"Regimental Carpenter"

[John Hartwell]

46 year old carpenter Benjamin C. Knowles enlisted in Co. A 25th Massachusetts, on September 16, 1861 (he told them he was 42). While still training at Camp Levi Lincoln in Worcester, he was appointed "Regimental Carpenter," a position he held at least through August 1863, when he was put on detached duty at Brigade Hq. I'd never heard of that designation before. Is it a normal thing for a regiment to have a designated Carpenter? Is there any "regulation" establishing the position, or describing his duties? Or is this just a whim of the colonel to make the appointment. Whenever any kind of wood working was needed, any qualified soldier could be assigned he job, without having an official "Regimental Carpenter" on hand.

jno

 

[Private Watkins]

Good question, and if I may add another... I wonder how that fits with the use of the term & rank of "Artificer"?

Although I believe the term Artificer originated with skilled roles in the artillery, I have gotten the impression that it was used more broadly and covered various other types of skills (blacksmith, farrier, carpenter, etc.); it paid higher than the normal enlisted rank. My ggg-grandfather served as an Artificer in the First Missouri Engineers, and I think he did mostly carpentry type work.

 

[GELongstreet]

I always thought that the rank of Artificer was only available for engineers and the ordnance department ...

 

[Private Watkins]

I always thought that the rank of Artificer was only available for engineers and the ordnance department ...

Could be... my ancestor only held that rank when he was in the First Missouri Engineers, not when previously with the 25th Missouri Infantry.

 

[Tom Elmore]

A post dated 9 July 2015 listed documents from 1st Lieutenant Charles Lafayette MacArthur, Quartermaster in Carr's Federal Brigade. One of these documents states: As of the last quarter of 1862, one carpenter was assigned to Brigade Headquarters staff at 40 cents/day.

Carpenters are also known to have been assigned to the Pioneer Corps for construction of temporary bridges, and the building of pontoon boats for river crossings. It is likewise presumed some could be found in related Engineer commands.

Otherwise, carpenters are very rarely mentioned. Soldiers typically built their own huts for winter quarters using wood distributed by their command's Quartermaster; perhaps a carpenter would be employed on a similar task by an officious staff officer.

 

[Ray Ball]

I always thought that the rank of Artificer was only available for engineers and the ordnance department ...

I'm sure it was in the Engineers, perhaps the ordinance and, unless I am mistaken, smiths in the cavalry and artillery also could hold the rank