Blacksmiths

[GMSorrel]

I am doing some research and came across a soldier that was detailed as a blacksmith. It seems as if he traveled with his unit. My question is would he have ever found himself to the firing line or would he have always been behind the lines on support? This was a confederate. Thanks

 

[John Winn]

Blacksmiths were one of a number of skilled persons collectively known as artificers who travelled with various types of units. Other examples of artificers would have been saddle makers (who maintained all sorts of leatherwork) and wheelwrights (who maintained wagons). There were farrier positions (who shoed horses) also but I think more often than not they and blacksmiths were essentially the same persons; just different titles. These - like musicians - were non-combatant positions and such persons would not have been put in line.

That said, it's possible that the reverse might have happened. That is, someone who was initially serving in a combat role could have been re-assigned as a blacksmith when a need arose and it was discovered that he had at least the minimal skills. But once in a blacksmith position he'd have been behind the lines.

That's my understanding from lots of reading about such things. Others will no-doubt respond and help to answer your question soon.

 

[GMSorrel]

Great information! Thank you very much.

 

[EJ Zander]

John's got it down. The farriers would also report back to blacksmith and assist them or so I have read.

 

[John Winn]

Great information! Thank you very much.

You are most welcome; happy to have been of some service.

A Civil War army was a vast enterprise that had to literally travel on it's feet. Many don't stop to realize the mechanics of that. An army in the field required enormous support: to keep things working, to transport things, to take care of very large numbers of work animals and feed animals, to provide medical care, to get supplies to the same place where the army was, and so on. When you read about what it took to do all of that it's really an eye opener. An army on the move had supply lines of wagons miles and miles long; in the thousands. Artillery and cavalry required horses and mules in great numbers. All of that required maintenance. The logistics of warfare - even in what we now think of as primitive times - is fascinating. Anybody with a craft skill useful to an army would have been of great value.

Sorry to have babbled; it's just a subject that interests me.

 

[UCVRelics]

Blacksmith were like gold as were Train Engineers, Telegraph Operators and many other trades which were called upon from the ranks as needed. The General was commandeered by James Andrews a civilian spy but was assisted by Union volunteers that were pulled from the ranks after a call went out for railroad men.

 

[JOHN42768]

In listing artificers don't forget armorers & mess cooks. You also needed a firearm that worked and food in your gut.

 

[UCVRelics]

Roger That, There nothing you need more than a GOOD S&S unit.

 

[Tom Elmore]

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/support-services-blacksmith.115632/

Blacksmiths performed critical support duties and so would not be found in the fighting ranks. While a battle was in progress, they could be found behind the lines replacing horseshoes to keep the thousands of animals that were critical to an army's transportation moving; repairing axles on cannons, limbers and caissons; fashioning various metal components for wagons, ambulances, etc.

 

[Don Dixon]

The regimental gunsmith was not charcterized as an artificer. He was a "skilled mechanic" who was selected by the regimental colonel and paid $.40 per day extra when he was working on the regiment's arms. There was no requirement in the G.O. for him to have any training as a gunsmith prior to his selection. In combat he probably went into battle with the rest of the regiment. His tools and spare parts were on the regimental quartermaster's property book. (G.O. 189)

Skilled enlisted engineers below the sergeant level were titled as artificers rather than corporals. My gg grandfather with the 15th New York Engineers was one. They went into combat with the rest of the regiment.

Regards,
Don Dixon

 

[StarkvilleCivilWarArsenal]

I am doing some research and came across a soldier that was detailed as a blacksmith. It seems as if he traveled with his unit. My question is would he have ever found himself to the firing line or would he have always been behind the lines on support? This was a confederate. Thanks

Each artillery battery had a blacksmith attached to the unit. The blacksmiths were given the title of armorer. You can see a travelling forge which would have been used by the armorers by going to StarkvilleCivilWarArsenal.com .

 

[Frederick14Va]

Blacksmithing/Farrier duties commonly fell under the Quartermaster Dept. both military and civilian hired contract blacksmiths to maintain and repair wagons and shoeing horses-mules as required. We frequently will also find notations in records of individuals being pulled from the ranks detailed for this extra duty as deemed necessary. This typically is a temporary detached duty for the duration of the need, then normally returned to the ranks thereafter. Not uncommon to find subjects being temporarily pulled several different times during their service, for a few days or even months at a time. They usually are retained on their respective company rolls for those time periods.

 

[damYankee]

The wagon builders, boat builders, blacksmiths of the mid west were in big demand.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

My five times great grandfather was a teamster during the whole of the ACW for the Confederacy. He was even captured and released once. Of course when I first saw his listing I was confused about what exactly his roll was during the war, but quickly discovered how important supply wagons were and his driving one was an important part of the supply chain.

 

[damYankee]

My five times great grandfather was a teamster during the whole of the ACW for the Confederacy. He was even captured and released once. Of course when I first saw his listing I was confused about what exactly his roll was during the war, but quickly discovered how important supply wagons were and his driving one was an important part of the supply chain.

My g g granddaddy was a blacksmith and wagon builder in Iowa when the war began, at the age of 32 he joined the 4th Iowa Cav as a Farrier.
He was wounded three times so apparently Farrier was not a rear echelon assignment.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Petersburg, blacksmith, LoC

 

[EJ Zander]

My g g granddaddy was a blacksmith and wagon builder in Iowa when the war began, at the age of 32 he joined the 4th Iowa Cav as a Farrier.
He was wounded three times so apparently Farrier was not a rear echelon assignment.

Was he listed in paperwork as a farrier or blacksmith?

 

[EJ Zander]

View attachment 122160
Petersburg, blacksmith, LoC

Now that guy has a blacksmith's forearm. Great pic!

 

[damYankee]

Was he listed in paperwork as a farrier or blacksmith?

Yes, even though he had been a blacksmith before the war, and was after the war, along with being a part time sheriff, justice of the peace and farmer.

 

[damYankee]