Gents,
Over the last several weeks, I've been pouring over a box of SC Ordnance Dept. records at the SC Department of Archives & History and wanted to share some findings. My attempt has been to make a detailed list of ordnance contractors/suppliers to the SC gov't during various times of the war. While some of the information has been rather bland, there have been some really interesting finds. Most notable are the returns for ordnance stores for the various arsenals in SC just after secession ie. what was taken over from the Federal Gov't. These have provided a real snapshot of what SC troops would have had available to them during the early stages of the conflict. Likewise, there are returns and tabulations for the various arsenals (Charleston, Citadel, Columbia) during several years with 1864 really standing out.
Below is a general list of some suppliers, a contractual letter to the Ord Dept., and a listing of AM McKensie goods sold to the dept. I have focused on those contractors who were making infantry accoutrements &/or cavalry accoutrements.
1) Contractors/Suppliers:
AM McKensie, Charleston
J&TS Heffron, Charleston
Graveley & Pringle, Charleston
Cheraw Tannery (F. Lynch, owner),Cheraw
M. Bolger & Co., Charleston
Love & Wienges, Charleston
Hopson & Sutphen, Columbia (largest supplier to Columbia Arsenal)
E. Meister-Columbia (knapsacks only)
2) Letter from Mr. F. Lynch, owner of the Cheraw Tannery to Col. Edward Manigault, Ord. Officer, regarding infantry accoutrements. Note that some form of pattern was provided.
"Cheraw Tannery
Feb'y 12, 1861
Col. Edward Manigault
Ordnance Office
Charleston, SC
Dear Sir,
I beg respectfully proposing to furnish for Infantry Soldiers two thousand sets of accoutrements consisting of Catridge box, black leather tin frame for 40 rounds, Cartridge box belt black leather, bayonet scabbard tipped with brass, waist Belt black leather with buckle & Cap Pouch for four 75/100 per set.
The whole to be of good material and well manufactured in conformity with pattern furnished. Deliverable in parcels of 200 sets in Charleston.
I am very Respectfully,
Your Obt Svt
F. Lynch"
**back of document is written "Accepted"
3) This next document really raised my interest. A.M. McKensie was a large Charleston supplier of accoutrements to the state of SC and possibly to Richmond in some degree. See www.oldsouthantiques.com to view a .69 cal. box attributed to an Alabama ANV soldier; look under "Past Items". This listing shows, for one month, what McKensie sold and delivered (including prices) to the Ordnance Office at the Citadel.
"Ordnance Department South Carolina
Del. at Citadel
To AM McKensie & Co.
1861
May 6: 276 bayonet scabbards with brass tips-$276.00
153 bayonet scabbards no tips-$143.44
100 cap pouches-$100.00
45 sets of blanket straps-$8.43
May 10: 500 large "SC" plates (belt)-$75
325 small "SC" plates (belt)-$40.62
May 12: 272 cartridge boxes-$544.00
388 bayonet scabbards-$388.00
700 pouches-$525.00
42 waistbelts-$31.50
May 13: 204 waistbelts-$153.00
71 bayonet scabbards-$71.00
9 infantry cartridge boxes-$18.00
4 rifle cartridge boxes-$8.00
May 17: 100 bayonet scabbards-$100
200 waistbelts-$150
33 shoulder straps-$33.00
18 rifle cartridge boxes-$36.00
33 infantry cartridge boxes-$66
May 19: 68 bayonet scabbards-$68.00
100 waistbelts-$75.00
350 cartridge box belts-$350.00
May 22: 300 shoulder belts-$300.00
216 bayonet scabbards-$216.00
25 infantry cartridge boxes-$50.00
May 23: 100 cartrige box belts-$100.00
36 bayonet scabbards-$36.00
May 26: 88 waistbelts-$66.00
$4029.49 (this includes some shipping charges noted in document)
2d September 1861
Received Payment,
Arch. McKensie"
I didn't include the prices per article which was included in the original document but will give the general breakdown here:
Large SC beltplates-.15 each
Small SC beltplates-.12 each
cartridge boxes (infantry & rifle)-$2 each
bayonet scabbards w/brass tips-$1 each
bayonet scabbards w/o tip-.94 each
cap pouches-$1 each
shoulder belts for cart boxes-$1 each
waistbelts.75 each
blanket straps per set-.19 each
I hope some of you will find this information of interest. There are several other extant McKensie items floating around on the collectors market these days and usually fetch a very high price due to the items being marked with the "McKensie" stamp. I'll post more information as time allows.
Neill Rose
Palmetto Living History Association
Over the last several weeks, I've been pouring over a box of SC Ordnance Dept. records at the SC Department of Archives & History and wanted to share some findings. My attempt has been to make a detailed list of ordnance contractors/suppliers to the SC gov't during various times of the war. While some of the information has been rather bland, there have been some really interesting finds. Most notable are the returns for ordnance stores for the various arsenals in SC just after secession ie. what was taken over from the Federal Gov't. These have provided a real snapshot of what SC troops would have had available to them during the early stages of the conflict. Likewise, there are returns and tabulations for the various arsenals (Charleston, Citadel, Columbia) during several years with 1864 really standing out.
Below is a general list of some suppliers, a contractual letter to the Ord Dept., and a listing of AM McKensie goods sold to the dept. I have focused on those contractors who were making infantry accoutrements &/or cavalry accoutrements.
1) Contractors/Suppliers:
AM McKensie, Charleston
J&TS Heffron, Charleston
Graveley & Pringle, Charleston
Cheraw Tannery (F. Lynch, owner),Cheraw
M. Bolger & Co., Charleston
Love & Wienges, Charleston
Hopson & Sutphen, Columbia (largest supplier to Columbia Arsenal)
E. Meister-Columbia (knapsacks only)
2) Letter from Mr. F. Lynch, owner of the Cheraw Tannery to Col. Edward Manigault, Ord. Officer, regarding infantry accoutrements. Note that some form of pattern was provided.
"Cheraw Tannery
Feb'y 12, 1861
Col. Edward Manigault
Ordnance Office
Charleston, SC
Dear Sir,
I beg respectfully proposing to furnish for Infantry Soldiers two thousand sets of accoutrements consisting of Catridge box, black leather tin frame for 40 rounds, Cartridge box belt black leather, bayonet scabbard tipped with brass, waist Belt black leather with buckle & Cap Pouch for four 75/100 per set.
The whole to be of good material and well manufactured in conformity with pattern furnished. Deliverable in parcels of 200 sets in Charleston.
I am very Respectfully,
Your Obt Svt
F. Lynch"
**back of document is written "Accepted"
3) This next document really raised my interest. A.M. McKensie was a large Charleston supplier of accoutrements to the state of SC and possibly to Richmond in some degree. See www.oldsouthantiques.com to view a .69 cal. box attributed to an Alabama ANV soldier; look under "Past Items". This listing shows, for one month, what McKensie sold and delivered (including prices) to the Ordnance Office at the Citadel.
"Ordnance Department South Carolina
Del. at Citadel
To AM McKensie & Co.
1861
May 6: 276 bayonet scabbards with brass tips-$276.00
153 bayonet scabbards no tips-$143.44
100 cap pouches-$100.00
45 sets of blanket straps-$8.43
May 10: 500 large "SC" plates (belt)-$75
325 small "SC" plates (belt)-$40.62
May 12: 272 cartridge boxes-$544.00
388 bayonet scabbards-$388.00
700 pouches-$525.00
42 waistbelts-$31.50
May 13: 204 waistbelts-$153.00
71 bayonet scabbards-$71.00
9 infantry cartridge boxes-$18.00
4 rifle cartridge boxes-$8.00
May 17: 100 bayonet scabbards-$100
200 waistbelts-$150
33 shoulder straps-$33.00
18 rifle cartridge boxes-$36.00
33 infantry cartridge boxes-$66
May 19: 68 bayonet scabbards-$68.00
100 waistbelts-$75.00
350 cartridge box belts-$350.00
May 22: 300 shoulder belts-$300.00
216 bayonet scabbards-$216.00
25 infantry cartridge boxes-$50.00
May 23: 100 cartrige box belts-$100.00
36 bayonet scabbards-$36.00
May 26: 88 waistbelts-$66.00
$4029.49 (this includes some shipping charges noted in document)
2d September 1861
Received Payment,
Arch. McKensie"
I didn't include the prices per article which was included in the original document but will give the general breakdown here:
Large SC beltplates-.15 each
Small SC beltplates-.12 each
cartridge boxes (infantry & rifle)-$2 each
bayonet scabbards w/brass tips-$1 each
bayonet scabbards w/o tip-.94 each
cap pouches-$1 each
shoulder belts for cart boxes-$1 each
waistbelts.75 each
blanket straps per set-.19 each
I hope some of you will find this information of interest. There are several other extant McKensie items floating around on the collectors market these days and usually fetch a very high price due to the items being marked with the "McKensie" stamp. I'll post more information as time allows.
Neill Rose
Palmetto Living History Association
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