capt. Jacob Hinds, blanket, 3 shirts, trouses, stockings;

Serg't Richard Cochlan shirt, shoes, gun;

Serg't Ezekiel Davis 1 blanket;

Serj. William Farwell l blanket, 2 shirts, 1 pr trouses, 3 pr stockings;

Corp. Samuel White, blanket, shurts, trouses, stockings, shooes.

Corp. Nath'l Petingel, blanket, shurts, trouses, stockings, shooes.

mailto:[email protected]

Job Britun. Buckels, shoes, handkerchief.

Luther Windslow, blanket, 1 shurt, 1 pr trouses

Silas Farnsworth, blanket, shirt, pr. trouses, 2 pr stockings, shooes.

Ira Evans 1 pr stockings.

Israel Thomas, shurt, trouses, shooes.

John White 1 shurt, 1 pr shooes.

Jonathan Wright, stockings.

David Darby, 1 blanket, 3 shirts, 1 pr stockings, shoes.

Lemuel Wintworth, shirt, 1 gun? —

John McMitchell 1 Pocket book.

David Robens, shirts, trousers, 2 pr stockings, caps.

Samuel Robens, shirts, trousers, stockings.

Elezer Robens 1 handkerchief.

Elijah Elmer blanket, shirt, trousers, stockings, handkerchief.

Elijah Taylor, shirt, trousers, stockings.

Nahum Goodenow, 1 drum.

James Symonds 1 shirt, trousers.

Oliver Johnson 1 shirt, one pr. stockings.

Ebenezer Chamberlin, blanket, stockings, shoes, razor;

Jonathan Barret, coat, shirt, blanket, 2 pr shoes, sack, tumplines, stockings, trousers;

Elisha Balding, coat, shurt, shoes, sack & sundry articles;

Daniel Carlile, shoes, stockings;

Lewis Acres, 1 gun, 1 pr shoes, 1 pr stockings ;

Ephraim Stone, 1 fine shirt, 1 blanket, 1 pr shoes, 1tow shirt, 1 pr stockings ;

Ruben Tarble, shirt, shoes.

(pages 591-592) A Return of clothing and other things lost in the fight of the 17th of June, 1775, Belonging to Capt.

Spaldings company. Capt. Spalding, one shurt, 2 pair stockings, 1 Briches:

Lieut. Bradford, 1 Blanket, 1 Shurt;

Ens. Butte, 2 shurts, 1 jackett, 2 pr stockings;

Serjant Lee, 1 Blanket. 1 coat, 1 jacett, stoking & shoes;

Serj.Hutchins, 1 blankett, &c. ;

Serj. Merril, 1 coat, 1 blanket, bed-tiking shurt;

Serj. Bayley, Catridge Box, 1 shurt, a snapsack;

Corporal Pike, 1 Blanket, 1shurt, 2 pair stokins, 1 pr shoes;

Do. Hutchinson, 1 blanket, 1 coat, 1 jacett, 2 shurts, &c.;

Do. Walker, 1 blankett;

Do. Campbell, 1 blanket, 1 coat, 2 shurts, 1 pair stokons;

Joshua Chace, 1 blanket, 1 shurt, 1 pr Briches, stokens;

John Johnson, 1 shurt. 1 pair stokens, 1 pail Briches;

Edward Bevins. 1 blanket. 1 shurt, 1 pair stokens;

John Osgood, 1 Gun. 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 2 pr stokens, 2 shurts;

Andrew Thompson, l coat, 1 Blankett, 1 Hankercheff;

David Glover, 1 Blanket, 1 coat, 1 pr Briches, 1 shurt, 1 pair stokins;

Robert Glover 1 blanket, 2 shurts, 2 pr stokens, pr. Briches;

Samuel Currier, 1 gun, 1 blankett, 1 coat & jacket & Briches;

Thomas Harday, 1 blanket, coat, jacket, stocking &c;

Benja. Starnes, 1 jacket, 2 shirts, 1 pr. Briches;

Jona. Starnes. 1 gun, 1 coat, 2 shurts, 1 pr. Briches, 1 pr Trowsers;

Natha'l Bacheldor, 1 blanket, 1 coat, 3 shirts, 1 pr Briches;

James Campbell, 2 shirts, briches, stockens, hand kerchief;

Timothy Mclntire, 1 Blanket, 1 shirt, catreg [box?];

David Carlton. 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 1 stokens, 2 shirts;

Phineas Hardy, 1 coat, 1 Blanket, 1 shurt, Briches;

Joseph Elingwood, 1 coat, 2 Blankets, 1 shurt, &c.;

Samuel Lowel, 2 shurts. 1 jacket, Catridge Box;

Samuel Leeman, 2 coats, 1 Blankett;

Isaac Carkin, 2shurts, 1 Briches, 1 pair Trowsers;

Ezra Button, 1 coat, 1 shurt, Briches, stokens, &c;

Eaphraim Rolf, 1 gun. 1 Blankett, 1 shurt, stockens;

Ephraim Smith, 1 shurt, 1 snapsack, stockings;

Samuel Stils, 1 shurt, 1 Trowsers, Catridge Box;

Richard Hughes, 1 pair Briches, 1 coat, stokens;

William Brown, 2 coats, 1 Briches, 2 shurts, stokens;

William Duck. 2 coats, 1 shurt, 2 pair stokens;

Andrew Baley, 1 coat, 1 shurt, 1 Trousers, stokens;

Isaac Cowen, 1 Blankett, 1 coat, Trowsers;

Robert Wilkins, 1 Blankett, 1 shurt, Briches. stokens. shoos;

Jacob Wellman, 1 coat, 1 jacot, 1 shurt;

Ephraim How, 1 gun Briches and shurt.

(page 592) A Return of the things lost in Capt. Ezra Towne's Company, in Col. Reed's Regiment on the

seventeenth of June, 1775, in the fight at Charleston.

The names of those that lost things:

Lieut Josiah Brown, 1 hat, 1 sword, 1 Malitia Book, one Bottle;

Ensign John Harkness, 1 gr't coat, 1 st[raight?] Bod'd do., 1 sword, 1 Ink-pot;

Benja. Williams, 1 cutlass. 1 Razor. 1 Bottle, tobacco;

Farrow Miller, 1 st. Bod'd coat, 1 shirt, 1 pair hose, 1 Napsack;

Isaac Stanhope, 1 Blanket;

Timo. Avery, 1 Cartridge Box;

Sam'l Soper, 1 gun;

Eben'r Pratt, 1 st. Bod'd coat, 1 blankett, 1 Napsack;

Josiah Stone, 1 coat, 2 shirts, 2 pair of hose, 1 pr. shoes. 1 hankerchief, 1 razor, Napsack; 1 pair Breeches, 1

pair of Trowsers;

Levi Adams, 1 pr. of Trowsers;

Daniel Severance, 1 g't coat, 1 st. Bod'd Do, 1 pr. of Breeches, 1 pr. trowsers, 1 bayonet, 1 pr. hose; 1 shirt,

1 Napsack. 1 Tumpline, 1 hankerchief, 1 waistcoat. 1 shirt, 1 Psalm book, 1 pr. spectacles, 1 gun lock;

Daniel White, 1 Blanket, 1 coat, 1 shirt, 1 pr. hose, 1 Napsack, 1 hankerc'f ;

Jonathan Stevens, 1 st. Bod'd coat, 1 g't coat, 1 pr. Breeches, 1 pr. hose, hat; 1 razor, 1 pr. of shoes, 1

Napsack, 1 Tumpline;

Nath'l Carlton, 1 pr of shoes, 1 pr. of Buckles, 1 razor, 1 Book;

Thos. Pattison, 1 Blanket, 1 shirt, 1 gun, 1 pr. Trowsers, 1 coat;

Arch'l White, 1 hankerchief, 3 Fills [phials?] of Firr Balsome;

Stephen Adams, 1 bayonet, 1 razor;

David Eliot, 1 gun;

Sam'l Hutchins, 1 st. bod'd coat, three shirts;

Jeremy Pichard, 1 st. Bod'd coat, 1 bayonet ;

David Avery, 1 cartridge box.

(page 593)

An account of the things that was lost in Capt. Whitcomb's company In Colo. Reed's Regiment on the

17th day of June, 1775, by the fight that was between the Continental troops, and General Gage's troops on

Bunker Hill, at Charlestown.

Capt. Jonathan Whitcomb, Great coat, St. Bod'd coat, handkerchief, sundries;

Ens. Stephen Carter, shirt, hat;

Sarg't William Heaton. shoes;

Sarg't Amos Boynton, great coat, stockens;

Sarg't Josiah Hastings, St. Bod'd coat. stockens, shirts. pocket book;

Sarg't Silvenus Reed, St. Bod'd coat, jacket, shoes, stockens, trousers, handkerchief, short breeches, shirt;

Corp'l Luther Trowbridge, stockens, short breeches;

Elisha Walton, stockens;

Samuel Follet, shoes, trousers, shirt;

Stephen Brigum. St. Bod'd coat;

Jo. Harrendon, St. Bod'd coat, stockens, trousers, shirt, hat ;

Moses Tucker, St. Bod'd coat, trousers, handerkerchief;

Asa Gale, st. Bod. coat, stockens, shirt;

John Merrill, st. Bod. coat, shoes, stockens, short breeches, shirts, sundries;

Edward Arnold, great coat, jacket, cartridge box, &c;

Joshua Farr, st. Bod'd coat, hat, &c;

Holowel Merril, great coat, stockens, short breeches, shirt;

Eleazur Gurdin, stockens, trousers, short breeches;

Jonathan Farr, hat, &C ;

Charles Millens, st. Bod'd coat, stockens;

Josiah Burton, cartridge box shot to pieces;

Charles Jonston, great coat, shoes, stockens, short breeches, shirt;

Luther Trobridge, stockens, short breeches;

Jesse Cheney, great coat, st. Bod'd coat, shoes, stockens, tronsers, short breeches, shirt;

Joshua Ellis, wounded, st. Bod'd coat. stockens, shirt, gun, &c.;

Ebenezer Parsons, jacket, shoes;

Benjamin Toleman, shoes, stockens. trousers shirt:

Joseph Fassett, great coat, shoes, stockens, trousers, shirt. &c;

Andrew Butler, great coat, stockens, trousers, shirt, &c.;

William Toleman, stockens. trousers short breeches;

John Whitney, shoes, stockens;

Enoch Cummins, sundries;

Amasa Parker, stockens, short breeches, shirt;

Pearson Newell, sundries;

Abija Whitcomb, st. Bod'd coat, shoes, stockens, trousers, shirt.

Rose blankets were given the army intermittently during the war.

Captain Henry Beekman Livingston's 1st Company of the 4th New York Regiment did

receive 27 Indian blankets and 45 rose blankets in August 1775. We can infer that this was

typical for the 1775 establishment. Two years later, "Colo: Lamb's Regimt: Artillery to the

Public Store of Cloathing at Albany," delivered to Captain Mott, 3 April 1777, "4 Rose

Blankets... [and] 2 Blue D[itt]o:" 4

“Report of Clothing Committee,” 1780.

Issued to Captain Gibson, “twenty & half pairs of rose Blankets”

“To Colonel Thomas Sumpter, for his own use … One rose Blanket.”

“To Major Mazarett, for the use of the Corps of Artillery, … four Rose Blankets …”

“To Colonel [Daniel] Morgan, for his own use … One pair rose Blankets.”

“To Colonel Morgan, for the use the Light Infantry, twenty four Dutch Blankets & four

pair of rose Blankets.”

“To A. Thomas, A.Q.M.G. , One pair rose Blankets …”

Walter Clark, ed., The State Records of North Carolina, XIV, 1779-1780 (Wilmington, N.C.:

Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1993), 120.

(page 594)

A Return of what was Lost in Capt. Wm. Walker's company on the 17th of June, 1775.

Lieut. James Brown, 1 surtoot, coat;

Francis Putnam, 1 blanket, 1 surtoot, 1 shirt, 1 gun ;

Jona. Emerson, 1 gun;

Israel How, 1 snapsack, 1 great coat, 1 shirt, 1 pare Trowsers, 1 pr Hoes;

Wm. Harris, jun 1 pr. Mooskin-breeches, 1 snapsack, 1 shirt, 3 woolen shirts, 1 pr. hoes;

Abel Danforth, 1 snapsack. 1 shirt. 1 pr. hoes, 1 great coat;

Jona. Danforth, 2 shirts. 1 tow-shirt, 1 pair breeches, 1 blanket, 1 catteridge box. 2 pr. hoes;

Phineas Whitnev. 1 shirt, 2 pr Trowsers. 1 pr. hoes, 1 pr. shoes, 1 blanket, 1 snapsack;

Paul Clogston, 1 snapsack. 1 pr. mooskin breeches, 2 shirts, 1 pr. trowsers, 1 blanket, 2 pr. hoes;

Henry Lovewell. 1 snapsack, 1 coat, 1 shirt. 1 pair Hoes;

Medad Combs, 1 snapsack, 1 shirt, l pr. Hoes;

Ichabod Lovewell, 1 Blanket, 1 shirt, 1 pr. Hoes, 1 coat. 1 Pistol, 1 Fife;

Phillip A. Roby, 1 snapsack, 1 blanket, 1 shirt, 1 pr. trousers, 1 pr. Hoes;

John Snow, snapsack, 1 blanket. 1 shirt, 1 pr. trowsers, 1 pr. Hoes;

Eleazer Blanchard, 1 new Blue serge coat lin'd;

Nehemiah Winn, 1 shurt ;

Wm. Butterfield, 1 snapsack, 1 shirt, 1 pr. Hoes;

Joseph Greele, 1 snapsack, 2 shirts, 2 pr. Leather-breeches, Cartridge-box;

Jacob Blodgett, 1 pr. hoes:

Jona. Harris, 2 shirts, 1 pr. Trousers, 1 Blanket, 1 gun, 1 Catteridge Box ;

Nehemiah Lovewell, 1 shirt, 1 gnapsack;

Adrian Hawkins, 1 pr. shoes. 1 pr. Hoes;

Mansfield Toplin. 1 shirt, 1 pr. Hoes, 1 gnapsack;

Silas Chamberlain, 1 coat, 1 jacket, 2 shirts, 1 gnapsack;

John Lovewell, 1 gnapsack, 2 shirts. 1 pr. Hoes;

Henry Lovejoy, 1 gnapsack, 1 Blanket, 1 shirt. 1 great coat, 1 pr. Deerskin-breeches. 1 pr. sheepskin-

breeches, 2 Hoes;

Jona. Gray, 1 gnapsack. 1 Blanket, 1 great coat, 1 shirt, 2 pr. Hoes, 1 pr. trowzers;

Wm. Harris. Drum sticks & sling;

Isaac Brown, 1 gnapsack, 1 pr. Hoes, 1 pr. shoes, 1 shirt, 1 pr. breeches, 1 surtoot, 1 jacket, 1 pr. trowsers;

James Harwood, 1 coat, 1 pr. Breeches. 1 shirt, 1 pr. Hoes;

Benja. Whitney, 1 snapsack, 1 shirt, 1 pr. trowsers, 1 blanket, 1 pr. shoes. 1 Bible;

Timothv Darlin, 1 coat, l snapsack;

Benj. Bayley. 1 Powder horn, 1 cattridge-box ;

Capt. Wm. Walker, 2 pair shoes, 1 3-4 yds. fine cloth att 3-4 per yd.;

Asa Cram, 1 gun and bayonet.

The above Account is the true account of what my company Lost on Bunker Hill, Charlestown. the 17th of

June, 1775, and justly prized according to the best of my knowledge. Winter Hill, July 15th

, 1775. William

Walker, Capt.

(page 595)

A List of Losses, sustained in the Batal and Retreat on bunker hill the 17th of June, 1775, of Capt.

Thomas's Company in the New Hampshire Reserves. Lieut. [John Harper,] one hat;

Ens'n [Ezekiel Rand] coat two shirts, one gun, iron strike sword, pr hose;

Sarg't. Benjamin Davis, a blanket, surtout. one byanot;

Ezekiel Larned, one gone [gun] one byanot & belt, one powder horn;

Sarg't Simon Dans, one coat;

Sarg't Jacob Pierce, a coat, a shag great coat & pack;

Corporal John Demary, one blanket, one byanot. one haversack;

Corp'l Semion Inglas, one Cartridge Box, one gun, & byanot, one powder horn, one blanket:

Corp'l. Benjamin Lovring, Cadous Box & silke handkerchief ;

Drums & Fifers —

Daniel Lake, one pair of suse [shoes] one blanket;

Lemi Page, one shagge greatcoat;

Richard Alexander, caduse Box & a coat;

Thomas Hutchinson, a pare of trowsors;

David Daves, a fine shirt, & a pair of yarn hose;

Jonathan Lovejoy, a surtoot, four shirts, one coat, two waistcoats, one gun. three pare of hoe, one pouch,

neckcloth, one pr. of trousers, one cat— box, Baynot;

Thomas Henderson. 2 shirts. 2 pr. hose, coat & waistcoat, & a pare of Lether breeches;

James Cochran, blanket, pr. Briches, a pr. of hose, a Rasor, havsak;

Dudley Griffin, a coat & shirt;

Benjamin Beales, a shirt, two pr. of hose;

Ezekiel Demary, one pr. of hose;

Reuben Paige, a great cote, & one shirt. 1 pr. of hose, l powder horn, one cartridge Box, one wastcoat;

Obadiah Marsh, one shirt. 1 pr. of hose, one Havisack;

Joell Russell, 1 coat, 1 pr. Leather-briches, 1 pr. hose, two shirts, one hat, 1 powder horn, haversack;

Jacob Hobbs, one blanket;

Timothy Rogers, one shirt :

Godfary Richison, one pare of suse [shoes] :

Henry Davis, one pare or trousers;

Hugh Gregg, one shag great coat, 1shirt. 1 powder horn. Bulet-pouch.

Philip Thomas. Capt.

(pages 595-596)

A True account of what was lost in the Battle on Bunkers Hill in Capt. Benjamin Mann's Company in

June ye 17th 1775.

Samuel Campbell, a coat, a pare of Trousers, shirt, Snapsac, Tumpline, Blanket, a pr. Of Breches, a pare

Stockens; ;

John Adams, a pare of Soes;

John Buxton, a gun;

John Thomas, a coat, a pr. of shoes,,a Snapsack, a Tumpline;

Robert Wolsey, a pare of Stockens;

John Slone, a coat, shirt, a Snapsack & Blankett;

Zacheus Hodgman, a Blankett;

William Parker, a shirt, a pare of Trousers, snapsack, a pr. of stockens, hat;

Amos Coburn, a coat, a pr. of trousers, a snapsack, a Blankett, pr. Stockens;

Joseph Hodgman, a Blankett;

Thomas Tarbell. a coat;

Isaac Barrett, a Blankett;

Samuel Scripture, 2 shirts, a gun, a snapsack ;

Elijah Avery, a pair of Stockens, a gun ;

Benjamin Mann, a gun ;

James Brewer, a pare of shoes;

Jeremiah Holt, Snapsack;

Samuel Right, a coat, 2 shirts, 1 gun, a snapsack, a Tumpline, a Blankett, a pr. of breeches, a pr. of

Stockens;

Isaac Flagg, 2 coats, a shurt, a pr of shoes, a Snapsack & tumpline, a Blankett, a pare of Breeches, a pr.

of stockens;

Samuel Abbott, a gun & Bayonet;

John Fish, a jacot, a pare of trousers, 2 shurts, a pr. of shoes, a Snapsack & Tumpline, a pair of breeches;

Daniel Collins, a pr. of Breeches;

Simeon Hildreth, a coat, a shurt, a snapsack, a Blankett;

Ebenezer Carlton, a silk handkerchief;

Geo. Willson, a coat and handkerchief.

Benjamin Mann, Capt.

(page 596)

An account of things that was lost at the Battle on Bunkers hill, on the 17th of June, 1775, belonging to

Capt. Crosby's Company, viz.

Capt. Crosby's things are 1 pistel & 1 pair of worsted stockings;

Lieut. Daniel Wilkins 1 cotton shirt;

Ens'n Thomson Maxwell, 1 fine shirt & one powder horn ;

Adg't Stephen Peabody one blanket & one shirt;

Quarter Master Frye one coat & one Hatt ;

Serg't William Bradford one shirt;

Serg't Lemuel Winchester one pair of shoes;

Eli Wilkins 1 Blanket& one Bullet Mold;

Alexander Brown 1 cotton shirt, one pair of stockings & one gnapsack;

Thaddeus Fitch 1 shirt, 1 pair of calfskin pumps, 1 pr. trowzers & Gnapsack;

Samuel Starnes 1 pair of shoes;

Stephen Crosby, 1 great coat& 1 shirt;

Jona. Wilkins 1 shirt;

Thomas Giles one gun, 1 cartooch Box & one jacket;

Thomas Perry one woolen shirt, one powder horn & one gnapsack;

Joseph Boutel, one pair of stockings, 1 pair of Leather-Breeches;

Nathaniel Barrett 1 gnapsack, one pair of shoes & buckles & 1 handkerchief;

Sam'l Williams 1 shirt & one handkerchief & one gun;

James Gilman, 1 Blanket & one Handkerchief;

Joseph Wakeiield, 1 pr of Deer-skin Breeches, 1 Cartooch Box;

Eben'r Wakeiield, 1 sett of shoe-makers Tools, 1 shirt 2 pr of stockings & 1 pr of shoes;

Dan'l Kenney, 1 great coat & one gun;

Joseph Wallis 1 pair of shoes;

Andrew Leavitt, 1 coverlid, one pr. of stockings, 1 gnapsack & Handkerchief:

Josiah Sawyer one gun, one coat, one Powder horn & one Bible;

Joshua Abbot 1 gnapsack & pair of stockings.

Josiah Crosby. Capt.

Private soldier, Massachusetts militia, 1775. Damian Niescior, Captain David

Brown’s Company of Concord Minutemen, 19-20 April 2014, Minuteman National

Historic Park.

(page 597)

Charleston, June ye 21. This is the acompt of the Packs that was lost in the fite the 18[sic] of the same

month Belonging to Capt. John Marcy.

Capt. Marcy 1 good coat, 2 good fine shurts, 1 pr. stockings, 1 blanket, 1 pr Boots:

Lt. Farwell, 1 sword, 1 good coat, 4 good shurts, 4 pr. of stockings, 1 pr of Boots, 1 pr. Sadelbags, 1 pr of

spurs, 1 pr. Lether briches, 2 silk handkerchief, 1 Blanket;

Ens. James Tagard, 2 good shurts, 3 pr stockings. 1 pr sadelbags. 1 pr shous, 1 Tumpline, 1 pillar case:

Isaac Johnson, 1 good Blanket. 1 good piller case. 3 good shurts. 3 good pr. of stockings. 1 good pr.

trouses, 1 good frock. 1 good razor and sum other things Besides;

Ebenezer Kingsbury 1 good shurt, 1 pr. stockings. 1 pr trouses, 1 pr. shoos, 1 tumpline, 1 Blanket;

Jonathan Eastman, 1 good Blanket, 1 good shurt, 1 pr trouses, 2 good capes. 1 good Rasher, 1 new pair of

shoues;

Jonathan Eastman jun'r. 1 good piller-case. 1 good Blanket. 1 shurt. 1 pair trouses;

Heskier Clark. 1 Blanket, 1 shurt, 1 pr. trouses. 1 pr stockings;

Daniel Adams, 1 Blanket, 1 coat, 1 shurt, 1 pr velvet briches;

Elisha Gustin 1 Blanket. 1 shurt, 2 pr stockings. 1 piller case, 1 tumpline;

Stephen Gilman. 1 shurt, 1 pr stockings, 1 piller case. 1 pair shous, 1 pr buckels;

Joseph Parke, 1 velvet jacat. 1 shurt, 2 pr stockings, 1 tumpline;

Amos Flud, 1 shurt, 1 pr trouses. 1 piller case, 1 shurt;

Alexander Dihbel, l Blanket, l pr cloath Briches. 1 pr stockings;

Caleb Airl, 1 pr stockings. 1 tumpline;

John Downs. 1 blanket, 1 tumpline, 1 pr stockings, 1 shurt, 1piller case;

Gilbert Castwell, 1 blanket. 1 coat. 1 fir stockings. 1 shurt. 1 piller case;

David Cross. 1 blanket. 1 shurt. 1 coat. 1 jacut, 1 pr trouses. 1 pr stockings. 1 tumpline:

Cornelius Warren, 1 blanket, 1 piller-case, 1 shurt. 1 pr trouses. 1 Rasher;

Samuel Marcy, 1 blanket, 1 pr stockings,

Samuel Bur, 1 blanket, 1 pr of Lether Briches. 1 gun. 1 tumpline, 1 pr stockings, 1 piller case;

Isac Read, 1 gun. 1 coat, 1 Blanket. 1 shurt. 1 pr stockings, 1 piller case, l tumpline. l pr Briches;

Jesse Knot, 1 Blanket;

John Cross. 1 shurt. 1 snapsack, 1tumplin, 2 pr stockings;

Joseph Powars, 1 pr trouses, 1 pr stockings, 1 piller case. 1 tumpline;

John Pulsepher, 1 piller case, 1 blanket. 2 shurts. 1 good pr. briches. 1 pr trouses,

Timothy Clark, 1 grate coat, 1 tite coat, 1 good shirt, 1 good Drum. 1 tumpline;

John Barrett, 2 pr stockings, 2 shurts, 1 pr lether Briches, 1 pr shous, l pr white briches, 1 white shurt;

Phillip Huntoon. 1 grate coat. 1 Blanket. 2 shurts. 2 pr stockings. 1 piller [case], 1 tumpline. 1 pr shous:

Edward Kies. 2 good shirts. 1 pr shous, 1 grate coat, 1 pr stockings,

John Calkins. 1 shurt. 1 tumpline.

Snapsacks: Several of the above returns listing clothing and equipment lost at Bunker Hill

contain alternate spellings of the word knapsack; the variations are “napsack,” “gnapsack,” and

“snapsack.” The list for a single company, Capt. William Walker’s, uses two of those variations,

“gnapsack” and “snapsack,” leaving one to think the writer was describing two different items.

Possibly the list may have been written by two different people, each with their own spelling

preference. Unfortunately, without examining the handwriting on the original document we have

no way of knowing.

In recent years, the term “snapsack” has been linked to a simple single-strap crude knapsack,

formed like a bag and closed by a drawstring at one end. The examples pictured in period images

of British soldiers were made of skin, but many reproductions have been made of linen.

Previously this author broadcast requests for others to provide research confirming that such

receptacles were named snapsacks in 18th century America or Britain, and, failing that, have also

been unable to do so myself. Pending solid information on the matter, I am left to conclude that

the term “snapsack” is an alternate spelling of knapsack, and a generic term referring to no

specific design. For now, let us close with the definition provided by the Oxford English

Dictionary, “Snapsack … A knapsack. Common from c 1650 to 1700.”

The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, vol. 2 (Oxford University Press, 1971),

2889.

Finally, at this time there is no evidence at all that the single-sling drawstring bag/knapsack

was used during the American Revolution by anyone, even American militia.

Linen drawstring knapsack, modern reproduction.

http://blueboxsutlery.com/photos4.html

See also, http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm

http://blueboxsutlery.com/photos4.html

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm

Hair single-strap knapsack. Detail from David Morier, “Grenadiers, 16th and

17th Regiments of Foot, and Grenadier and Drummer, 18th Royal Irish

Regiment of Foot, 1751”

Detail from David Morier, “Grenadiers, 46th, 47th and 48th Regiments of Foot, 1751”

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection-search/david%2520morier

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection-search/david%2520morier

Detail from Edward Penny, R.A. (1714-1791), “An Officer Giving Alms to a Sick Soldier”

(circa 1765, oil on canvas). The painting depicts an officer of the 3rd Irish Horse (now the

Scots Dragoons Guards) extending charity to an infantryman and his family. A variant of

the Marquis of Granby relieving a sick soldier, which was exhibited by Penny at the Society

of Artists in 1765 and which was presented to the Bodleian by the artist in 1787. The 3rd

Irish Horse fought under Granby at the battle of Warburg in 1760 during the Seven Years

War, and it is probable that this painting may have been commissioned from the artist at

the same date.

Here is a letter possibly describing the use of knapsacks (not snapsacks) in the form of

a bag with a drawstring closure used by Connecticut Provincial troops: Norwich Connecticut, 6 September 1755

“Capt [John] Terry [Maj. Gen. Phineas Lyman’s 1st Connecticut Provincial Regiment]

Sir....I send you by the Bearor … 33 knapsacks with cord and straps and twine to whip the end of

the cords which your men may do and put them in; I sent 50 knapsacks to Lieut. [Prince] Tracy

but had not their straps made and if he has supply'd that matter please to send back the 50 now

sent by the bearor.

Your humble servt

Hez. Huntington [Col. Hezekiah Huntington, commissary to the Connecticut Provincial troops]”

Connecticut Historical Society, Miscellaneous Manuscripts. (Courtesy of Gary Zaboly, via Rob

Frasier)

18. Bennett Cuthbertson, System for the Compleat Interior Management and Oeconomy of a Battalion of

Infantry, (Dublin, 1768), 82-85, 93, 101. The 1779 edition included the amended directive that the leather straps

be “coloured as the Accoutrements.”

19. Timothy Pickering, Jr., An Easy Plan of Discipline for a Militia (Salem, Massachusetts: Printed by

Samuel and Ebenezer Hall, 1775), 3-4. Massachusetts authorized use of Pickering’s Easy Plan for its

militia in May 1776, though whether that extended to Continental regiments is unknown. Joseph R. Riling,

The Art and Science of War in America: A Bibliography of American Military Imprints, 1690-1800

(Bloomfield, Ontario: Museum Restoration Service, 1990), 8, 9, 36-37. ____________

(Above and below) Early war cartridge pouch used by militia and Continental troops, made

by Andrew Watson Kirk. With a block pierced to hold nineteen rounds, many of these

pouches are still extant, some of which were found in Continental vessels sunk in Lake

Champlain. Some examples have had a small block holding five cartridges added in front of

the original block, making the carrying capacity twenty-four rounds when that became the

Continental Army standard. One such pouch belonged to Benjamin Fogg, a Connecticut

militiaman who served in the 1776 New York campaign. Don Troiani, Soldiers in America,

1754-1865 (Mechanicsburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1998), 53.

Regarding cartridge pouches holding 24 rounds: Army orders, Cambridge,

Massachusetts, 16 February 1776, “All the Regiments are immediately to be compleated, to

Twenty-four rounds of Ammunition a man … The General is surprised to find the Militia

applying for Cartouch Boxes and other Accoutrements, when he had not a doubt, but they

would have come compleatly equipt -- As the ease however is otherwise, he directs that they

should be served with Powder-horns and Shot pouches, in lieu of Cartouch Boxes …”;

Army orders, Harlem Heights, Manhattan Island, 2 October 1776 noted, “It is once more

repeated, that every Soldier is to be completed with Ammunition to 24 Rounds a Man; and

it is the duty of Officers to see that they have it -- Some of the troops who went out on the

covering party this morning, had not their Complement, nor had their Officers examined

their Arms and Ammunition, before they marched them on the Grand Parade -- This

Conduct if not amended will be fatal to the Army and the Country -- Where the Cartridge-

Boxes will not hold the full Complement, application is to be made for Pouches, which may

be had at the Commissary's Store.”; Army orders, New York, 19 May 1776, “The Colonels,

and Officers commanding Corps, are immediately to have their men compleated with

twenty-four Rounds of powder and ball, properly, and compleatly, made up into

Cartridges, six rounds of which, each man is to have in his pouch, or cartridge box, for

ordinary duty; the remaining eighteen, are to be wrapped up tight, in a Cloth, or coarse

Paper, and mark'd with the name of the soldier to whom they belong, and carefully packed

into an empty powder barrel. The Captains, or Officers commanding Companies, are to see

that this is done, and to take into his own possession, the barrel, with the cartridges so

packed, and to have them delivered to the men, as occasion may require …” General orders,

16 February 1776, John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the

Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799, vol. 4 (Washington, DC: GPO, 1931), 334-335;

General orders, 19 May 1776, ibid., vol. 5 (1932), 59-60. . General orders, 2 October 1776,

ibid., vol. 6 (1932), 147-148. See also, George Washington to the President of Congress, 18

February 1776, vol. 4, 335-337; General orders, 30 June and 23 August 1776, ibid., vol. 5

(1932), 205-206, 478-479; General orders, 3 September 1776, ibid., vol. 9 (1933), 168-169.

_______________________

The gridiron portrayed above was excavated at a Continental Army camp site, circa

1776-1780. George C. Neumann and Frank J. Kravic, Collector's Illustrated

Encyclopedia of the American Revolution (Harrisburg, Pa., 1975), 93. Illustration by

Ross Hamel.) ____________

2. Cooking and Other Equipment in Brig. Gen. John Sullivan’s Brigade,

24 March 1776

Brig. Gen. John Sullivan’s Brigade, March 1776.

A return of Camp Utensils in four Regts in Genl Sullivans Brigade 1

Wooden

Iron plates & Tea

pots Kettles Pails platters Bowls Canteens Spiders Kettles

Vizt in Colo Starks Regt 65 36 42 79

Do Colo Nixons 80 64 97 163 2

Do Colo Poors 89 35 64 183 83 4 2

Do Colo Reeds 107 48 114 44 1

Do Brigade Store 1 3 1 3 1 1 1

Whole Number 336 74 219 183 293 291 5 6

A true Return as recd. from the QMr of each Regt – Attestd N Norton [illegible letters]

Majr Frazier at Boston

E[rrors] Excepted

March 24th

1776 Jno. G. Frazer AQMG

Compare that return with cooking and eating utensils in the store at Medford,

Massachusetts, in a listing dated 25 March 1776: 11 “Potts,” 0 kettles, 4 “Spiders” (frying

pans with three legs), 1 skillet, 1 “Stewpan,” 1 frying pan, 2 tea kettles, 12 wooden

bowls, 2 canteens, 1 “Cheese Toaster,” 1 grid iron, 1 ladle, and 1 flesh fork. The frying

pans, tea kettles, skillet, stew pan, toaster, and grid iron would have been reserved for the

officers of the brigade.2

The size of the iron pots in Sullivan’s Brigade is not known, but perhaps the ones

procured by Connecticut give some indication. During the 1776 campaigns around New

York, Connecticut militia troops (including Joseph Plumb Martin, author of Private Yankee

Doodle) carried heavy cooking gear. In October, with many troops already in the field and

supplies of light-weight kettles strained to the utmost, the Connecticut Assembly decided to

gather additional supplies, including "for the use of the militia ... when called into actual

service … two thousand Iron Pots containing two gallons each ..."3

Small three-legged fry pans such as this were probably used on occasion by

Continental soldiers. This illustration is based on a large example found aboard the

Gunboat Philadelphia. That artifact has a 14 3/4 inch wide pan, a handle 14 3/4 inches

long, and stands 8 1/2 inches high. George C. Neumann and Frank J. Kravic,

Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution (Harrisburg, Pa., 1975),

91. Illustration by Ross Hamel.

Several kinds of cooking implements are pictured and listed on this trade card, including,

“Potts & Kettles of all sizes,” “Skillets of all Sizes,” “Large & small Spiders,” “Stew Pans,

with covers,” “Tea Kettles,” “Pudding-pans, & basons,” and “Fry-pans & fry Kettles.”

(American Antiquarian Society)

1. John Sullivan, 24 March 1776, Report on Utensils, George Washington Papers, Presidential Papers

Microfilm (Washington: Library of Congress, 1961), series 4 (General Correspondence. 1697–1799); Brig.

Gen. John Sullivan’s March 1776 command comprised the following regiments: Col. James Reed’s 2nd

Continental (New Hampshire), Col. John Nixon’s 4th Continental (Massachusetts), Col. John Stark’s 5th

Continental (New Hampshire), and Col. Enoch Poor’s 8th Continental (New Hampshire). For the ensuing

campaign, these units were split between the Northern (2nd, 5th, and 8th regiments) and Main armies.

Charles H. Lesser, Sinews of Independence: Monthly Strength Reports of the Continental Army (Chicago, Il.

and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1976), 20-21, 24-25; Fred Anderson Berg, Encyclopedia of

Continental Army Units: Battalions, Regiments and Independent Corps (Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books,

1972), 32-33.

2. John G. Frazer, “A Return of Camp-Utensils &c in Store at Medford,” 25 March 1776, George

Washington Papers (Library of Congress, 1961), series 4.

3. In his memoirs Joseph Martin noted the camp kettle he carried when serving with the Connecticut militia in

1776: "There were but three men present [in the mess]. We had our cooking utensils ... to carry in our hands.

They were made of cast iron and consequently heavy." Joseph Plumb Martin, Private Yankee Doodle: A

Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier (Boston and Toronto:

Little, Brown and Co., 1962), 51; Peter Force, American Archives, series 5, vol. III (Washington, D.C.:

Published by M. St. Clair and Peter Force, 1853), 453. ____________

New York militia captain David Uhl’s knapsack, said to have been “worn by him when he

joined the army at Harlem.” Little is known of the knapsacks worn by American troops

early in the war, but it is likely they were similar to Captain Uhl’s. His pack is of simple

design, with two shoulder straps attached to a body with a single pocket. Overall

measurements are 17 inches wide by 18 high. E.M Ruttenbur, Catalog of Manuscripts and

Relics in Washington’s Head-Quarters, with Historical Sketch (Newburgh, N.Y.: E.M

Ruttenbur and Son Printers, 1874) (Collection of Washington's Headquarters State

Historic Site, Newburgh, New York.)

“Rough draft of the new Invented Napsack and haversack in one,” included with J. Young’s

February 9 1776 letter to Maryland Congressman Samuel Chase. In his proposal Mr.

Young noted, “The above is a rough draft of the new Invented Napsack and haversack in

one That is adopted by the American Regulars of Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Virginia @

8/6 each. I could furnish any quantity that may be wanted for Maryland by ye first of

April.” J. Young to Samuel Chase, 9 February 1776, enclosed in Samuel Chase to Thomas

Jenifer, 10 February 1776, "Journal of the Maryland Convention, 26 July-14 August

1775/Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, August 29, 1775-July 6,

1776," William Hand Brown, Archives of Maryland, vol. 11, (Baltimore, Md., 1892), 150. A

"rough draft of the new Invented napsack and haversack in one that is adopted by the

American regulars of Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Virginia ...," contained in Samuel Chase to

J. Young, 9 February 1776, is found in the Maryland State Papers, (Red Books), Archives of

the State of Maryland, access. no. MdHR 4561, loc. 1-6-3-38, 4, item 13.

Reproduction of the “the new Invented Napsack and haversack.” The unit identification

marked on the pack is conjectural.

Reproduction of the “the new Invented Napsack and haversack.” The upper bag

with the slit opening is intended to carry foodstuff. These knapsacks were likely not

popular with the troops, having limited space for extra clothing and necessaries, as

well as a single-strap suspension, uncomfortable on a long march. The single

shoulder strap could be made less burdensome by wearing it across both shoulders,

as Native American tumplines were often worn.

Reproduction of Benjamin Warner’s linen knapsack. Made by Matthew White from Stuart

Lilie kit, it measures, closed, 18 ½ inches wide by 15 ½ inches high. Warner’s knapsack, in

the collections of the Fort Ticonderoga Museum, may be the only extant example remaining

from the thousands of linen knapsacks issued to Continental troops. Unfortunately, it

cannot be certainly determined at which point it was issued during the soldier’s varied

career. Of its provenance Connecticut soldier Benjamin Warner merely noted in March

1837, “This Napsack I carryd through the war of the Revolution to acthieve the Merican

Independence.” Warner served in four foot regiments from 1775 to 1777, and again with a

Continental artillery regiment for three months in 1780. ____________

3. Main Army: Return of Arms and Accoutrements issued

from 1 April to 1 August 1777

Continental Congress War Board, August 11, 1777, Distribution of Arms and Stores

"Abstract of the Arms & Accoutrements deliverd out at Philadelphia to the Continental

Troops by the Commissary Genl. of Military Stores from the 1st. of April 1777 to the 1st of

August following. As taken from the several Returns made to the War Office and agreable

to the Orders issued from sd. Office on the sd. Commissy."

13,200 stands of Armes

13,095 Cartouch Boxes

11,626 Canteens

13,297 Knapsacks

3135 Haversacks

14,107 Bayonet Belts

13,800 Brushes & Wires

170 Rifles pouches & Horns

Richard Peters Secy.

"Abstract of the Arms & Accoutrements deliverd out at Philadelphia to the Continental

Troops by the Commissary Genl. of Military Stores from the 1st. of April 1777 to the 1st of

August following ...," (enclosure) Board of War to Washington, 18 October 1777, George

Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4, reel 43. General

Correspondence. 1697-1799 ____________

British linen haversack, late 18

th/early 19

th century. J. Craig Nannos Collection.

____________

4. Return of Camp Equipage Delivered to the Army during the 1777 Campaign

Anthony Butler, March 9, 1778, Supply Prospects; with Copy

“General Return of Camp Equipage &c deliverd in the Campaign – 1777

68 Casks Nails

6545 Shovels

3128 Spades

575 Picks

2345 Fascine Hatchets and Bill Hooks

121 Crosscut Saws

9 Pitt Saws

268 Wheel Barrows

228 hand Barrows

2690 Shovel Handles

6 Traveling Forges

130 Setts Artillery & Waggon Harnesse

31 Sets of Artillery Traces

133 Saddles and Bridles

13,134 Setts of Horsehoes

367 Setts of Clouts for Waggons

16,274 Knapsacks

37,018 Tomahawks

14,874 Canteens

6 Markees with Poles and Pins

116 horsemans Tents ditto

3690 Soldiers Tents

6071 Soldiers Tent Poles

23,951 Tent Pins

6,348 Camp Kettles

33,186 Bushells of Indian Corn

24,321 Ditto Oats

George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General

Correspondence. 1697-1799 ____________

Spade made by Hoffman’s Forge (, http://www.hoffmansforge.com/ )

Shovel and spade.

(Image courtesy of Hoffman’s Forge, http://www.hoffmansforge.com/)

http://www.hoffmansforge.com/


Pick-axe

(Image courtesy of Hoffman’s Forge, http://www.hoffmansforge.com/) ____________


5. Partial List of Stores Captured on the British Ship Symmetry, January 1778

Clement Biddle, January 10, 1778, Cargo List of the Symetry (brigantine)

“List of Camp Equipage, Military Stores, Baggage &c. taken in the Brig Symmetry

Capt[ured]. at Wilmington Jan: 1778” included “35 hair knapsacks” (“Delivered Genl

Sullivans Division”), “a Cask Kettles & Canteens” plus “about 30 loose Kettles (“remain

at Wilmington not dld.”), “56 Camp Kettles,” “424 Tin Canteens,” “1066 New

Knapsacks,” “230 New Tecklenburg Tents,” “20 Pack Saddles in Complete Order”

(“sent to Faggs Manor Meetinghouse”)

George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General

Correspondence. 1697-1799. ____________

British crescent-shaped tin canteen, with straight sides, 7 inches high, 4 7/8 inches wide, and 2 1/2

deep. The spout is 7/8 inch diameter and 1 inch high. Another similar canteen in the Troiani

collection is 8 1 /2 inches high, 4 3/4 wide, and 2 3/4 deep. Mike O’Donnell, U.S. Army & Militia

Canteens, 1775-1910 (Alexandria, Va.: O’Donnell Publications, 2008), 14-16.

(Courtesy of Bob McDonald)

Top view of canteen from the collection of Bob McDonald.

Canteen stopper made of tin. Detail of British crescent-shaped tin canteen in the J.

Craig Nannos Collection (Photograph courtesy of Andrew Watson Kirk.)

American tin canteen, with an angled profile, differing it from the straight-

sided British version. Height, 5 5/8 inches; bottom width, 4 3/8 inches; top

width, 3 1/2 inches; 3 inches at bottom, front to back. This example is noted

to have been carried Abraham Van Vlack, 2d Regiment Dutchess County

Militia, while at Fort Constitution in 1777. E.M Ruttenbur, Catalog of

Manuscripts and Relics in Washington’s Head-Quarters, with Historical Sketch

(Newburgh, N.Y.: E.M Ruttenbur and Son Printers, 1874), item 585

(Collection of Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, Newburgh,

New York.) For additional details see, Robert L. Klinger & Richard A. Wilder,

Sketchbook '76, The American Soldier, 1775-1781 (Union City, Tn.: Pioneer Press,

1974), 48. See also, Mike O’Donnell, U.S. Army & Militia Canteens, 1775-1910

(Alexandria, Va.: O’Donnell Publications, 2008), 28.

____________

Image: Plate 10, No. 1, Heinrich Medicus, Was ist jedem Officier waehrend eines Feldzugs zu

wissen noethig. Mit zehen Kupferplatten (Carlsruhe, 1788).

Description (translation courtesy of Robert A Selig, PhD.)

A Pack Saddle

a) the Front Strap

b) the Belly Strap

c) the Rear Strap

d) the strap to hang things with, the haunch

e) is hung into hook "f"

g) the rings into which the fodder/feed bag, boot cleaning material bag, (hair) powder bag

and bread bag are tied

2. The Pack Saddle from the front

3. The Pack Saddle from the rear

4. Packed Tent

5. Mantle Sack/Greatcoat Pack ready to be packed (onto the horse) seen from the side

facing the horse

6. Mantle Sack with spun hay on it

7. Bed Sack.

N(ota) B(ene). During packing the rings o of numbers 4, 5, or 6 are hung into the hooks o.

8. The Pack Strap, of which each Pack Saddle has four

Pack horse, likely Prussian (undated, circa mid-eighteenth century). Plates

(unbound) from the Society of the Cincinnati collections (courtesy of Marko

Zlatich). The Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington,

DC 20008.

6. Camp Equipage in the 1st Pennsylvania Brigade, Valley Forge, 3 June 1778

“A Return of officers and men Camp Equipage now Present in the 1st. Penna. Brigade Commanded by Coln.

William Irvine” [included the 1st, 2

nd, 7

th, and 10

th Pennsylvania Regiments. The original return is broken down

by regiment.]

June 3, 1778

Field Officers 10

Commissioned Officers 79

Staff Officers 14

Non Commissioned Officers 111

Rank and File 729

Marquees 2 Wooden Bowls 4

Horsemans Tents 4 Axes 13

Common Tents 74 Hatchets 0

Knapsacks 505 Tomahawks 44

Haversacks 24 Spades 9

Camp Kettles 128 Shovels 6

Canteens 112 Pickaxes 0

Buckets 11 Bell Tents 24

“A Return of officers and men Camp Equipage now Present in the 1st. Penna. Brigade Commanded by Coln.

William Irvine” (Included the 1st, 2

nd, 7

th, and 10

th Pennsylvania Regiments. The original return is broken down

by regiment.) Thomas Alexander, Brigade Quartermaster, 3 June 1778, General William Irvine Papers,

Historical Society of Pennsylvania. (Courtesy of Lee Boyle) ____________

Continental Army staved canteen.

(Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia)

Soldiers of the 4th Connecticut Regiment, 1778.

Model Company event, Valley Forge. 29-30 March 2014. ____________

7. "A Return of Quarter-Master-General's Stores in The Brigades at West Point &

Constitution Island," 1 August 1779: North Carolina, 4th Massachusetts, and

Paterson’s (Massachusetts) Brigades

Col. Clark’s North Carolina Brigade (1st and 2

nd NC), Col. Bailey’s 4

th Massachusetts

Brigade (2nd

, 8th, 9

th, Mass.), and General Paterson’s Brigade (10

th, 11

th, 12

th, 14

th, Mass.).

North Carolina Brigade (126 officers, 541 rank and file present, fit for duty; 128 rank & file sick, on

command, and on furlough)

2 marquees

21 horseman’s tents

168 common tents

123 tent poles

122 camp kettles

495 knapsacks

98 haversacks

26 pails

185 canteens

31 leather portmanteau

12 leather valises

1 canvas valise

1 cutting box

1 cutting knife

1 broad axe

14 narrow axes

2 handsaws

6 chisels

2 augers

2 hammers

4 shovels

4 spades

3 picks

2 covered wagons

16 open wagons

64 wagon horses C.P. *

8 ditto P.P. **

6 riding horses C.P.

8 ditto P.P.

______________________

* Continental property

** Personal or private property

4th Massachusetts Brigade (164 officers, 628 rank and file present, fit for duty; 229 rank & file sick, on

command, and on furlough)

4 marquees


173 common tents

10 tent poles

25 tent lines

136 camp kettles

132 knapsacks

22 haversacks

19 wooden bowls

58 pails

559 canteens


4 canvas valise

30 iron cups

26 narrow axes

1 handsaw

1 drawknife

2 chisels

1 gouge

1 iron square

1 compass

1 gimblet

1 file

5 shovels

7 spades

1 picks

23 wagon horses C.P.


16 ditto P.P.

Patterson’s Brigade (223 officers, 981 rank and file present, fit for duty; 147 rank & file sick, on command,

and on furlough)

3 marquees


192 common tents

23 tent poles

27 tent lines

174 camp kettles

346 knapsacks

64 wooden bowls

76 pails

797 canteens


6 canvas valise

32 iron cups

26 narrow axes

8 shovels

11 spades

6 picks

1 covered wagon

4 wagon horses C.P.


6 ditto P.P.

"A Return of Quarter-Master-General's Stores in The Brigades at West Point &

Constitution Island," 1 August 1779, The Papers of the Continental Congress 1774-1789,

(National Archives Microfilm Publication M247, 1958, vol. 3, reel 192, 145). ____________

Wooden cheesebox canteen.

Private, 4th Connecticut Regiment, 1778-79.

Continental soldier’s mess bowl, with horn spoon and cup. Bowl dimensions are as

follows: The base is oval, 4 3/8 X 3 7/8 inches; top of bowl (outside measurements), 5

1/8 inches; bottom of bowl (outside measurements), 4 3/4 inches at the widest; side

staves are 3/16 inch thick at top and 1/8 inch at bottom; staves are 2 3/4 inches high;

side bands are crude, reminiscent of the bands on twig furniture. The top band is

from 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch, the lower bands seem more uniform being about 1/2 inch

wide.

Unlike this example, most soldiers’ bowls were likely carved or turned from a

single piece of wood. This singular artifact, belonging to a soldier purportedly with

Maj. Gen. Charles Lee’s Division marching from Valley Forge to Monmouth in

June 1778, was left in the hands of the Benjamin Paxson family of Bucks County,

Pennsylvania, after the man took sick and died in their care.

(Artifact courtesy of the late Sally Paxson Davis. Photograph by the author.)

Most soldiers’ mess bowls were likely turned, as is this example. Wooden bowl from the wreck

of the HMS Invincible, sunk in 1758. A total of 11 wood bowls (ranging from 9 inches to 13.4

inches in diameter), the fragments of 13 other wood bowls, plus 1 pewter bowl, 1 gourd

bowl, and the remains of a “green glazed stoneware” bowl were recovered from the

Invincible. Image courtesy of John Broomhead, director Invincible Conservations Ltd.

(http://www.invincible1758.co.uk/)

http://www.invincible1758.co.uk/

Wooden spoons excavated from HMS Invincible, which sank in 1758. Identified as being

made of sycamore. Maritime Archaeology Trust.

http://www.maritimearchaeologytrust.org/mapguide/invincible/main.php

http://www.hwtma.org.uk/mapguide/Invincible/images/ARTEFACTSsub/136.jpg

____________

http://www.maritimearchaeologytrust.org/mapguide/invincible/main.php

http://www.hwtma.org.uk/mapguide/Invincible/images/ARTEFACTSsub/136.jpg

Sheet-iron camp kettle as per Timothy Pickering's 1782 specifications. This

reproduction, by Patrick M. Cunningham, measures 9 1/2 inches wide by 9 1/2 inches

high, weighs 2 pounds, 12.1 ounces, and holds 2 gallons, 1 pint (8 1/2 quarts), and was

the standard-size mess kettle for the Continental Army during 1782. American sheet-

iron kettles issued in 1781 "average[d] about 8 Inches High and about eight and a half

or nine Inches wide, made without Ears and without covers." From the beginning of

the war kettles of this type were issued in large numbers to soldiers on both sides. (To

determine capacity kettles were filled with water to one inch below the rim.) (Photo by

Ross Hamel)

____________

8. Return of Quartermaster’s Stores for Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s Army, Tioga, 21

August 1779.

Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s army, Tioga, 21 August 1779

(present-day Athens, Pennsylvania). Brig. Gen. William Maxwell’s brigade: 1

st, 2d, and 3d New Jersey, and Spencer’s Additional Regiments.

Brig. Gen. Enoch Poor’s brigade:1st, 2d, and 3d New Hampshire, and 6

th Massachusetts Regiments.

Brig. Gen. Edward Hand’s brigade: 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, German Regiment, Morgan’s Riflemen,

Selin’s Independent Rifle Company, Wyoming (Pennsylvania) Militia, Spalding’s Wyoming Company.

Present Officers N.C.O.'s and Privates

Fit for Duty and Staff Present, Fit for Duty

Maxwell's Brigade 1225 83 1142

Poor's Brigade 1049 85 964

Hand's Brigade 800 66 754

Procter's Artillery 147 16 131

(4th Battalion, Continental Artillery)

July 1779 strength return, Lesser, 124-125.

Procter's Artillery Battalion, October 1779 return, 138 (N.C.O.'s and privates)

Camp

Kettles Bowls

with Camp Iron and

Covers Kettles Cups Dishes Canteens

Maxwell's Brigade 184 26 80 957


Hand's Brigade 109 555

Proctor's Artillery 13 39 180

Leather

Knapsacks Haversacks Portmanteaus

Maxwell's Brigade 1044 765 85


Hand's Brigade 625 526 41

Proctor's Artillery 100 22

Felling Fascine Fascine

Axes Shovels Spades Picks Knives Hatchets

Maxwell's Brigade 56 8

Poor's Brigade 96 4 11 3

Hand's Brigade 22 5

Proctor's Artillery 10 5 8 6 6

Pack Bell Leather Horse

Saddles Collars Hopples Bells

Major General Sullivan 6

and Staff

Maxwell's Brigade 270

Poor's Brigade 220

Hand's Brigade 115

Proctor's Artillery 80

Deputy QM General 4

and Staff

Pack Horse Department 19

Flying Hospital 1

Stores on hand 250 204 27

715 250 204 27

Pieces of Ammunition Travelling

Artillery Wagons Tumbrils Forges

Maxwell's Brigade 1

Poor's Brigade 1

Hand's Brigade 1

Proctor's Artillery 8 5 2 1

8 8 2 1

Artillery

& Wagon Pack* Blind** Pairs of

Horses Horses Bridles Collars Harness

Major General Sullivan 6

and Staff



Hand's Brigade 157 4 4 4

Proctor's Artillery 66 90 90 84

Deputy QM General 4

and Staff

Deputy Commissary 6

General and Staff


66 810 102 98 96

* Continental property; four privately-owned pack horses are also listed for Maxwell’s Brigade. Public

and privately-owned riding horses are also given.

** Note: On the original the entries from “Blind Bridles” to “Breech Bands” look to have been

accidentally shifted up one row. This transcription corrects that error.

Pairs of Back Belly Breech**

Traces Bands Bands Bands Cruppers



Hand's Brigade 4 2 4 2

Proctor's Artillery 55 65 79 20 24

Stores on hand 148

215 71 91 26 24

** Note: On the original the entries from “Blind Bridles” to “Breech Bands” look to have been

accidentally shifted up one row. This transcription corrects that error.

Cart Ham Wagon Rope

Saddles Strings Whips Halters

Maxwell's Brigade 185

Poor's Brigade 313

Hand's Brigade 157

Proctor's Artillery 11 212 17


Stores on hand 344

11 212 1,035

The following were also listed in this return:

Proctor's Artillery, 1 adze, 1 handsaw, 1 "Tennant" saw, 1 fore plane, 1 jack plane, 3 chisels, 1

gouge, 3 augers, 0 files.

Artificers, 0 adzes, 8 handsaws, 1 compass saw, 5 smoothing planes, 4 fore planes, 4 jack planes, 22

chisels, 4 gouges, 22 augers, 4 gimlets, 11 rules, 3 compasses, 0 files.

Stores on hand, 4 adzes, 7 handsaws, 2 "Tennant" saws, 4 compass saws, 2 "saw Sets," 6 smoothing

planes, 5 fore planes, 5 jack planes, 16 chisels, 6 gouges, 29 augers, 6 gimlets, 7 rules, 6 compasses, 5

files.

Thomas Armstrong to Nathanael Greene, 21 August 1779, "A General Return of Stores in

The Quarter Master General's Department with the Army under the Command of ... Major

General John Sullivan on the Western Expedition Fort Sullivan, Tioga," Miscellaneous

Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the War Department Collection of

Revolutionary War Records 1775-1790's, National Archives Microfilm Publication M859,

Record Group 93 (Washington, D.C., 1971), reel 94, no. 27523. ____________

(Above and below)Three mid-18

th century Conestoga wagons of differing design,

reconstructed for Fort Ligonier, Ligonier, Pennsylvania. (http://fortligonier.org/ ).

Conestogas were more likely used for carrying supplies to the army, rather than for

baggage wagons following the troops. See Appendices for more on Continental

Army vehicles.

http://fortligonier.org/

Wooden pack saddle, provenance unknown, date unknown. Regarding padding for

these saddles, Quartermaster General Timothy Pickering wrote this missive, “If you

have about three yards linnen to spare without spoiling a tent, issue it to Major

Murnand [John Bernard de Murnan] of the Corps of Engineers for making the

pads of a pack saddle. T. Pickering” Timothy Pickering to [Abner or Abraham]

Mery, 22 October 1780, Quartermaster General, Letter Book, 28 September 1780-13

August 1781, Miscellaneous Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the War

Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records 1775-1790's, no. 28630, folio 24

(National Archives Microfilm Publication M859, reel 98) U.S. War Department

Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93, Washington.

Felling axe (above). Fascine knife (below). (Knife made by Hoffman’s Forge.)

Tin cup. British camp, New York City, 1776 - 1783.

"Description - has an engraved silver band on handle of spoon a silver label has been added

to the back of the spoon: Porridge Ladle/made by/Samuel Adams/at/Valley Forge/ 1778..."

Maine Historical Society. http://mainehistory.pastperfect-

online.com/32314cgi/mweb.exe?request=record%3Bid%3D89BEEE69-0AB6-47FF-B7A8-

951653866210%3Btype%3D10

http://mainehistory.pastperfect-online.com/32314cgi/mweb.exe?request=record%3Bid%3D89BEEE69-0AB6-47FF-B7A8-951653866210%3Btype%3D101



(Above and following page.) Pewter spoon excavated on Brandywine battlefield (found on

the southwest side of Sandy Hollow, across the road, along the line of retreat from

Birmingham Hill). The handle was purposely cut off, similar to several others of pewter and

lead excavated by Frank J. Kravic at Hudson Highland camp sites. Overall length, 4 1/8

inches; bowl of spoon, 2 1/2 inches long by 2 1/4 wide; length of remaining handle, 1 3/4

inches. The maker’s mark “WB with a fleur-de-lis,” denotes New York pewterer William

Bradford. (Courtesy of Bob McDonald.) George C. Neumann and Frank J. Kravic,

Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution (Harrisburg, Pa., 1975), 110.

Morrison H. Heckscher and Leslie Greene Bowman, American Rococo, 1770-1775: Elegance

in Ornament (New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992), 107.

Images of the back of Brandywine spoon and a close-up of the maker’s mark.

Above is an unexcavated example of the same pattern spoon, with full-length handle intact.

Lot 602, pewter spoon, William Bradford (1688-1759). New York City, 1719-1759. Maker's

mark stamped inside bowl. Length 6 5/8 inches, width 2 1/8 inches. Provenance: William D.

Carlebach, Bedford, New York, 1990. New Hampshire Weekend Auction Platinum House

(Northeast Auctions) 24 February 24, 2007, Manchester, NH, USA.

http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/602-pewter-spoon.-william-bradford-1688-1759-.-

602-c-bc1tesevx9

A soldier’s spoon with initials. Charles L. Fisher, ed., The Most Advantageous Situation in

the Highlands. An Archaeological Study of Fort Montgomery State Historic Site (Albany:

(New York State Education Department, 2004), 17.

http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/602-pewter-spoon.-william-bradford-1688-1759-.-602-c-bc1tesevx9

http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/602-pewter-spoon.-william-bradford-1688-1759-.-602-c-bc1tesevx9

____________

9. "A Return of Quarter-Master-General's Stores in the Second Pennsylvania Brigade

... at Camp West Point," 4 August 1779

3

rd, 5

th, 6

th, 9

th Pennsylvania Regiments, plus “Brigadier and others.”

The brigade returned 4 covered camp kettles (two with the 5th Regiment, two with the brigadier general), 196

camp kettles (61 (3rd

), 48 (5th), 41 (6

th), 44 (9

th), and two with the “Brigadier and others”), 36 wooden bowls

(10, 17, 2, 6), and 20 iron spoons (12, -, -, 8).

Total brigade strength was:

3rd

(55 officers, 240 rank and file present, fit for duty; 80 rank & file sick, on command, and on furlough)

5th (51 officers, 201 rank and file present, fit for duty; 78 rank & file sick, on command, and on furlough)



3rd

(55 officers, 240 rank and file present, fit for duty; 80 rank & file sick, on command, and on furlough)

1 marquee


61 common tents

1 wall tent

50 tent poles

61 camp kettles

208 knapsacks

10 wooden bowls

215 canteens


3 canvas valises

12 iron spoons

18 espontoons

1 scythe

1 scythe stone

17 narrow axes

1 adze

1 handsaw

2 chisels

1 auger

1 gimblet

1 file

1 plane

1 shovel

1 spade

2 picks

4 open wagons

21 wagon horses C.P.*

8. riding horses P.P.**

___________________________

* Continental property

** Private or personal property


1 marquee


57 common tents

3 wall tents

41 camp kettles

224 knapsacks

17 wooden bowls

229 canteens


3 canvas valises

12 narrow axes

7 shovels

6 spades

5 picks

1 covered wagon

4 open wagons



7 riding horses P.P.


1 marquee


42 common tents

2 wall tents

50 tent poles

41 camp kettles

166 knapsacks

2 wooden bowls

126 canteens


1 scythe

10 narrow axes

1 shovel

1 spade

1 pick

1 covered wagon

4 open wagons






33 common tents

2 wall tent

45 tent poles

44 camp kettles

144 knapsacks

6 wooden bowls

84 canteens


2 canvas valises

8 iron spoons

11 espontoons

1 scythe

1 scythe stone

10 narrow axes

1 gimblet

2 shovels

3 spades

4 picks

1 covered wagon

4 open wagons




“Brigadier and others”

4 marquees


3 common tents

5 tent poles

2 covered camp kettles

2 camp kettles

1 wooden bowl

1 canteen


2 canvas valises

1 espontoon

3 narrow axes

1 chisel

1 iron square

1 ruler

1 gimblet

4 shovels

4 spades

4 picks

2 covered wagon

8 open wagons

1 riding horse C.P.


"A Return of Quarter-Master-General's Stores in the Second Pennsylvania Brigade ... at Camp West

Point," 4 August 1779, The Papers of the Continental Congress 1774-1789, (National Archives

Microfilm Publication M247, 1958, vol. 3, reel 192, 153). Lesser, Sinews of Independence: Monthly

Strength Reports of the Continental Army, 124, July 1779 return.

____________

10. Return of Clothing and Camp Equipment in Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair’s

Pennsylvania Division in the Hudson Highlands, 1 October 1779.

1st Brigade: 1

st, 2d, 7

th, 10

th Regiments

2d Brigade: 3d, 5th

, 6th

, 9th

Regiments

4,032 rank and file (not including officers, staff, and non-commissioned officers)

Good Wanting repair

Clothing

coats 293 1632

waistcoats 364 1566

breeches 171 834

linen overalls 2586 560

stockings 149 632

neckstocks 112 3

hunting shirts 10

shoes 887 967

hats 9 1545

caps 407 176

blankets 546 570

Camp Equipage

marquees 9 2

horseman’s tenst 66 5

wall tents 14 2

common tents 315 98

valises 21 2

leather portmanteau 17

knapsacks 1692 86

covered kettles 60

common kettles 389 41

canteens 967 38

bowls 51 5

spoons 84

axes 96 21

spades 22

shovels 8

picks 6

Woolen overalls and axe slings are returned as zero.

“Return of the Pennsylvania Division in the service of the United States, Commanded by

The Honble Major General Arthur St: Clair. October 1st. 1779.” (Transcribed by Mathew

Grubel, 6 October 2003, from pprox. ts in the collections of Morristown National

Historical Park filed under United States Army, Returns. Original manuscripts at the

Historical Society of Pennsylvania.)

____________

Spade (Made by Hoffman’s Forge)

____________

11. Return of Quartermaster’s Stores in the 1st Connecticut Brigade (Including

Brigadier General and Staff), Hudson Highlands, 25 May 1781

“Return of Quarter-Master General Stores on hand in the first Connecticut Brigade Commanded by J

Huntington B.G.,” “Camp Highlands,” 25 May 1781.

1st. Regiment (45 officers, 147 rank and file present, fit for duty; 224 rank & file sick, on command, and on

furlough)

1 marquee tent

2 horsemen’s tents

1 wall tent

42 camp kettles

161 knapsacks

7 wooden bowls

4 pails

34 canteens

31 portmanteaus

3 iron wedges

1 broad axe

10 narrow axes

1 handsaw

1 hammer

5 spades

2 picks

1 covered wagon

22 espontoons

1 set of wagon gears

Copy of portmanteau in the collections of Fort Ticonderoga Museum.

Reproduction made by Brendan Menz [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

3rd

Regiment (42 officers, 187 rank and file present, fit for duty; 144 rank & file sick, on command, and on

furlough)


1 wall tent

73 camp kettles

138 knapsacks

18 wooden bowls

15 canteens

27 portmanteaus

9 canvas valises

1 iron pot

1 brass kettle

2 iron wedges

1 grindstone

1 broad axe

25 narrow axes

1 adze

1 handsaw

1 drawknife

1 auger

3 pincers

1 hammer

1 gimblet

6 spades

3 picks

1 covered wagon

18 espontoons


5th Regiment (39 officers, 118 rank and file present, fit for duty; 177 rank & file sick, on command, and on

furlough)


4 common tents

1 wall tent

54 camp kettles

43 knapsacks

23 wooden bowls

2 pails

21 canteens

27 portmanteaus

6 canvas valises

1 broad axe

14 narrow axes

1 handsaw

1 drawknife

1 hammer

3 spades

2 picks

1 covered wagon

12 espontoons

B[rigadier]. & staff


4 common tents

1 wall tent

4 camp kettles

1 pail

3 portmanteaus

2 canvas valises

1 grindstone

3 narrow axes

1 adze

2 hammer

2 covered wagons

18 espontoons


Also listed are 112 “Bad” knapsacks, 3 covered wagons “wanting Repair,” and 8 “Bad” espontoons

“Return of Quarter-Master General Stores on hand in the first Connecticut Brigade

Commanded by J Huntington B.G.,” “Camp Highlands,” 25 May 1781, Miscellaneous

Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the War Department Collection of

Revolutionary War Records 1775-1790's, National Archives Microfilm Publication M859,

Record Group 93 (Washington, D.C., 1971), reel 94, no. 27553 (hereafter cited as Misc.

Nod. Records, NA). Lesser, May 1781 return, 202.

_________________________

12. "Return of Waggons, Horses … &c the property of the United States Army –

Camp Tappan – 27th

September 1780"

Commander in Chiefs Baggage (Wagon Conductor, Alexander McCullock) 16 enlisted waggoners, 8 close covered wagons, 7 open wagons, 60 wagon horses, 1 riding horse, 1

saddle, 60 blind bridles, 6 collars, 60 pair hames*, 60 pair traces, 60 back bands, 30 belly bands, 30

“britch” bands**, 15 pair breast chains, 15 pair tongue chains, 15 pair stretchers, 15 pair double trees,

7 wagon covers, 4 water buckets, 6 tar pots, 60 halters, 60 slips[?], 15 lock chains, 16 feed bags, 6

feed troughs, 6 leading lines.

1st Brigade Light Infantry (Wagon Conductor, Joseph Davis) 2 enlisted waggoners, 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 10 close covered wagons, 15 open wagons,

110 wagon horses, 1 riding horse, 1 saddle, 1 bridle, 111 blind bridles, 109 collars, 108 pair hames*,

109 pair traces, 108 back bands, 66 belly bands, 46 “britch” bands**, 8 cruppers, 5 cart saddles, 5

quoilers***, 24 pair breast chains, 25 pair tongue chains, 24 pair stretchers, 25 pair double trees, 8

wagon covers, 4 tar pots, 45 halters, 23 lock chains, 2 feed troughs, 21 leading lines.

2nd

Brigade Light Infantry (Wagon Conductors, William Bond and James Monteith) 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 6 close covered wagons, 15 open wagons, 98 wagon horses, 1

riding horse, 2 saddles, 2 bridles, 98 blind bridles, 98 collars, 98 pair hames*, 92 pair traces, 52 back

bands, 52 belly bands, 40 “britch” bands**, 2 cruppers, 6 cart saddles, 6 quoilers***, 20 pair breast

chains, 20 pair tongue chains, 20 pair stretchers, 20 pair double trees, 6 wagon covers, 6 tar pots, 39

halters, 11 lock chains, 3 feed bags, 2 feed troughs, 8 leading lines.

Under the overall charge of James Bartley, Deputy Wagonmaster General

1st Pennsylvania Brigade (Wagon Conductors, Henry Moffat and John Rannals)

1 enlisted waggoner, 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 9 close covered wagons, 22 open wagons,

142 wagon horses, 3 riding horses, 3 saddles, 1 bridle, 144 blind bridles, 144 collars, 144 pair

hames*, 140 pair traces, 98 back bands, 95 belly bands, 66 “britch” bands**, 3 cruppers, 4 cart

saddles, 4 quoilers***, 33 pair breast chains, 32 pair tongue chains, 32 pair stretchers, 32 pair double

trees, 8 wagon covers, 11 water buckets, 28 tar pots, 56 halters, 30 slips, 20 lock chains, 13 feed

bags, 18 feed troughs, 6 leading lines.

2nd

Pennsylvania Brigade (Wagon Conductors, David Porter and Abram Rand) 1 enlisted waggoner, 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 10 close covered wagons, 19 open wagons,

132 wagon horses, 2 riding horses, 1 saddles, 3 bridles, 131 blind bridles, 132 collars, 132 pair



trees, 8 wagon covers, 6 water buckets, 31 tar pots, 72 halters, 79 slips, 22 lock chains, 20 feed bags,

9 feed troughs, 21 leading lines.

1st Connecticut Brigade (Wagon Conductors, Israel Goodrich and Zenas Andrews)

3 enlisted waggoners, 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 7 close covered wagons, 17 open wagons, 2

ox carts, 111 wagon horses, 2 riding horses, 8 oxen, 1 saddle, 107 blind bridles, 111 collars, 111 pair



trees, 4 ox yokes, 3 ox chains, 4 wagon covers, 1 water buckets, 3 tar pots, 89 halters, 4 slips, 14 lock

chains, 10 leading lines.

2nd

Connecticut Brigade (Wagon Conductor, Eliphaz Parsons) 2 enlisted waggoners, 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 8 close covered wagons, 19 open wagons, 1

ox cart, 122 wagon horses, 1 riding horses, 4 oxen, 115 blind bridles, 122 collars, 122 pair hames*,

117 pair traces, 73 back bands, 63 belly bands, 54 “britch” bands**, 15 cruppers, 5 cart saddles, 5

quoilers***, 27 pair breast chains, 27 pair tongue chains, 27 pair stretchers, 27 pair double trees, 2 ox

yokes, 1 ox chain, 5 wagon covers, 18 tar pots, 47 halters, 4 slips, 13 lock chains, 1 feed bags, 1 feed

troughs, 2 leading lines.

New Jersey Brigade (Wagon Conductor, William Horne) 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 6 close covered wagons, 19 open wagons, 112 wagon horses, 1

saddles, 1 bridle, 106 blind bridles, 110 collars, 110 pair hames*, 106 pair traces, 71 back bands, 92

belly bands, 55 “britch” bands**, 16 cruppers, 5 cart saddles, 5 quoilers***, 25 pair breast chains, 25

pair tongue chains, 24 pair stretchers, 25 pair double trees, 7 wagon covers, 4 water buckets, 21 tar

pots, 40 halters, 13 slips, 22 lock chains, 20 feed bags, 9 feed troughs, 9 leading lines.

Under the overall charge of Jonathan Skidmore, Deputy Wagonmaster General

New York Brigade (Wagon Conductor, Samuel Coe) 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 6 close covered wagons, 26 open wagons, 137 wagon horses, 1 riding horse, 1

saddle, 1 bridle, 137 blind bridles, 137 collars, 137 pair hames*, 132 pair traces, 109 back bands, 72


pair tongue chains, 30 pair stretchers, 30 pair double trees, 27 tar pots, 4 halters, 7 lock chains.

General Nixon’s Massachusetts Brigade (Wagon Conductor, Jonathan Commins) 2 enlisted waggoners, 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 16 close covered wagons, 19 open wagons,

149 wagon horses, 2 riding horses, 1 saddle, 138 blind bridles, 140 collars, 149 pair hames*, 144 pair

traces, 88 back bands, 127 belly bands, 70 “britch” bands**, 5 cart saddles, 5 quoilers***, 34 pair

breast chains, 34 pair tongue chains, 31 pair stretchers, 35 pair double trees, 7 wagon covers, 1 water

buckets, 27 tar pots, 30 halters, 1 slip, 29 lock chains, 1 feed bags, 5 feed troughs, 10 leading lines.

General Stark’s New Hampshire Brigade (Wagon Conductor, Daniel Hearne) 2 field pieces, 1 forge, 7 close covered wagons, ? open wagons, 100 wagon horses, 1 riding horse, 1

saddle, 1 bridle, 98 blind bridles, 100 collars, 100 pair hames*, 96 pair traces, 98 back bands, 92


pair tongue chains, 24 pair stretchers, 24 pair double trees, 1 wagon covers, 28 tar pots, 82 halters, 23

lock chains, 14 feed bags, 3 feed troughs, 17 leading lines.

General Glover’s Massachusetts Brigade (Wagon Conductor, James Witherill) 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 8 close covered wagons, 19 open wagons, 119 wagon horses, 110

blind bridles, 122 collars, 122 pair hames*, 118 pair traces, 84 back bands, 73 belly bands, 56

“britch” bands**, 17 cruppers, 4 cart saddles, 4 quoilers***, 28 pair breast chains, 28 pair tongue

chains, 27 pair stretchers, 28 pair double trees, 5 wagon covers, 20 tar pots, 24 halters, 25 lock

chains, 6 feed bags, 5 feed troughs, 11 leading lines.

General Patterson’s Massachusetts Brigade (Wagon Conductors, Joseph Wales) 2 enlisted waggoners, 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 7 close covered wagons, 23 open wagons,

130 wagon horses, 2 riding horses, 1 saddle, 1 bridle, 130 blind bridles, 134 collars, 134 pair hames*,

129 pair traces, 129 back bands, 129 belly bands, 60 “britch” bands**, 5 cart saddles, 5 quoilers***,

30 pair breast chains, 30 pair tongue chains, 30 pair stretchers, 30 pair double trees, 1 wagon covers,

18 water buckets, 20 lock chains.

Commandant Bailey’s Brigade (Wagon Conductors, Jonathan Farman) 2 field pieces, 1 forge, 8 close covered wagons, 15 open wagons, 103 wagon horses, 1 riding horse,

101 blind bridles, 103 collars, 103 pair hames*, 101 pair traces, 101 back bands, 101 belly bands, 49

“britch” bands**, 54 cruppers, 3 cart saddles, 3 quoilers***, 23 pair breast chains, 23 pair tongue

chains, 29 pair stretchers, 23 pair double trees, 9 wagon covers, 17 tar pots, 91 halters, 2 slips, 24

lock chains, 17 leading lines.

Commandant Hazen’s Brigade (Wagon Conductors, Joseph Henderson) 2 field pieces, 2 tumbrels, 1 forge, 8 close covered wagons, 25 open wagons, 132 wagon horses, 1

riding horses, 1 saddle, 1 bridle, 121 blind bridles, 140 collars, 140 pair hames*, 135 pair traces, 107

back bands, 98 belly bands, 60 “britch” bands**, 68 cruppers, 5 cart saddles, 5 quoilers***, 31 pair

breast chains, 31 pair tongue chains, 31 pair stretchers, 31 pair double trees, 23 wagon covers, 12 tar

pots, 19 halters, 9 slips, 29 lock chains, 11 feed troughs, 1 leading line.

Under the overall charge of Alexander Turner, Deputy Wagonmaster General (Wagon Conductors for the Artillery, Bartholomew Fisher, Michael Dougherty, Jonathan Wright,

Jonathan Cook, William Archbold, Patt Qually)

Artillery Park and Spare Ammunition 47 enlisted waggoners, 9 field pieces, 5 tumbrels, 2 forge, 47 close covered wagons, 23 open

wagons, 307 wagon horses, 7 riding horses, 6 saddles, 4 bridles, 307 blind bridles, 308 collars, 304

pair hames*, 292 pair traces, 172 back bands, 203 belly bands, 136 “britch” bands**, 28 cruppers, 17

cart saddles, 17 quoilers***, 68 pair breast chains, 68 pair tongue chains, 68 pair stretchers, 68 pair

double trees, 11 wagon covers, 32 water buckets, 54 tar pots, 226 halters, 127 slips, 71 lock chains,

64 feed bags, 11 feed troughs, 28 leading lines.

Organizations not under the auspices of a Deputy Wagonmaster General or Conductor

Colonel Moylan’s Light Dragoons 3 close covered wagons, 3 open wagons, 22 wagon horses, 22 blind bridles, 22 collars, 22 pair

hames*, 22 pair traces, 11 back bands, 11 belly bands, 12 “britch” bands**, 2 cruppers, 6 pair breast

chains, 6 pair tongue chains, 6 pair stretchers, 6 pair double trees.

Major Lee’s Corps 4 close covered wagons,12 wagon horses, 10 blind bridles, 12 collars, 12 pair hames*, 12 pair traces,

7 back bands,61 belly bands, 5 “britch” bands**, 1 crupper, 4 pair breast chains, 4 pair tongue

chains, 2 pair stretchers, 4 pair double trees, 2 tar pots, 2 lock chains.

Captain Von Heer’s Corps 1 enlisted waggoner, 1 close covered wagons, 2 open wagons, 4 wagon horses, 12 blind bridles, 12

collars, 12 pair hames*, 12 pair traces, 6 back bands, 6 belly bands, 6 “britch” bands**, 3 pair breast

chains, 3 pair tongue chains, 3 pair stretchers, 3 pair double trees, 3 tar pots, 1 lock chain.

Captain Bedkin’s [Pulaski’s] Corps 1 close covered wagon, 4 wagon horses, 4 blind bridles, 4 collars, 4 pair hames*, 4 pair traces, 4

back bands, 4 belly bands, 2 “britch” bands**, 2 cruppers, 4 pair breast chains, 4 pair tongue chains,

4 pair stretchers, 4 pair double trees, 1 tar pot.

Staff Baggage 11 enlisted waggoners, 1 tumbrel, 20 close covered wagons, 2 open wagons, 82 wagon horses, 79

blind bridles, 79 collars, 79 pair hames*, 78 pair traces, 60 back bands, 60 belly bands, 40 “britch”

bands**, 25 cruppers, 1 cart saddle, 1 quoiler***, 20 pair breast chains, 20 pair tongue chains, 19

pair stretchers, 20 pair double trees, 1 wagon covers, 4 water buckets, 8 tar pots, 79 halters, 18 lock

chains, 15 feed bags, 16 leading lines.

Colonel Baldwin’s Artificers 4 enlisted waggoners, 3 close covered wagons, 10 open wagons, 46 wagon horses, 1 riding horse, 48


bands**, 13 pair breast chains, 13 pair tongue chains, 11 pair stretchers, 13 pair double trees, 6

wagon covers, 1 water buckets, 13 tar pots, 32 halters, 13 lock chains, 2 feed troughs, 12 leading

lines.

Staff Commissary 1 close covered wagon, 4 wagon horses, 1 riding horse, 4 blind bridles, 4 collars, 4 pair hames*, 4

pair traces, 2 back bands, 2 belly bands, 2 “britch” bands**, 2 cruppers, 1 pair breast chains, 1 pair

tongue chains, 1 pair stretchers, 1 pair double trees, 1 tar pots, 4 halters, 1 lock chains, 2 feed bags, 1

leading lines.

Quartermaster General’s Stores 7 enlisted waggoners, 7 close covered wagons, 2 open wagons, 36 wagon horses, 1 riding horse, 1

saddle, 36 blind bridles, 36 collars, 36 pair hames*, 36 pair traces, 18 back bands, 18 belly bands, 18

“britch” bands**, 2 cruppers, 9 pair breast chains, 9 pair tongue chains, 9 pair stretchers, 9 pair

double trees, 2 wagon covers, 9 water buckets, 9 tar pots, 36 halters, 9 lock chains, 9 feed bags, 2

feed troughs, 9 leading lines.

Flying Hospital 3 enlisted waggoners, 5 close covered wagons, 4 open wagons, 28 wagon horses, 2 riding horses, 25


bands**, 6 cruppers, 9 pair breast chains, 9 pair tongue chains, 7 pair stretchers, 9 pair double trees, 4

wagon covers, 4 water buckets, 9 tar pots, 30 halters, 7 lock chains, 5 feed troughs.

Major Parr’s Rifle Corps 1 open wagon, 4 wagon horses, 4 blind bridles, 4 collars, 4 pair hames*, 4 pair traces, 2 back bands,

2 belly bands, 2 “britch” bands**, 1 pair breast chains, 1 pair tongue chains, 1 pair stretchers, 1 pair

double trees, 1 tar pot, 4 halters, 1 lock chain.

Extra Teams 1 close covered wagon, 32 open wagons, 127 wagon horses, 130 blind bridles, 130 collars, 136 pair

hames*, 130 pair traces, 64 back bands, 74 belly bands, 66 “britch” bands**, 4 cruppers, 33 pair

breast chains, 33 pair tongue chains, 32 pair stretchers, 33 pair double trees, 31 wagon covers, 11

water buckets, 32 tar pots, 44 halters, 68 slips, 30 lock chains, 103 feed bags, 27 feed troughs, 22

leading lines.

Total 106 enlisted waggoners 37 field pieces, 30 tumbrels, 16 forge, 218 close covered wagons, 351 open

wagons (total covered and open wagons, 569), 3 ox carts, 2,433 wagon horses, 31 riding horses, 12

oxen, 22 saddles, 14 bridles, 2,388 blind bridles, 2,462 collars, 2,563 pair hames*, 2,326 pair traces,

1,761 back bands, 1,697 belly bands, 1,147 britch” bands**, 376 cruppers, 81 cart saddles, 81

quoilers***, 565 pair breast chains, 565 pair tongue chains, 558 pair stretchers, 568 pair double trees,

6 ox yokes, 4 ox chains, 177 wagon covers, 88 water buckets, 418 tar pots, 1,153 halters, 397 slips,

450 lock chains, 290 feed bags, 118 feed troughs, 227 leading lines.

Comparisons September 1780

37 artillery pieces, 30 tumbrels, 16 forges, 569 closed and open wagons, 3 ox carts, 2,433 wagon

and artillery horses, 31 riding horses, 12 oxen (585 wagons and forges)

September 1780 (without numbers from the extra teams)

37 artillery pieces, 30 tumbrels, 16 forges, 536 closed and open wagons, 3 ox carts, 2,306 wagon

and artillery horses, 31 riding horses, 12 oxen (552 wagons and forges)

June 1778

Total for Washington’s Army, June 1778

33 field pieces, 302 wagons, 1,275 wagon and artillery horses, 5 bat horses, 43 riding horses

1778 return – no tumbrels, no ox carts, fewer forges, five bat horses with artillery

1780 return – no bat (pack) horses

* a pair of curved metal (or sometimes wooden) pieces lying on the horse collar of a horse

harness, taking the pull from the traces

** breech-band - That part of a horse's harness which passes round its breech, and which enables

it to back the vehicle to which it is harnessed. The breeching is connected by straps to the saddle

and shafts.

*** the breeching of a cart-harness

"Return of Waggons, Horses … &c the property of the United States Army – Camp Tappan

– 27th September 1780," Miscellaneous Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the

War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records 1775-1790's, National Archives

Microfilm Publication M859, Record Group 93 (Washington, D.C., 1971), reel 94, no.

27335.

To compare with the 1778 wagon return see:

“’Reach Coryels ferry. Encamp on the Pennsylvania side.’: The March from Valley

Forge to Monmouth Courthouse, 18 to 28 June 1778” Endnotes: http://www.scribd.com/doc/133293312/Endnotes-“Reach-Coryels-ferry-Encamp-

on-the-Pennsylvania-side-”-The-March-from-Valley-Forge-to-Monmouth-Courthouse-18-

to-28-June-1778 Endnotes contain:

3. Washington’s army vehicle allotment for the march to Coryell’s Ferry,

4. Wheeled Transportation (a primer on the vehicles and artillery on the road to

Monmouth, including twenty-one illustrations)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/133293312/Endnotes-%e2%80%9cReach-Coryels-ferry-Encamp-on-the-Pennsylvania-side-%e2%80%9d-The-March-from-Valley-Forge-to-Monmouth-Courthouse-18-to-28-June-1778



13. "Return of all Public Property in the Quarter Masters Department with the

Southern Army"

An August 1781 "Return of all Public Property in the Quarter Masters Department with the

Southern Army," lists ("In Use") draft horses (459), "Close Cover'd Waggons" (53), "Road

Waggons, with Linen Covers" (9), "Plain Waggons" (47), blind bridles (439), collars (464),

hamstrings (862), back and belly bands (452), breech bands (223), cruppers (50), pairs iron

traces (466), tongue chains (116), lock chains (41), leading lines (77), leather halters, wagon

whips (63), branding irons (2), and pair breast chains (228).

Cooking and eating equipment in use consisted of, camp kettles (195), iron pots (30), dutch

ovens (5), canteens (42), tin cups (4), and tea kettles (1).

"Return of all Public Property in the Quarter Masters Department with the Southern Army,"

31 August 1781, Miscellaneous Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the War

Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records 1775-1790's, National Archives


27556.

14. Two Returns of Horse and Wagons with the Pennsylvania Line in Virginia, 12

June and 27 November 1781

A June 1781 "Return of Horses & Waggons furnish'd the Penns.a. Line by Samuel Miles

DQM for Penns.a," shows 20 four-horse common wagons, 14 four-horse covered wagons, 2

travelling forges and 4 horses, and 6 field pieces each hauled by 4 horses. Two nondescript

four-horse wagons are also listed. Total horses with the division or "Order'd from Lancaster"

were 226. Noted on the bottom, "six of the Cover'd Waggons were for Aminition."

"Return of Horses & Waggons furnish'd the Penns.a. Line by Samuel Miles DQM for

Penns.a," 12 June 1781, Miscellaneous Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the

War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records 1775-1790's, National Archives


27367.

A "General Return of Waggons & Horses with General St Clairs [Pennsylvania] Division

November 27th 1781," listed 422 draft horses, 50 "Waggons, Close Covered," 40

"Waggons, with open Covers," 8 tumbrils, and 3 travelling forges. A footnote shows only

459 draft horses serving the rest of the army.

"General Return of Waggons & Horses with General St Clairs Division November 27th

1781," Miscellaneous Numbered Records (The Manuscript File) in the War Department

Collection of Revolutionary War Records 1775-1790's, National Archives Microfilm

Publication M859, Record Group 93 (Washington, D.C., 1971), reel 94, no. 27353.

Appendices

1. Overview of Wheeled Transportation. The types of baggage wagons used by

Washington’s army cannot be certainly known, but must have been a bit of a hodge-

podge. Some vehicles, most notably the large English wagons brought by over from

Britain in 1776 to serve General Sir William Howe’s troops, as well as the larger

Conestoga wagons, were considered too heavy and cumbersome to follow a campaigning

army; others like the “Dutch” wagons of Long and Staten Islands, and northern New

Jersey, were too fragile for hard service. Francis Clark, "Inspector and Superintendent of

His Majesty's Provision Train of Wagons and Horses," reconfigured the large English

wagons, lessening their weight by about five hundred pounds, and also devised an even

lighter “new Waggon” with rope sides. Continental commanders depended on the

Quartermaster Department to build, purchase, or hire wagons for the army. It is known

that large numbers of vehicles were hired or purchased in Pennsylvania, and very likely

during the Monmouth campaign some portion of Continental Army baggage was carried

in smaller Conestoga-style wagons. Other vehicle types were also undoubtedly used for

baggage. Below are images of several wagons available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

during the War for American Independence. (See endnote 33 for further discussion of

army wagons.)

“A relatively small but graceful nine-bow Conestoga owned by [the late] D.H. Berkebile.”

George Shumway, Edward Durell, and Howard C. Frey, Conestoga Wagon 1750-1850 (York,

Pa., 1964), 51.

Three mid-18

th century Conestoga wagons of differing design, reconstructed for Fort

Ligonier, Ligonier, Pennsylvania. (http://fortligonier.org/ )

http://fortligonier.org/

(Previous page and below.)

Side and rear view of the large Burgner Conestoga wagon, said to have ben built in 1762 at

Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, for Cumberland Valley miller Jonathan Keefer. The wagon bed

is four feet deep, fourteen feet long at the bottom and nineteen at the top. It held a ten ton

load. John Omwake, The Conestoga Six-Horse Bell Teams of Eastern Pennsylvania (Cincinnati,

OH, 1930), 32, 33.

"A Philadelphia Waggon" used by the British army in Pennsylvania. "Narrative of

Occurences, relative to His Majesty's Provision Train in North America," (circa 1778), Francis

Rush Clark Papers (no. 2338), Sol Feinstone Collection, David Library of the American

Revolution. Drawing courtesy of the David Library, Washington Crossing, Pa.)

"A Country Waggon from Long Island & New York" (drawn circa 1778), also known as a

"Dutch" wagon. Francis Rush Clark, "Inspector and Superintendent of His Majesty's

Provision Train of Wagons and Horses," wrote: "These were taken promiscuously from the

Farmers on Long & Island Staten Island, & some from the Jerseys. Many of them in a

wretch'd Condition, & none having any Cover, to protect their Loading." "Narrative of

Occurences, relative to His Majesty's Provision Train in North America," (circa 1778), Francis

Rush Clark Papers (no. 2338), Sol Feinstone Collection, David Library of the American

Revolution. Drawing courtesy of the David Library, Washington Crossing, Pa.)

Early 18th century New York Dutch two-horse farm wagon. Detail from Van Bergen

Overmantel, circa 1733. NO366.54, New York State Historical Association (Cooperstown).

Francis Rush Clark, "Inspector and Superintendent of His Majesty's Provision Train of

Wagons and Horses," sketched the same vehicle in the 1770's. (My thanks to Garry W. Stone

for bringing the Van Bergen Overmantel to my attention.)

English "Tumbrel," circa 1757. The body measures approximately 3 feet 8 inches wide, 4 feet

10 inches long, by 2 feet high. Muller, Treatise of Artillery, plate XVIII.

Cart constructed by the Colonial Williamsburg wheelwright shop

(Photo courtesy of same.)

There were several specialized vehicles supporting the army in 1778. Purpose-built

ammunition wagons and traveling forges were produced for the Quartermaster General,

at first under contract, then beginning in the winter of 1778 by the Artillery Artificers at

manufactories at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and Springfield, Massachusetts. In January 1777

General Washington recommended using "Chaises marine [two-wheeled carts] made for the

Artillery and Regimental amunition, light, strong and covered ..." Whether or not these carts

were adopted by the Continental Army,in his Treatise of Artillery (first published 1757)

John Muller shows a similar vehicle, the two-wheeled English "Powder Cart," whose

features included a "roof ... covered with oil cloth to prevent dampness from coming to the

powder, and ... shot locker[s] ... divided into four parts by boards an inch thick." Muller

noted several "defects" in these carts: "our powder carts hold no more than four barrels, and

[as] a great quantity is required in all expeditions, they are not sufficient ... there should be

powder waggons to hold twelve barrels each. It is true, that the powder carts carry leaden

bullets and flints at the same time; and are therefore more convenient to follow the

battalions; but the rest should be carried in much larger quantities." He then gave his

objections to two-wheeled transport in general, which "though they may be useful upon

some particular occasions, yet they should not be used in carrying great quantities of any

kind; for the whole weight lying upon one axle-tree, must require more horses to draw a

weight, than when the same weight lies upon two. This every carrier must know; and

therefore no more carts should be used than are necessary." By adopting four-wheel

ammunition wagons both the British and American armies remedied some of these

shortcomings. Several of these vehicles were assigned to each brigade for carrying "spare

ammunition and arms." Muller noted that the British ammunition wagon "serves likewise to

carry bread, it being lined around in the inside with basket work."

In response to the commander-in-chief’s query about wagons needed for the artillery,

Brig. Gen. Henry Knox replied that the “Artillery Artificers will make the cover’d

ammunition Waggons and travelling forges. I expect they will be able at Carlisle and

Springfield to make 200 ammunition Waggons by the Spring which in addition to those

we already have will be nearly sufficient. I have given to the QuarterMaster Genl. Colo.

[Henry Emanuel] Lutterloh’s [deputy quartermaster general for main Continental Army]

return for the Horses and Harness to complete them.” Knox estimated that the artillery

alone would require 1,049 horses, to pull 106 field pieces (at an average of four draft

animals each), 50 ammunition wagons with teams of 5 horses, and 60 wagons for spare

ammunition needing 6 horses each. The cannon traveling with Washington’s army and

used at Monmouth ranged from three to six pound guns, with the majority fours and

sixes. This is based on a letter by Commissary of Military Stores Samuel Hodgdon, written

from "Croton Bridge 19 July 1778" to John Ruddock, Deputy Quartermaster of Stores at

Fishkill:

Sir the great Consumption of Cannon Ammunition in the late Battle at Monmouth Renders

it Necessary that a Supply be sent With all posable dispatch to Camp

200 six pound strap shott

200 four pound Ditto

100 three pound Ditto is Much Wanted also

100 Good Arms & Accutrements

I have sent by Mr. Giles QrM Stores five Load of Damaged Arms & Ammunition Who

Will Conduct the Above stores to Camp

When the army was on the move each piece needed a two-wheel limber plus two to

four draft horses. Drivers for the artillery limbers and horse teams were often provided by

taking common soldiers from infantry regiment for temporary detached duty, though in

some cases hired civilian wagoners may also have served. ___________________________________________

An English "Powder Cart," circa 1757. Overall length is approximately 13 1/2 feet. In January

1777 General Washington recommended for the Continental army "Chaises marine [two-

wheeled carts] made for the Artillery and Regimental amunition, light, strong and covered ..."

It is not known if such vehicles were adopted. John Muller, A Treatise of Artillery, 3rd edition

(London, John Millan, 1780; 1st edition, 1757; reprinted by Museum Restoration Service,

Bloomfield, Ontario, 1977), plate XIX. Washington to Thomas Mifflin, 31 January 1777, John

C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, 7 (Washington, GPO, 1932), 83 (see

also pagenote).

Travelling forge, circa 1757. Overall length, 15 1/2 feet.

Explanation for plate:

a. The bellows.

b. Place boarded up to put the tools in.

c. Iron plate for the fire place.

d. Wooden trough for water.

f. Iron plate to receive the cinders, and to lay

the hammers and tongs upon.

g. Iron plate to prevent the flame setting fire to

the carriage.

"This forge is very ill contrived: it should have four wheels, that it might stand firm, and be

easier carried; the French use such as this last described. Since the first impression of this

work these forges have been made with four wheels …”

John Muller, A Treatise of Artillery, 3rd edition (London, John Millan, 1780; 1st edition, 1757;

reprinted by Museum Restoration Service, Bloomfield, Ontario, 1977), plate XXV, 140.

English ammunition wagon, circa 1757. Overall length is 26 feet; the cargo-carrying body is 14

feet long by 4 feet wide. Most Continental army ammunition wagons were likely made with

four wheels. John Muller, A Treatise of Artillery, 3rd edition (London, John Millan, 1780; 1st

edition, 1757; reprinted by Museum Restoration Service, Bloomfield, Ontario, 1977), plate XX.

Artillery piece on the move, attached to limber and horse team. Detail from Phillippe

Jacques de Loutherbourg (1740-1812), “Warley Camp: The Review” (1780), Oil on canvas

121.3 x 183.5 cm, Painted for George III, RCIN 406349, The Royal Collection.

Artillery piece and limber can be seen in the background of this detail from the painting

“Royal Artillery in the Low Countries, 1748.” Attributed to David Morier (1705?-70),

Oil on canvas, 136.1 x 170.8 cm, Commissioned by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland

RCIN 407454, The Royal Collection.

Image of artillery field piece and two-horse limber, from a powder horn engraving. This

drawing is from Harold L. Peterson, Round Shot and Rammers: An Introduction to Muzzle-

loading Land Artillery in the United States (South Bend, In.: South Bend Replicas, 1969), 59.

Also see photograph of powder horn in Harold L. Peterson, The Book of the Continental Soldier

(Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1968), 132.

Side and overhead views of British 6-pounder field gun. Harold L. Peterson, The Book of the

Continental Soldier (Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1968), 116, 121.

Continental Army field artillery in action. Detail from William Mercer, “Battle of Princeton

on 3rd January 1777” (Historical Society of Pennsylvania)

Wheeled Vehicle Sources:

Erna Risch, Supplying Washington's Army (Washington, D.C., 1981), 64-90. J

Henry Knox to Washington, 8 January 1778, George Washington Papers (LOC), series 4,

reel 45.

John U. Rees, "`Employed in carrying cloathing & provisions': Wagons and Watercraft

During the War for Independence," Part I. "`Country Waggons,' `Tumbrils,' and `Philadelphia

Carts': Wheeled Transport in The Armies of the Revolution," ALHFAM Bulletin, vol. XXIX, no.

3 (Fall 1999), 4-9, and The Continental Soldier, vol. XII, no. 2 (Winter 1999), 18-25.

http://www.continentalline.org/articles/article.php?date=9902&article=990202

“`Little chariots painted red …’: Continental Army Vehicle Paint Colors,”

Military Collector & Historian, vol. 60, no. 2 (Summer 2008), 154-156.

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/paint.pdf

“`The road appeared to be full of red Coats …’: The Battle of Millstone, 20 January

1777: An Episode in the Forage War,” Military Collector & Historian, vol. 62, no. 1

(Spring 2010), 24-35. http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/millstone.pdf

“’The great Consumption of Cannon Ammunition …’: Continental Artillery at

Monmouth, 28 June 1778,” Military Collector & Historian, vol. 60, no. 1 (Spring 2008),

38-39.)


http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/paint.pdf

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/pdfs/millstone.pdf

“One of the largest of the Conestoga freighters, this is known as the Burgner wagon. The

cloth cover is supported by thirteen bows. George Shumway, Edward Durell, and Howard C.

Frey, Conestoga Wagon 1750-1850 (York, Pa., 1964), 4.

While horses were commonly used to pull wagons the increased use of oxen was suggested

later in the war. Quartermaster General Pickering began a 14 January 1781 letter to George

Washington by discussing the replacement of a proportion of the army's wagon horses.

Curiously, there seems to have been regional differences in the choice of draft animals.

Pickering noted that the "New England states are each very capable of furnishing the ox-teams

necessary for their respective quotas of troops" and "this way any number may be obtained in

Connecticut alone." On the other hand, "The states of New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania

(the latter especially) have been little used to oxen, and their services would be less grateful to

the troops of those states than those of horses." The next month Washington "advised ... ox

teams for all but the artillery and cavalry, which, from the nature of their service would

sometimes require greater expedition than oxen would be capable of." These recommendations

may have been fully implemented later, but for the rest of that year horses remained the

preferred beasts of burden. Timothy Pickering to Washington (with memorandum), 14

January 1781, GW Papers (series 4, reel 74). Washington to Pickering, 10 February 1781, John

C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, vol. 21 (Washington. D.C., 1937), 205-

206. See also, Pickering to Washington, 18 February 1781, George Washington Papers (series

4, reel 75).

"`Employed in carrying cloathing & provisions': Wagons and Watercraft During

the War for Independence" (abbreviated article): Part I. "`Country Waggons,' `Tumbrils,' and `Philadelphia Carts': Wheeled Transport in

the Armies of the Revolution," ALHFAM Bulletin, vol. XXIX, no. 3 (Fall 1999), 4-9, and The

Continental Soldier, vol. XII, no. 2 (Winter 1999), 18-25.



Wagoner with team of oxen. Horses were the preferred draft animal in the Continental

Army for most of the War for Independence. (Image from the 2012 Fair at New Boston,

September 1-2, 2012, George Rogers Clark Park, Springfield, Ohio.

Also from the Fair at New Boston (year unknown).

_______________________

2. Material Culture Articles Related to Items on the Equipment Returns

“’Cost of a Knapsack complete …’: Notes on Continental Army Packs and the Soldiers’

Burden” In Progress

Part 1. “This Napsack I carryd through the war of the Revolution”

Knapsacks Used by the Soldiers during the War for American Independence a. Overview

b. Knapsacks and Tumplines, Massachusetts, 1775

c. The Uhl Knapsack

d. Leather and Hair Packs, and Ezra Tilden’s Narrative

e. The Rufus Lincoln and Elisha Gross Hair Knapsacks

f. The “new Invented Napsack and haversack,” 1776

g. The Benjamin Warner Linen Pack

h. British Linen Knapsacks

Appendices

a. Carrying Blankets in or on Knapsacks.

b. “Like a Pedlar's Pack.”: Blanket Rolls and Slings

c. More Extant Artifacts with Revolutionary War Provenance or with a Design Similar to

Knapsacks Used During the War

d. Extant Knapsacks Discounted as having Revolutionary War Provenance

http://www.scribd.com/doc/210794759/%E2%80%9C-This-Napsack-I-carryd-through-

the-war-of-the-Revolution-Knapsacks-Used-by-the-Soldiers-during-the-War-for-

American-Independence-Part-1-of-%E2%80%9C-Cos

http://www.scribd.com/doc/210794759/%E2%80%9C-This-Napsack-I-carryd-through-the-war-of-the-Revolution-Knapsacks-Used-by-the-Soldiers-during-the-War-for-American-Independence-Part-1-of-%E2%80%9C-Cos



"`The great distress of the Army for want of Blankets ...': Supply Shortages, Suffering

Soldiers, and a Secret Mission During the Hard Winter of 1780": "Our condition for want of ... Blankets is quite painful ...": Shortages in the Continental Army, 1776-1779

"Without even a shadow of a blanket ...": Desperate Measures to Procure Covering for the Army, 1780

Military Collector & Historian, vol. 52, no. 3 (Fall 2000), 98-110.

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/blanketts.htm "`White Wollen,' 'Striped Indian Blankets,' 'Rugs and Coverlids': The Variety of Continental

Army Blankets," The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXVI, no. 4 (Winter 2000), 11-14.

http://www.revwar75.com/library/rees/variety.htm

“’To hold thirty-six cartridges of powder and ball …’: Continental Army Tin and Sheet-Iron

Canisters, 1775-1780”

Also including: 1. “They will … scarcely last one Campaign.” The Problem of Poorly-Made Continental Army

Cartridge Pouches and Introduction of the New Model Box

2. “The tin magazines … preserve the ammunition from wet … better than any other.”

Miscellania Concerning Crown Forces and Tin Canisters.

3. Alternative Names for Tin/Iron Cartridge Boxes

4. “Carried by Moses Currier in the Rev. War.”: Descriptions of Extant Canisters

http://www.scribd.com/doc/145591110/%E2%80%9C-To-hold-thirty-six-cartridges-of-

powder-and-ball-%E2%80%A6-Continental-Army-Tin-and-Sheet-Iron-Canisters-1775-

1780

Bob McDonald, “’The arms and accouterments belonging to the United States shall be stamped

…’: Markings on Continental Army Muskets”

http://www.scribd.com/doc/181283657/Bob-McDonald-%E2%80%9CThe-arms-and-

accouterments-belonging-to-the-United-States-shall-be-stamped-%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D-

Markings-on-Continental-Army-Muskets

“`They had built huts of bushes and leaves.’: Analysis of Continental Army Brush Shelter

Use, 1775-1782,” The Brigade Dispatch, vol. XXXII, no. 3 (Autumn 2002), 7-10.

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/shelteranalysis.htm

"`We ... got ourselves cleverly settled for the night': Soldiers' Shelter on Campaign

During the War for Independence,"

part I, "`The most expensive & essential article of camp equipage': Tents in the Armies of the

Revolution": “Put our Men into barns …”: The Vagaries of Shelter

"We Lay in the open world": Troops Without Shelter on Campaign

"State of Marquees and Tents delivered to the Army...":

Varieties of Tentage

A. General Discussion

B. American Common Tents

C. Horseman’s and Cavalry Tents

D. Wall Tents

E. Marquees

F. Bell Tents for Sheltering Arms

G. Dome, Square, and Hospital Tents

H. French Tents

Overview

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/shelter1.htm Military Collector & Historian, vol. 49, no. 3 (Fall 1997), 98-107.

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/blanketts.htm

http://www.revwar75.com/library/rees/variety.htm

http://www.scribd.com/doc/145591110/%E2%80%9C-To-hold-thirty-six-cartridges-of-powder-and-ball-%E2%80%A6-Continental-Army-Tin-and-Sheet-Iron-Canisters-1775-1780



http://www.scribd.com/doc/181283657/Bob-McDonald-%E2%80%9CThe-arms-and-accouterments-belonging-to-the-United-States-shall-be-stamped-%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D-Markings-on-Continental-Army-Muskets



http://revwar75.com/library/rees/shelteranalysis.htm

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/shelter1.htm

part II, "`The Allowance of Tents is not sufficient ...': An Overview of Tents as Shelter:" "The Allowance of Tents is not sufficient...": An Overview of Tents as Shelter

"The fewer the Waggons to the Army, the better...": Transporting Tents

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/shelter2.htm Military Collector & Historian, vol. 49, no. 4 (Winter 1997), 156-168.

"`To subsist an Army well ...': Soldiers' Cooking Equipment, Provisions, and Food

Preparation During the American War for Independence”: "’All the tin Camp-kettles they can procure ...’: Iron Pots, Pans, and Light-

Weight Military Kettles, 1759-1782”

Subheadings:

“Tin Kettles, 1759-1771”

“British Kettles in the American War, 1776-1781”

“Continental Army and States’ Militia, 1775-1780”

“American Sheet Iron Kettles, 1781-1782”

“Officers’ Cooking Equipment”

“Kettle Covers”

“’The extreme suffering of the army for want of … kettles …’:

Continental Soldiers and Kettle Shortages in 1782”

“’A disgusting incumbrance to the troops …’:

Linen Bags and Carts for Carrying Kettles”

“’The Kettles to be made as formerly …”

Kettle Capacity and Weight, and Archaeological Finds”

Subheadings:

“Kettle Capacity and Sizes, 1759-1782”

“Louisbourg Kettle, Cape Breton Island”

“Fort Ligonier (Buckets or Kettles?)”

“Rogers Island (Bucket or Kettle?)”

“1812 Kettles, Fort Meigs, Ohio”

“Overview of Cooking Equipment, 1775-1783”

Military Collector & Historian, vol. 53, no. 1 (Spring 2001), 7-23.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/180835470/To-subsist-an-Army-well-Soldiers-Cooking-

Equipment-Provisions-and-Food-Preparation-During-the-American-War-for-

Independence

“The common necessaries of life …” A Revolutionary Soldier’s Wooden Bowl,”

including, “’Left sick on the Road’: An Attempt to Identify the Soldier Left at the Paxson

Home, ‘Rolling Green,’ June 1778.”)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/123562525/%E2%80%9CThe-common-necessaries-of-

life-%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D-A-Revolutionary-Soldier%E2%80%99s-

Wooden-Bowl

http://revwar75.com/library/rees/shelter2.htm

http://www.scribd.com/doc/180835470/To-subsist-an-Army-well-Soldiers-Cooking-Equipment-Provisions-and-Food-Preparation-During-the-American-War-for-Independence



http://www.scribd.com/doc/123562525/%E2%80%9CThe-common-necessaries-of-life-%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D-A-Revolutionary-Soldier%E2%80%99s-Wooden-Bowl



"`To the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.’: Soldiers' Food and Cooking in the War

for Independence” "The manner of messing and living together": Continental Army Mess Groups

“Who shall have this?”: Food Distribution

"A hard game ...": Continental Army Cooks

“On with Kittle, to make some hasty Pudding …”: How a "Continental Devil" Broke His Fast

1. The Army Ration and Cooking Methods.

2. Eating Utensils.

3. The Morning Meal.

4. Other Likely Breakfast Fare.

Addenda

“The men were very industrious, in baking, all the forepart of the evening.”: Soldiers’ Ingenuity,

Regimental Bakers, and the Issue of Raw Flour

“The Commissary [is] desired … to furnish biscuit and salt provisions …”:

Hard Bread in the War for Independence.

"The victuals became putrid by sweat & heat ...": Some Peripheral Aspects of Feeding an Army

1. The Ways Soldiers Carried Food

2. The Burden of Rations, 1762-1783

3. Carrying Drink and Procuring Water

4. Equipment Shortages

5. Spoilage of Issued Meats

"We had our cooking utensils ... to carry in our hands.": Continental Army Cooking and Eating Gear,

and Camp Kitchens, 1775-1782

Endnotes:

#50. Compendium of Ration Allotments, 1754-1782

Continental Army rations (summary)

British Army rations (summary)

Caloric Requirements and Intake

#73. Miscellaneous returns of cooking gear and eating utensils, 1778-1781

(Appended) List of author’s articles on food in the armies of the American Revolution

http://www.scribd.com/doc/129368664/To-the-hungry-soul-every-bitter-thing-is-sweet-Soldiers-

Food-and-Cooking-in-the-War-for-Independence

“’Make use of Pack-Horses as far as may be practicable ...’: Baggage Carried on Horseback

during the American War, 1776 to 1781” Contents

American Campaigns, 1755-1764.

The British Army in 1776.

The 1777 Campaign.

Marching Through New Jersey, 1778.

Going Against the Iroquois, 1779.

Continental Army, 1780-1782.

Cornwallis’s Campaigns, 1781.

Addenda: Miscellaneous Pack Saddle Images and Narratives

http://www.scribd.com/doc/132177295/%E2%80%9C-Make-use-of-Pack-Horses-as-

far-as-may-be-practicable-Baggage-Carried-on-Horseback-during-the-

American-War-1776-to-1781

http://www.scribd.com/doc/129368664/To-the-hungry-soul-every-bitter-thing-is-sweet-Soldiers-Food-and-Cooking-in-the-War-for-Independence

http://www.scribd.com/doc/129368664/To-the-hungry-soul-every-bitter-thing-is-sweet-Soldiers-Food-and-Cooking-in-the-War-for-Independence

http://www.scribd.com/doc/132177295/%E2%80%9C-Make-use-of-Pack-Horses-as-far-as-may-be-practicable-Baggage-Carried-on-Horseback-during-the-American-War-1776-to-1781



“’Reach Coryels ferry. Encamp on the Pennsylvania side.’: The March from Valley Forge to

Monmouth Courthouse, 18 to 28 June 1778” http://www.scribd.com/doc/133301501/“Reach-Coryels-ferry-Encamp-on-the-Pennsylvania-side-”-

The-March-from-Valley-Forge-to-Monmouth-Courthouse-18-to-28-June-1778 Endnotes: http://www.scribd.com/doc/133293312/Endnotes-“Reach-Coryels-ferry-Encamp-on-the-

Pennsylvania-side-”-The-March-from-Valley-Forge-to-Monmouth-Courthouse-18-to-28-June-1778 Contents

1. “We struck our tents and loaded our baggage.”: Leaving Valley Forge

2. Progress, June 18, 1778.

3. Progress, June 19, 1778.

4. “Crost the dilliware pushed on about 5 milds …”: June 20, 1778: Progress and a River Crossing

5. “4 Wagons & Horses, and 1000 Men at a Try.”: The Mechanics of Ferrying an Army

6. “Halt on the first strong ground after passing the Delaware ...”: June 20th

River Crossing

7. “The number of boats … will render the passage of the troops very expeditious.”:

June 21st Ferry Operation

8. “The Troops are passing the River … and are mostly over.”: June 22d Crossing

9. “The Army will march off …”: June 22d and 23d, Camp at Amwell Meeting

10. “Just after we halted we sent out a large detachment …”: Camp and Council: Hopewell

Township, 23 to 24 June

11. “Giving the Enemy a stroke is a very desireable event …”: Advancing to Englishtown,

24 to 28 June

a. Progress, June 25, 1778.

b. Progress, June 26, 1778.

c. Progress, June 27, 1778.

d. Forward to Battle, June 28, 1778.

12. “Our advanced Corps … took post in the evening on the Monmouth Road …”:

Movements of Continental Detachments Followng the British, 24 to 28 June 1778

a. The Advance Force: Scott’s, Wayne’s, Lafayette’s, and Lee’s Detachments.

b. Daily Movements of Detachments Later Incorporated into Lee’s Advanced Corps.

13. Echoes of 1778, Three Years After.

Addendum

1. Driving Directions, Continental Army Route from Valley Forge to Englishtown

2. Day by Day Recap of Route

3. The Road to Hopewell.

4. The Bungtown Road Controversy.

5. Weather During the Monmouth Campaign

6. Selected Accounts of the March from Valley Forge to Englishtown

a. Fifteen-year-old Sally Wister

b. Surgeon Samuel Adams, 3rd

Continental Artillery

c. Henry Dearborn, lt. colonel, 3rd

New Hampshire Regiment

d. Captain Paul Brigham, 8th Connecticut Regiment

e. Sergeant Ebenezer Wild, 1st Massachusetts Regiment

f. Sgt. Jeremiah Greenman, 2d Rhode Island Regiment

g. Dr. James McHenry, assistant secretary to General Washington

7. List of Related works by the author on military material culture and the Continental Army

Endnotes contain:

1. Army General and Brigade Orders, June 1778.

a. Orders Regulating the Army on the March from Valley Forge.

b. Orders Issued During the Movement from Valley Forge to Englishtown.

2. Division and Brigade Composition for Washington’s Main Army to 22 June 1778

3. Washington’s army vehicle allotment for the march to Coryell’s Ferry,

4. Wheeled Transportation (a primer on the vehicles and artillery on the road to

Monmouth, including twenty-one illustrations)

5. Division and Brigade Composition for Washington’s Main Army after 22 June 1778

http://www.scribd.com/doc/133301501/%E2%80%9CReach-Coryels-ferry-Encamp-on-the-Pennsylvania-side-%E2%80%9D-The-March-from-Valley-Forge-to-Monmouth-Courthouse-18-to-28-June-1778

http://www.scribd.com/doc/133301501/%E2%80%9CReach-Coryels-ferry-Encamp-on-the-Pennsylvania-side-%E2%80%9D-The-March-from-Valley-Forge-to-Monmouth-Courthouse-18-to-28-June-1778



Details of a group of Continental soldiers from Pierre Charles L'Enfant’s (1754-1825) painting of

West Point and dependencies. View is from the east side of the Hudson River, at the top is

the lower part of Constitution Island. This was done after August 1782, as service chevrons,

worn on the saluting soldier’s left sleeve, were first authorized on the 7th of that month.

Several soldiers in group are wearing knapsacks, and what appears to be a rolled blanket

can be seen on top of three of the packs. (Second half of the soldier group is included in

Appendix A of this monograph. Library of Congress,

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004678934/

Date for painting of 1782 is based on the service chevrons on the saluting soldier’s left

sleeve; the chevrons were first authorized on the 7th of that month.

Army orders “Head Quarters, Newburgh, Wednesday, August 7, 1782. … Honorary Badges

of distinction are to be conferred on the veteran Non commissioned officers and soldiers of

the army who have served more than three years with bravery, fidelity and good conduct;

for this purpose a narrow piece of white cloath of an angular form is to be fixed to the left

arm on the uniform Coat. Non commissioned officers and soldiers who have served with

equal reputation more than six years are to be distinguished by two pieces of cloth set in

parellel to each other in a simular form; should any who are not entitled to these honors

have the insolence to assume the badges of them they shall be severely punished. On the

other hand it is expected those gallant men who are thus designated will on all occasions be

treated with particular confidence and consideration.”

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004678934/

Army orders, “Head Quarters, Newburgh, Sunday, August 11, 1782 … In order to prevent

misapplication of the honorary badges of distinction to be conferred on the

Noncommissioned officers and soldiers in consequence of long and faithful service, through

any mistake or misapprehention of the orders of the 7th. instant the general thinks proper

to inform the army that they are only attainable by an uninterrupted series of faithful and

honorable services. A soldier who has once retired from the field of glory forfeits all

pretentions to precedence from former services; and a man who has deservedly met an

ignominious punishmt. or degredation cannot be admitted a Candadate for any honorary

distinction, unless he shall have wiped away the stain his reputation has suffered by some

very brilliant achievement, or by serving with reputation after his disgrace the number of

years which entitle other men to that indulgence. The badges which Noncommissioned

officers and soldiers are permitted to wear on the left arm as a mark of long and faithful

service are to be of the same colour with the facings of the corps they belong to and not

white in every instance as directed in the orders of the 7th. instant.”

General orders, 7 August 1782, John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington

from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799, vol. 24 (Washington, DC: GPO, 1938), 487-

488. General orders, 11 August 1782, ibid., vol. 25 (1938), 7-8.

Dunlap's Partisan Corps (aka Augusta County Militia), fording the Brandywine

Creek. Picquet post at Brandywine event, 24-26 September 2010.

Dunlap's Partisan Corps (aka Augusta County Militia), fording the Brandywine


Above: Dunlap's Partisan Corps (aka Augusta County Militia), fording the Brandywine


Below: Followers of the Grenadiers of Virginia. Battle of the Hook, 18-20 October 2013,

Gloucester Virginia.

A soldier of the 6th Connecticut Regiment, Autumn 1780. Captain Barker’s

company of the 6th Connecticut Regiment, circa 1779-80, was composed of black

soldiers. One man stated in support of a pension for Jeffrey Brace, a soldier in

Barker’s Company, “he then well understood that Jeffery … enlisted in the army to

obtain his freedom … [he] remembers that he saw Jeffery a number of times after

his enlistment in a soldiers Uniform with a Leather Cap he further recollects that

some time in the War … does not recollect but thinks it must be in the year 1780 he

was in the State of New York near West Point – met a Seargeants Guard all in

Uniform – among the Guard was Jeffery & conversed with him – I am now

acquainted with a Colored man calling himself Jeffery Brace & know him to be the

same person then known by Jeffery Stiles – Jeffery sometimes was necked named

[i.e., nicknamed] Pomp London.“ Artwork by Don Troiani (Courtesy of the artist,

www.historicalimagebank.com)

A private of the Delaware Regiment, with the distinctive yellow binding on his cocked hat,

1780-1781. Overalls (gaitered trousers), linen for summer, wool for winter, were the

preferred legwear for Continental troops at that period of the war. Philip Katcher,

Uniforms of the Continental Army (York, Pa.: George Shumway Publisher, 1981), 23, 80.

(Painting by Don Troiani, www.historicalimagebank.com)

http://www.historicalimagebank.com/

Examples of soldiers’ musket tools.

Above, from the Fort Ticonderoga Museum.

Below, tools excavated on the Saratoga Battlefield.

Two more examples of Rose blankets. Above, from a private collection. Below, blanket made

for the film “Master and Commander,” by Rabbit Goody of Thistle Hill Weavers.

Another view of the soldier’s mess bowl left at the Paxson home in 1778.

“The common necessaries of life …” A Revolutionary Soldier’s Wooden Bowl,” including,

“’Left sick on the Road’: An Attempt to Identify the Soldier Left at the Paxson Home,

‘Rolling Green,’ June 1778.”)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/123562525/%E2%80%9CThe-common-necessaries-of-life-

%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D-A-Revolutionary-Soldier%E2%80%99s-Wooden-Bowl

Bowl or “mess kid” from U.S.S. Defence, sank in Penobscot Harbor, 1779.



Above and below: Two views of a New Model cartridge pouch, with a block pierced to

carry 29 rounds. First produced in 1778 (copied from captured British 29-hole pouches),

large numbers did not reach the army until 1779 and 1780. J. Craig Nannos Collection.

Examples of typical Continental Army equipment. From left to right: Linen knapsack based

on the pack Benjamin Warner carried in the war. Tin cartridge canister, originally intended

for non-commissioned officers to carry spare ammunition, by 1778 they were carried as a

primary cartridge carrier when leather pouches were in short supply. Leather cartridge

pouch, based on the Benjamin Fogg and Elisha Gross pouches, as well as other examples. This

19-hole pouch was used extensively early in the war, and later revised to hold 24 cartridges.

Resource File: Examples of Continental Army Camp Equipage and Vehicle Returns, 1775-1781 (John U....

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