Bible Issued to the 41st OVI

[Wiedemann/McCalmont]

Hello everyone.
I have recently acquired a period bible from Wooster, Ohio. Inside on the front page it reads: "Reason Brown, 41st Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. Issued by the government."
Sadly, the title pages are gone. It is also very fragile, the binding on both covers is very loose. I do not know what year or what publisher made the Bible. The 1st page starts in the gospel of Mathew. I believe it is a New Testament pocket Bible.

Here is the service history of Pvt. Brown:
BROWN, REASON. Age 25. Entered the service Oct. 8, 1862, 9 months. Drafted.
Mustered out at Manchester, Tenn., on expiration of term of service, July 17, 1863.
Pvt. of company C, 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

What caught my eye is that Reason Brown states on the front cover that this Bible was issued by the government.
How common was this practice?
Were pocket Bibles issued by the government at anytime?
How often were Bibles issued to the troops in the field?
What sources are out there for researching period bibles?

I can provide photos of the Bible if anyone is interested.

[kw1861]

Re: Bible issued to the 41st OVI

I would love to see pictures! I collect the small pocket Bibles, and it sounds like you have a good one. I'm unsure whether the government issued Bibles, possibly state issue?