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**Archie R. Lib** · 01-02-2012, 12:26 PM

Re: Ordnance Stores on hand, 59th Georgia Infantry 2nd Qtr 1864

Great stuff Will. Thanks for posting it...

I take it that since this was the first quarter of '64 then these records reflect the last leg of the Georgians stay with Longstreet in middle Tennessee, before they returned to the ANV for the Virginia Overland campaign. I wonder where these "battlefield" pickups occurred? Are they talking about Chickamauga in September? Because I don't believe the 59th GA was at Wauhatchie in October.

As usual, those frustrating Confederates do not give much detail with regards to make/model of service weapon... Though the .58 calibers picked up "on the battlefield" it would be easy to guess were US Springfields (either '61 or '63). I also notice they scrounged up 14 knapsacks, 520 rounds of ammunition and 65 musket slings. Kind of gives you an interesting picture of late war in this regiment. There were at least 14 soldiers with knapsacks, 30 were without even a haversack, and 190 had slings on their muskets... It would be interesting to see their quartermaster/uniform issue information if any exists...

Wonder what exactly is meant by "Cartridge Box Belts"..... Do they mean a sling or is this a waist belt meant exclusively for the cartridge box & cap pouch?

Rich

**Mississippian** · 01-02-2012, 12:38 PM

Re: Ordnance Stores on hand, 59th Georgia Infantry 2nd Qtr 1864

Rich,

This covers the time frame of April-June 1864. The top record is what was on hand at the end of the first quarter of 1864 (March 30th 1864) and the very bottom record is what was on hand at the end of the 2nd quarter 1864 (June 30th 1864) so the stuff picked up on the battlefield would have come from the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, ect.

A Cartridge Box Belt is the same thing as a Cartridge Box Sling. You see the term Cartridge Box Belt much more than Sling in period documents.

Will MacDonald

**Archie R. Lib** · 01-02-2012, 12:56 PM

Re: Ordnance Stores on hand, 59th Georgia Infantry 2nd Qtr 1864

Ok. I getcha.

However, I didn't see anything about 2nd Quarter (April - June, 1864) until the heading for your very last list. That gave me the impression that everything above that was from spring (first quarter) '64. So, which of these lists (other than the first and the last) are from the 1st and which are from the 2nd quarter? I only ask because it would be interesting to see what they were equipped with during their time with Bragg's AoT before returning to the ANV and captures from the ensuing Overland campaign.

Also, just FYI, I have seen in several period documents (including some of the documents of the original weapons/ammunition issues to Virginia forces from Richmond authorities) the use of "Box & Sling" as opposed to "belt" or "Box & Belt". At times they are obviously interchangeable, but sometimes they are describing something very different... Also, in Louis Leon's "Diary of a Tarheel Soldier" and Billing's "Hardtack and Coffee" (I believe), and Frank Haskell's "Gettysburg", etc., all period diaries or accounts, I have also come across the "Box & Sling", as opposed to "Box & Belt".

So, yes, though it may be frequent, just like most other terminology it is not as hard and fast a rule as we would prefer....

Rich

**volcav** · 01-02-2012, 09:31 PM

Re: Ordnance Stores on hand, 59th Georgia Infantry 2nd Qtr 1864

Great information. I think it is interesting that they take time to mention that they DON'T have any .54 caliber arms. I wonder what the story is behind that entry. Thanks for posting it Will. I really enjoy looking at this information.

Edit; OK I see the two .54 caliber arms listed now. I missed it the first time.

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Ordnance Stores on hand, 59th Georgia Infantry 2nd Qtr 1864

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