Civil War U.S. Army Issue Spade Carrier and Spade

[Regimental Colours]

I found this posted on another forum. Has anyone seen a US issued spade carrier? Does anyone have documentation on it?

http://perryadamsantiques.com/shop/rare-civil-war-u-s-army-issue-spade-carrier-and-spade/

[rmilstead]

Re: Civil War U.S. Army Issue Spade Carrier and Spade

Adam,

The draft 1865 Quartermaster Manual originally assembled by George Crosman of Schuylkill Arsenal edited by Jerry Coates and Fred Gaede (2013) gives specifications for both the spade and the "spade sling." Also specified are shovels and "Picket shovels" and "Picket shovel slings." The latter were to be "used by men on picket guard duty, to entrench themselves quickly an protect them from sharpshoooters of the enemy." Practically speaking the manual was written after the War supposedly to document the specifications for all of the clothing and equipage of the Quartermaster Department in a uniform standard. How many of these were made and especially how many were actually used in the field is anybody's guess but they did have specs for such things. Perhaps someone else has run across them in war period regimental returns.


Dick Milstead
The Company of Military Historians

[Regimental Colours]

Re: Civil War U.S. Army Issue Spade Carrier and Spade

Thank you very much Dick.

Regards,

Adam