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- Aug 25, 2012
According to a letter written by a Michigan soldier in March of 1863, rebels are not half starved nor half-clad.
It’s quite true. For the vast majority of the war the various Confederate armies were well uniformed and adequately fed. Of course, at times, there were shortages, but this can be said of any army throughout history when on active campaign.According to a letter written by a Michigan soldier in March of 1863, rebels are not half starved nor half-clad.
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It’s quite true. For the vast majority of the war the various Confederate armies were well uniformed and adequately fed. Of course, at times, there were shortages, but this can be said of any army throughout history when on active campaign.
That was March 1863. Not positive but it was probably a different story by mid-1864 on.
I was guessing the same for the Overland Campaign. That's why I said mid-1864. By then the Confederate distribution system had been thoroughly disrupted too.There were certainly times in which supplies were scarce for the Confederate troops. The Antietam Campaign comes to mind after more than 2 months of almost constant campaigning.
Ryan
I was guessing the same for the Overland Campaign. That's why I said mid-1864. By then the Confederate distribution system had been thoroughly disrupted too.
By 1864 the Confederate armies were even better supplied, especially with uniforms. For instance, between July 1864 and January 1865, Lee’s ANV received the following clothing from the Richmond clothing facility... 104,199 jackets, 140,570 pairs of trousers, 167,862 pairs of shoes as well as hundreds of thousands of shirts, drawers, socks, hats and caps and blankets. To these figures must be added State issues. The many photos of Confederates taken in 1864/65 clearly show well clad soldiers.That was March 1863. Not positive but it was probably a different story by mid-1864 on.
True until October/November 1864. The QM General sends many letters during those months showing the clothing depots were out of clothes and blankets. Sherman and the loss of Wilmington ensured that the ANV was on a permanent down slope when it came to supplies. By the time Charleston was evacuated, late January '65, the saving of a few thousand pounds of lead was given top priority. By mid-summer, the war would have died out for lack of essential supplies (and manpower) for the ANV, the only remaining army.By 1864 the Confederate armies were even better supplied, especially with uniforms. For instance, between July 1864 and January 1865, Lee’s ANV received the following clothing from the Richmond clothing facility... 104,199 jackets, 140,570 pairs of trousers, 167,862 pairs of shoes as well as hundreds of thousands of shirts, drawers, socks, hats and caps and blankets. To these figures must be added State issues. The many photos of Confederates taken in 1864/65 clearly show well clad soldiers.
The total issues to all Confederate armies in 1864 alone are simply astounding...458,130 jackets, 695,832 pairs of trousers and 744,851 pairs of shoes, besides millions of shirts, drawers and socks!
I know I bring this up every time there's a comment about supplies - but Longstreet's East TN campaign was definitely the period of scarcest supplies for that part of the ANV.There were certainly times in which supplies were scarce for the Confederate troops. The Antietam Campaign comes to mind after more than 2 months of almost constant campaigning.
I know I bring this up every time there's a comment about supplies - but Longstreet's East TN campaign was definitely the period of scarcest supplies for that part of the ANV.
What about the Western and Trans-Mississippi Theaters though?By 1864 the Confederate armies were even better supplied, especially with uniforms. For instance, between July 1864 and January 1865, Lee’s ANV received the following clothing from the Richmond clothing facility... 104,199 jackets, 140,570 pairs of trousers, 167,862 pairs of shoes as well as hundreds of thousands of shirts, drawers, socks, hats and caps and blankets. To these figures must be added State issues. The many photos of Confederates taken in 1864/65 clearly show well clad soldiers.
The total issues to all Confederate armies in 1864 alone are simply astounding...458,130 jackets, 695,832 pairs of trousers and 744,851 pairs of shoes, besides millions of shirts, drawers and socks!
Once Longstreet left the AOT, his problems were caused by the lack of a direct connection to the CSA logistics network. Supplies from, say Macon, Ga., had to travel almost to Richmond, then turn around and head back south to the Knoxville or Bristol area. Corn had to travel from Albany almost to Richmond before turning south again. And all this long distance supply travel was on a RR network that was terribly overloaded trying to supply Lee. In fact, one of Longstreet's selling points for going west was the reduction in demand on that RR network his departure would produce. The supplies existed -- the ability to get them to Longstreet was the problem.I know I bring this up every time there's a comment about supplies - but Longstreet's East TN campaign was definitely the period of scarcest supplies for that part of the ANV.
QM supplies were never sent to the TM after Vicksburg fell. They were on their on and everyone knew it.What about the Western and Trans-Mississippi Theaters though?
It's my understanding during the last years of the War, the CSA had more than enough quality uniforms .
But as has been said, the problem by that phase was distribution.
Yes indeed !Distribution was always the CSA's problem, from beginning to end. That and interstate arguments.
Read the last paragraphWhat about the Western and Trans-Mississippi Theaters though?
Read the lasWhat about the Western and Trans-Mississippi Theaters though?
The numerous surviving Confederate uniform requisition forms all show a regular supply of clothing to the ANV throughout the Overland Campaign. These forms show clothing issued down to company level and signed for by company officers. Even at the supposed ‘lowest ebb’ during the Antietam Campaign, Lee’s troops had been well supplied with uniform items starting in June and continuing into the first week of September.I was guessing the same for the Overland Campaign. That's why I said mid-1864. By then the Confederate distribution system had been thoroughly disrupted too.
I certainly agree that the Confederacy was doomed by 1865, however uniform distribution continued unabated. For example in the series of photos taken of recently paroled ANV veterans in the parks and avenues of Richmond, all are seen to be wearing newish English cloth uniforms, with many donning caps (some with waterproof covers).True until October/November 1864. The QM General sends many letters during those months showing the clothing depots were out of clothes and blankets. Sherman and the loss of Wilmington ensured that the ANV was on a permanent down slope when it came to supplies. By the time Charleston was evacuated, late January '65, the saving of a few thousand pounds of lead was given top priority. By mid-summer, the war would have died out for lack of essential supplies (and manpower) for the ANV, the only remaining army.
Many of Longstreet’s troops received supplies direct from AOT stores during this period. Many issues were described as ‘Bragg jackets’ suggesting maybe Columbus Depit styles.Once Longstreet left the AOT, his problems were caused by the lack of a direct connection to the CSA logistics network. Supplies from, say Macon, Ga., had to travel almost to Richmond, then turn around and head back south to the Knoxville or Bristol area. Corn had to travel from Albany almost to Richmond before turning south again. And all this long distance supply travel was on a RR network that was terribly overloaded trying to supply Lee. In fact, one of Longstreet's selling points for going west was the reduction in demand on that RR network his departure would produce. The supplies existed -- the ability to get them to Longstreet was the problem.