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This is the first time I can remember reading a primary account of getting the poles with the shelter tents so thought I would share. It is from Four Years with the Iron Brigade: The CW journals of William Ray. He was in the 7th WI.
March 9, 1862
We have got our new tents and were practicing pitching them yesterday. They button together in the middle and that is on the top where the ridge pole should or would be to any other kind of tents. But they have only two sticks for with joints. One at each end and there is a rope at each end which is staked down and stretches it tight end wise. And there is a stake at each corner. One man has to carry one end stick and three pegs, one role and half the cloth. The whole of it weighs about four pounds.
March 9, 1862
We have got our new tents and were practicing pitching them yesterday. They button together in the middle and that is on the top where the ridge pole should or would be to any other kind of tents. But they have only two sticks for with joints. One at each end and there is a rope at each end which is staked down and stretches it tight end wise. And there is a stake at each corner. One man has to carry one end stick and three pegs, one role and half the cloth. The whole of it weighs about four pounds.