Union Blankets

[The Pennsylvania Line]

I just finished reading a thread titled "Confederate Blankets";started by @major bill. I then did a search for a similar thread and again I found information spread out in many threads. I thought a thread dedicated to both State and Federal blankets might be useful to collectors and re-enactors. More documented blankets exist than people realize.

With that said documented General's blankets are rare. Here is one such example that belonged to General Halleck.

https://www.shilohrelics.com/products/102440-major-general-henry-hallecks-custom-made-civil-war-blanket

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

 

[HatEnjoyer]

I just finished reading a thread titled "Confederate Blankets";started by @major bill. I then did a search for a similar thread and again I found information spread out in many threads. I thought a thread dedicated to both State and Federal blankets might be useful to collectors and re-enactors. More documented blankets exist than people realize.

With that said documented General's blankets are rare. Here is one such example that belonged to General Halleck.

https://www.shilohrelics.com/products/102440-major-general-henry-hallecks-custom-made-civil-war-blanket

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I've seen these around; they're pretty interesting. Blankets are the last thing I'd expect to be identified

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Civil War Blanket

Discover the collections of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture

collectionsportal.northwestmuseum.org

"Simple woven wool blanket with yarn dyed yellow-buff and blue. All four edges are unbound and one end has a 2 1/2 inch wide blue stripe 5 inches from the end.

During the Civil War Wisconsin farmer David Watford used this blanket while fighting for the Union as a private in the Wisconsin 20th Infantry Regiment, Company H. The blanket was important enough to Watford to carry it with him and his family as they migrated west to Spokane during the 1880s. Although his wife and daughter found it useful to cover rising bread dough, the family later preserved the blanket and its war story in the museum collection.

The careful handwritten note explains its family importance as both a memorial and a useful tool. "This is Grandpa Watford's Army Blanket which he used in the Civil War. Then Grandma Watford used it as a (Bread Blanket) and later on Mother used it for the same purpose. Edith"

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Being familiar with bread baking, I can only speculate that they were covering a very large number of bread pans with that blanket. Bread was something, like washing, that housewives often set aside one day a week to do. Very interesting!

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Civil War Blanket Owned By Samuel G. Gilbreth - James Compton Gallery

This banded blanket was owned and carried by Samuel G. Gilbreth, 1st company of Massachusetts Sharpshooters, and was passed down the family to its present state in my gallery. Blankets in general interest me, but this one particularly stands out considering its beautiful simplicity as well as...

jamescomptongallery.com

This banded blanket was owned and carried by Samuel G. Gilbreth, 1st company of Massachusetts Sharpshooters.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Here is an article on textiles and coverlets in the Civil War.

Coverlets in the American Civil War

A kind reader, Benecio Machado, made me aware of Civil War photographs that clearly show handwoven coverlets. He was asking what books I would recommend for learning about the coverlets of that er…

textileranger.com

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

RARE REGULATION CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY BLANKET IDENTIFIED TO 1ST MAINE LIGHT ARTILLERY SOLDIER — Horse Soldier

"This blanket is identified to John S. Snow of Hollowell, Maine and comes with a business letter addressed to him. A clipped auction listing mentions the blanket with other pieces of his military possessions although the blanket does not appear in the picture.

Snow enlisted on December 18, 1861 as 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Maine Light Artillery. Promoted to 1st Lieutenant in 1864. He mustered out on July 15, 1865. The 1st Maine was organized in Portland and mustered in for three years of service on December 18, 1861. The battery was attached to Department of the Gulf until January 1864. It then served in the 22nd​ Corps in the Defenses of Washington until July 1864. It was attached to the 19th Corps, Army of the Shenandoah until February 1865. Notable engagements were Port Hudson, Fort Stevens, Third Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek."

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

I believe the average Union blanket weighed about 5 lbs and was made of wool. The beauty of it though was its incredible warmth.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Blankets were one of only a couple of things the US couldn't completely source domestically, having to import non regulation styles from Europe.

 

[James Brenner]

In April 1861, as volunteers were arriving at Camp Taylor in Cleveland, ladies from several churches organized a "blanket raid" to provide blankets, quilts, and coverlets for the soldiers. They apparently acquired about a thousand blankets through donations. It's likely that this effort contributed to the creation of the Northern Ohio Ladies Aid Society later that year.

 

[major bill]

I know some early war Michigan units received blankets that were too small or too thin. Lady societies lined the thin blankets. What they lined the blankets with was not reported. Civilian blankets, quilts, and coverlets were used as substitutes.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Thread 'U.S. 1859 Pattern Dragoon/Cavalry Saddle Blanket'

Jan 7, 2017

First issued with the McClellan Saddle Model 1859 Equipment during the late era of the Dragoon/ Mounted Riflemen and Cavalry regiments. With the redesignated order issued by the Adjutant General's Office of General Order # 55 dated August 10, 1861 which abolished the three separate Mounted Corps and consolidated them into one Corps designated as Cavalry. Previously to this time frame, the Dragoon branch of service uniform Corps facings were of an orange color, until gradually being replaced by the yellow color for Cavalry. The three inch wide, two horizontal and two vertical...

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• Forum: Relic Hunting & Collecting

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[The Pennsylvania Line]

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

The following information was taken from an old post on the authentic-campaigner website.

Red Blankets in the Federal Army??? - Authentic Campaigner

Discussions About Primary Sources, Research, Original Accounts, Photos, History & Books.

www.authentic-campaigner.com

NY state contracts for blankets

I have a series of state records and there are many early contracts that are not listed in the federal Records but contain more information. Here is a little piece from the State of New York purchases of blankets from the year 1861-62.

Blankets.
Cronin, Hurxthal & Sears, New York City, May 28, 1861; dated at Quartermaster General's office ---securities $20,000; O. De F. Grant, Wm Barton.
15,000 all wool army blankets, at $s.12 1/2; no restriction as to size, color, &c.

Strong Brothers & Co., Albany, April 25, 1861; in four days endorsed by Frank Wheaton, U.S. Army—no security or terms of payment.
500 pairs brown grey blankets, at $2.12 ½
200 pairs of dark brown blankets, at $2.75
200 pairs of brown grey blankets, at $2.50
300 pairs Gentilla blue blankets, at $2.75
400 pairs Gentilla blue blankets, at $3.50
200 pairs scarlet blankets, at $4.75
1,100 pairs blue grey blankets, at $2.75
2,900 pairs.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

https://freemansauction.com/auction/964-civil-war-collection-of-james-c-frasca/lot/36

Blanket tossed to wounded Private Edward M. Curtis, Company A, 157th New York Volunteers, 11th Corps, at the Battle of Chancellorsville. 2 May 1863.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

https://acwm.pastperfectonline.com/Webobject/FFB9B11C-7FA8-400B-84E5-728225250716

"The uncut Navy blankets floated from the USS Cumberland after she was sunk by the CSS Virginia on March 8, 1862. They were found on a hammock the day after the engagement by Sgt. Peleg Pritchard of Co. A, 61st Virginia Infantry, "Jackson Greys." Lt. Col. William H. Stewart purchased the blankets from Pritchard and used them in the field until Appomattox. Stewart used them for several years after the war to remind him of the "great comfort they afforded in war and peace - - in wet and cold and in all conditions of weather; through many varied trials of life they have been my close and constant friends."