Using convict labor to make shoes.

[major bill]

Michigan firms made a large number of pairs of shoes for the state troops which came from Walter Fisk (Jackson, Michigan) and some shoes came from Henry Baldwin & Company, and William Hubbell & Company made shoes for the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Walter Fisk (Jackson) received a contract to make 5,000 pairs of brogan shoes he used 46 convicts from the State prison in Jackson and 7 outside journeymen to make them.https://civilwartalk.com/#_edn1 These shoes were similar to federal shoes. Some of Fisk's shoes for the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment were rejected due to poor quality. Henry P. Baldwin & Company supplied shoes to the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and probably 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The Baldwin & Company made shoes may have been of poor quality

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https://civilwartalk.com/#_ednref1 "Correspondence of the Detroit Tribune, letter form Kalamazoo written August 29 1861", Detroit Daily Tribune morning ed., August 31 1861, p. 1, Col. 1.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Michigan firms made a large number of pairs of shoes for the state troops which came from Walter Fisk (Jackson, Michigan) and some shoes came from Henry Baldwin & Company, and William Hubbell & Company made shoes for the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Walter Fisk (Jackson) received a contract to make 5,000 pairs of brogan shoes he used 46 convicts from the State prison in Jackson and 7 outside journeymen to make them.https://civilwartalk.com/#_edn1 These shoes were similar to federal shoes. Some of Fisk's shoes for the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Regiment were rejected due to poor quality. Henry P. Baldwin & Company supplied shoes to the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment and probably 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The Baldwin & Company made shoes may have been of poor quality

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https://civilwartalk.com/#_ednref1 "Correspondence of the Detroit Tribune, letter form Kalamazoo written August 29 1861", Detroit Daily Tribune morning ed., August 31 1861, p. 1, Col. 1.

Gee, using convict labour wouldn't have anything to do with poor quality?

 

[Mississippian1861]

Even before the war some states used their penitentiary systems to produce goods. Many southern states had wool and cotton mills attached to their penitentiaries to make cheap but durable fabric. Of course these factories later produced fabric for the CS army.