Michael W.
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2015
- Location
- The Hoosier State
Ok folks, I have a tough one here and hope that maybe @Package4 or someone more knowledgeable than myself can help me with this artifact. Several years ago I acquired at Cowan's Auctions what they described as a 19th Century U.S. Navy issue blanket, dated ca. 1850-1890. As a C.W. Navy collector, I have never come across an 1800's Navy blanket, either at auctions, shows, or seen one in a museum. A now deceased lifelong Navy collector informed as well that he had never run across one, either. But he did tell me where (to his knowledge) the only known existing, authentic Civil War U.S. Navy blanket was located, and that is in the old Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. That particular blanket was on board the U.S.S. Cumberland when she was sunk by the C.S.S. Virginia at Hampton Roads on 8 March 1862. After sinking, the blanket floated to the surface where it was fished out of the water by a Confederate patrol, and then acquired by a sergeant in the 61st Virginia Infantry, ANV, who carried it throughout the war all the way to Appomattox. He or his family donated it to the MOC around the turn of the century.
With this knowledge in hand, two years ago I made arrangements with one of the curators at the MOC to do a side-by-side comparison of my blanket with the one from the Cumberland. They are similar, but different in several aspects. Both are wool, off white/cream colored with matching blue stripes. Both are double length attached blankets. The MOC artifact measures 50.5 inches in width, 138 in. in length. Mine is 50.5 inches in width, 143
in. in length.
There is where the similarities end. The Cumberland blanket is a singe weave pattern and hand stitched, mine is double weave and machine. The MOC blanket has "U.S. Navy" in red dye on each end of the blanket, mine has it on only one end, and it is dyed brown. (Any possibility it was red and then faded to brown)? Mine also has had a large hole dead center of the blanket, which was repaired with period textiles. Several fellow collectors have examined my artifact and are of the opinion the blanket was intentionally cut in the center (see photo) and was used like a poncho. The MOC curator after dual examination was of the opinion that mine is post Civil War, but unsure of an exact time frame. I share his opinion, but would like to narrow the time from down, something closer than 40 years. I have included pics of the blanket from the Cumberland that I pulled from their website (they would not let me take photographs). When the curator wasn't looking, I did touch the Cumberland blanket with my bare hands (Can't be that close to history and NOT touch it!!) Take a look at the pics attached and share your thoughts. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!
With this knowledge in hand, two years ago I made arrangements with one of the curators at the MOC to do a side-by-side comparison of my blanket with the one from the Cumberland. They are similar, but different in several aspects. Both are wool, off white/cream colored with matching blue stripes. Both are double length attached blankets. The MOC artifact measures 50.5 inches in width, 138 in. in length. Mine is 50.5 inches in width, 143
There is where the similarities end. The Cumberland blanket is a singe weave pattern and hand stitched, mine is double weave and machine. The MOC blanket has "U.S. Navy" in red dye on each end of the blanket, mine has it on only one end, and it is dyed brown. (Any possibility it was red and then faded to brown)? Mine also has had a large hole dead center of the blanket, which was repaired with period textiles. Several fellow collectors have examined my artifact and are of the opinion the blanket was intentionally cut in the center (see photo) and was used like a poncho. The MOC curator after dual examination was of the opinion that mine is post Civil War, but unsure of an exact time frame. I share his opinion, but would like to narrow the time from down, something closer than 40 years. I have included pics of the blanket from the Cumberland that I pulled from their website (they would not let me take photographs). When the curator wasn't looking, I did touch the Cumberland blanket with my bare hands (Can't be that close to history and NOT touch it!!) Take a look at the pics attached and share your thoughts. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!