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  • The Richmond Clothing Bureau

    The newspaper entries below were taken from the Richmond Daily Dispatch.
    All refer to either the Richmond Clothing Bureau, the seamstresses employed by them or some other snippet of life in respect to the Clothing Bureau AKA: Richmond Depot.



    June 11, 1862

    Clothing for soldiers.
    We are pleased to notice that our quartermasters are bestirring themselves for uniforming the regiments, and that garments of good serviceable gray are furnished to the men by the clothing bureau, at very moderate rates — the entire suit of jacket; pants; cap, and drawers, not costing more than $15. We know not whether the stock on hand is very large, but hope it is sufficient to uniformly uniform the troops of Johnston's command, for they are the finest specimens of manhood that walk the earth, and only need clothes of good material to make them, de fuelo, nonparella.



    Dec. 4, 1862

    Hustings Court
    James R. Harris, free negro, was arraigned at the instance of O. F. Weisiger, of the Clothing Bureau, for stealing two overcoats and two pairs of pantaloons belonging to the Government. The theft was committed on 14th street. Defendant was sent on for trial before the Hustings Court



    July 20, 1863


    Sudden death.
    About 2 o'clock last SaturdaymorningMrs. Mary Montague, wife of the late Henry Montague, of this city, fell dead on Broad street, corner of 9th. Mrs. Montague, because of her indigent circumstances, left home between 1 and 2 o'clock, accompanied by her daughter, to go to the Confederate clothing depot for work. On getting to 9th street she suddenly fell, and her child, supposing her mother had fainted, called for help. Five or six gentlemen repaired to the spot, and soon after obtained a physician, but too late to do any good — the vital spark had fled. They then obtained a bier, and removed the corpse to its late residence, on Marshall street, near Brook Avenue. Mrs. M. leaves two helpless children. We understand that in March, 1862 Mr. Henry Montague, the husband of the deceased, fell dead near the same spot.



    July 22, 1863


    Needle Women find great difficulty, at this time in earning a scant subsistence, owing to the high prices of all the necessaries of life, and the small wages they have to labor for. The Confederate clothing depot is furnishing work to many worthy ladies, but judging from the continuous crowds of females around its doors at all hours, many of them have to make heavy sacrifices of time to procure that work. We have heard ladies say that they frequently wait half a day, and sometimes longer, before they can get into the establishment, so great is the rush. Some of them, in their anxiety to secure work, take their stands at the door before daylight, and there remain for hours, regardless of weather. On Saturdaymorning last Mrs. Montague, who had left home at a very early hour to procure work, fell dead in the street before she reached the depot. We know very little of the management of this clothing bureau, but suppose that some plan might readily be adopted for distributing work which would save ladies the trouble of waiting in the streets for it hours at a time. Will not the officers in charge give the matter their attention, and thus benefit a large class of deserving females?



    August 24, 1863


    Capt. Weisiger, of the Confederate Clothing Bureau, in order to accommodate the hundreds of ladies who work for his department, has so remodeled his establishment as to facilitate the delivery of work, and to prevent the employees from having to wait for hours at a time. Besides increasing his "Cutters," he has duplicated the delivery office, the receiving office, and the pay office, so that the ladies are promptly attended to, and spared the mortification of lounging about the doors day and night



    Sept. 4, 1863


    A Virginian, over the conscript age. and in every way unexceptionable, can be procured as a Substitute by applying at once at the Clothing Bureau, 24 Pearl street.


    Nov. 2, 1863


    Soldiers' wives.
    Complains are frequently made by the families and friends of soldiers, that work is given in any quantity to ladies who have neither husbands nor sons in the army, whilst the wives of soldiers are refused tickets, and sometimes rudely treated at the clothing burcan. Where so many persons are to be supplied with work it is very difficult to do justice to all the really needy that apply, or to prevent those who do not need from getting the work that others ought to have. A note before us gives the names of ladies, whose husbands are not in active service, who get enough work to earn and lay by money every week; and also the names of others, whose husbands are in the field, and who have to depend upon their needles for the support of themselves and children, who have been rudely refused tickets for work. Where such cases are known the facts should be given to the head of the clothing bureau, in order to have the errors corrected. From what we have seen we are quite sure that the authorities design giving the wives and mothers of soldiers the preference in work, and only need be informed of any injustice to ensure speedy correction



    Nov. 3, 1863


    Daring act.
    Yesterday morning, as a lady residing on the western suburbs of the city, was passing along Jackson street, with a bundle of finished work, on her way to the Clothing Bureau, she ws met by a white ruffian, who snatched the clothing from her and started off in the direction of the old Academy building. The cries of the lady brought two gentlemen to her assistance, who speedily started in pursuit of the thief, and ran him until he dropped the goods. --Unluckily, neither of them were armed, or they might have shot the daring highwayman



    Nov. 4, 1863


    Soldier's wives.
    As we intimated yesterday, the officers of the Clothing Bureau desire to give the preference of the work to the wives and daughters of soldiers, and if any of them are overlooked their friends have only to make that fact known. Next to the class of ladies already mentioned is widows and other needy women, and after they are supplied, then ladies who have husbands to support them, but desire to be employed to make money, will be furnished with the surplus work. Lists of the neglected, as well as of those who have work but do not need it, should be forwarded to the Clothing Bureau, signed by a responsible name.



    Nov. 5, 1863

    The Clothing Bureau,
    On 14th street, near Cary, under the charge of Capt. Weisiger, has been carefully arranged, as well for the transaction of business as for the accommodation and convenience of the three thousand ladies who get work there. Capt. W. says his first object is to give the work of his department to the wives, daughters, and mothers of soldiers in the field, and to enable him to do this he has already called in some five hundred tickets, held by ladies whose supports are not in active service.--The families of detailed men are not equally entitled to the work with those of soldiers, nor are any other class. Such lists as have been forwarded to us will be sent to the proper bureau, in order that the really needy may have the preference over those ladies who have their husbands and fathers with them, and who can get along without Government patronage.

    We are satisfied that all abuses in this office will be remedied as soon as they are discovered, and that Capt. Weisiger will do all in his power to aid soldiers' families in providing for themselves the necessaries of life. After they are served the surplus work, if any, will be given to helpless widows and other ladies who live only by their needles, and who are known as deserving.



    Nov. 12, 1863


    Sewing Ladies, in search of employment, can only obtain it of the Government by applying to Capt. Weisiger, corner of 14th and Cary streets. The Captain is giving the wives and daughters of soldiers the preference in the work, and to enable him to do this he has already taken in a large number of tickets held by other ladies, and will continue to do so till the preferred class is provided for.



    March 24, 1864

    Stolen.
    A gentleman having business with the Confederate StatesClothing Bureau, drove up in front of that building yesterday afternoon, and leaving his horse and carry all standing in the street, proceeded inside to look for one of the clerk. He had hardly been gone fifteen minutes, however, before an intoxicated soldier coming along, jumped in the vehicle and drove off, since which time nothing has been heard of him.



    May 30, 1864


    Dishonest Government Employees.
    For a long time past it has been known to those in authority at the Clothing Bureau and the Medical Purveyor's officer that a great deal of stealing was going on in their respective departments. Valuable parcels of goods were constantly missed from such of these departments, but all attempts to detect the thieves were unsuccessful. Last Friday, new and heavy thefts being discovered, it was determined to call in the aid of the detective police in ferreting out the thieves. The matter was reported to Capt. Marqubble, who detailed officers Wratherford and Etees to work up the case. The officers set about the business immediately, their first object being to discover some of the stolen goods, and thence get a clue to the thieves. Saturdaymorning they succeeded in finding some of the stolen goods in a drug store on Main street, and learned from the drug gist whom he had bought the articles from. Upon information received from the druggist, they arrested W T Spillers, a young man employed in the Clothing Bureau , who, being taken to Capt Maccubbin's office, confessed that he had at different times stolen goods from the Bureau. He also implicated Alfred Morse, another employee in the Bureau, and a youth in the Medical Purveyor's Department, named S H Bowman, saying that they had worked together in thieving and divided the spoils. Morse and Bowman were then arrested, and, on searching their rooms, there were found a quantity of cloth stolen from the Clothing Bureau, and medicines from the Medical Purveyor's Office, amounting in value to between twenty-five and thirty thousand dollars. Spillers, Morse, and Bowman were committed to the Castle, but we presume they will be handed over to the civil authorities.



    May 31, 1864


    The Pickings of the Medical Purveyor's Department and clothing Bureau ? .
    We mentioned yesterday the arrest of T. H. Bowman, an employee in the Medical Purveyor's Department, and of W. T. Spillers and Alfred Moss, employees in the Clothing Bureau , on the charge of stealing government goods from their respective departments. The parties were brought before the Mayor yesterday morning. The facts stated were correct in the main, except as to the cause which brought about the discovery of the thieves and the recovery of a quantity of the stolen goods. This discovery and recovery we attributed to the ingenuity of the detectives, but in point of fact they were entirely due to the conduct of Mr. R. W. Powers, druggist, as will appear from a sketch of the case as it appeared from the testimony before the Mayor.

    Last Wednesday, Moss offered for sale to Mr. Powers eight ounces of morphine in ounce bottles, and seven ounces of quinine in bulk, demanding for the morphine $100 an ounce, for the quinine $50 an ounce. He said he had bought the drugs at Wilmington and had them about a month. Mr. Powers suspecting from the peculiar manner in which the morphine was put up, that the articles had been stolen from the Medical Purveyor's Department, told Moss he would buy them and pay him for them at 5 o'clock that evening. Moss readily acceded to this arrangement and left the store. Mr. Powers took one of the bottles of morphine to the Medical Purveyor's office, and there learned from Mr. T. H. Drew, jr., that it had been stolen from that department. It was then arranged that Mr. Drew should come to Mr. Powers's at 5 o'clock, and see who called to receive the money for the medicine. Mr. Drew being in attendance when Moss called at Mr. Powers's store, and telling Mr. Powers that he did not know him, Mr. Powers paid Moss for the drugs.

    Thursday Mr. Drew saw Moss on the street, and had him arrested by the detectives, who, on taking him into custody, learned that he and Spillers roomed together at the boarding-house of G. W. Bowman, father of S. H. Bowman, on Franklin street, below 15th street. On searching this room they found a large quantity of government cloth and thread, and some other drugs, pilfered from the Medical Purveyor's. Bowman and Spillers were then arrested. All the parties being kept separate, each made a confession. Bowman said he had stolen the drugs from the Purveyor's department, and given them to Moss to sell on their joint account, and that Moss having sold them cheated him in the settlement. Moss said he sold the drugs stolen by Bowman, but that he himself stole a large lot of sewing-thread, which had been found in his room. Spillers said he stole by himself, and on his own account, all the cloth found in his room. All three united in saying that they were not the only employees of these departments that stole, but that it was a usual practice among the employees.

    The Mayor having heard the above facts, committed the accused to jail, to be tried for grand larceny before the Hustings Court. Spillers and Moss are tailors, detailed from the army to work in the clothing bureau. Bowman is a youth of seventeen or eighteen, whose father lives in this city, but who came originally from somewhere in the Valley.



    June 18, 1864

    Hustings Court
    Samuel H. Bowman, charged with stealing eight ounces of morphine and seven ounces of quinine from the Medical Purveyor's Department was, the Court having heard the evidence, discharged. This man had confessed the theft to the officer who arrested him, and subsequently to others. Alfred Moss, who received the morphine and quinine stolen by Bowman, was sent on to be tried before Judge Lyons. The examination of Alfred Moss for stealing eight pounds of sewing thread from the Clothing Bureau , was postponed till the next term.

    Wm. J. Spillers was examined and sent on for trial before Judge Lyons on the charge of stealing a quantity of clothing and brown shirting from the Clothing Bureau.



    June 27, 1864


    Police Arrests.
    Barney McGuire was arrested, charged with being drunk and sleeping on the side-walk while on duty as a watchman at Weisiger's Government store.



    Dec. 3, 1864


    Mayor's Court, yesterday.
    Joseph Kempner, an Israelite clothing merchant, was charged with receiving a lot of grey cloth belonging to the Government; but it having been proved that other parties than the Confederate Clothing Bureau had the same kind of goods on hand, the case was dismissed



    January 6, 1865

    Senate.
    Thursday, January5, 1865.
    The Senate met at 12 o'clock M.

    Mr. Walker, of Alabama, offered a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Military Committee to inquire into the expediency of increasing the compensation now allowed to hospital matrons.

    Mr. Semmes, from the Judiciary Committee, reported back adversely the House bill to facilitate the settlement of the claims of deceased officers and soldiers; and, also, House bill to sequestrate the estates of persons who had left the country to avoid military service.

    On motion, by Mr. Garland, both bills were placed on the calendar and their further consideration postponed.

    Mr. Simms, of Kentucky, from the select committee appointed to inquire into the compensation allowed certain females employed by Government, reported a bill increasing the pay of the female clerks in the Clothing Bureau and hospitals to that of clerks employed in other departments, or giving them in lieu the pay and allowances of hospital matrons; increasing the compensation of hospital and ward matrons one hundred per cent. and allowing them commutation for quarters where quarters are not furnished, and one cord and a half of wood during winter and three-quarters of a cord during summer; increasing the compensation of females employed in making clothing for the army one hundred and twenty-five per cent.; increasing the compensation of those employed in making cartridges, etc., seventy-five per cent. and giving them the privilege of purchasing supplies at cost from the Government--one ration for themselves and one for each of their children. It also requires the Secretary of War, in the event the same can be done without prejudice to the public service, to allow these females to purchase from the Government, at cost, domestic or cotton cloth for themselves and their dependent families; and to allow those females engaged in making army clothing to purchase from Government, at cost, a cord of wood a month in winter and half a cord in summer for each family.

    The bill was postponed and ordered to be printed.

    On motion, by Mr. Caperton, the Senate resolved into secret session

    MODS, If this posting should be too long, the same info. can be viewed at my website on this link http://www.kabar44.com/researchCloth...auDispatch.htm
    Last edited by Richmond Depot; 12-18-2006, 06:06 PM. Reason: Add more info.
    Fenny I Hanes

    Richmond Depot, Inc.
    PO BOX 4849
    Midlothian, VA 23112
    www.richmonddepot.com
    (804)305-2968

  • #2
    Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

    Scott,

    This is great stuff -- thanks!

    Do you know what finally happened to the Clothing Bureau buildings? I suppose they would have burned when the Yankees took Richmond.
    Bill Reagan
    23rd Reg't
    Va. Vol. Infy.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

      Thanks, not only for taking the time to do this research, but also for sharing it.
      Pat Brown

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

        Originally posted by VMI88 View Post
        I suppose they would have burned when the Yankees took Richmond.
        Bill,

        From the descriptions of location mentioned above - 14th Street near Cary; 24 Pearl Street - it seems that the bureau fell within the burnt district.

        A map showing the burnt district, in yellow, can be found here:



        A description of the evacuation and fires appeared in the Richmond Whig, April 6, 1865:

        "The torch was also applied to all the buildings recently in Confederate occupation, from the Tredegar works on the canal above the city to the navy yard at Rocketts - a distance of two miles - including the laboratories, artillery shops, arsenals, Franklin paper mill, Petersburg depot, all the Commissary and Quartermaster buildings on and near 14th street, Rahm’s foundry, and other buildings and localities which we have heretofore mentioned. - By seven o’clock A. M. nearly the whole of the city south of Main street, between 8th and 15th streets and 20th and 23d streets was one great sea of flame."

        Considering that General Ewell's orders were to destroy government supplies, perhaps the bureau was targeted by the Confederate fires.

        Eric
        Eric J. Mink
        Co. A, 4th Va Inf
        Stonewall Brigade

        Help Preserve the Slaughter Pen Farm - Fredericksburg, Va.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

          Somewhere, and I haven't tracked it down yet, there is a rejected pension application for a seamstress who after the war applied for a pension and was unfortunately rejected. Having carple in both elbows, I can fully sympathize with her.

          It was my understanding that the area was pretty heavily burned as Eric mentioned by Ewell's troops on evacuating Richmond.

          One of the units responsible for the burning was, as you will remember Bill, The First Battalion, Va. Reserves which we portrayed out at Ft. Harrison a few years back.

          Best,
          Fenny I Hanes

          Richmond Depot, Inc.
          PO BOX 4849
          Midlothian, VA 23112
          www.richmonddepot.com
          (804)305-2968

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

            In 1977 while preparing the foundation for a new building in downtown Richmond, builders unearthed a charred layer of mouldered cloth and buttons on the site of the old Mayo Warehouse. The buttons were imported "I," "A," & "C" patterns of English Manufacture. This was one of many CS government storage facilities burned during the Confederate evacuation of the city. God knows how much stuff such as this is still layered beneath Richmond's streets and canals, not to mention in the James.
            Bob Williams
            26th North Carolina Troops
            Blogsite: http://26nc.org/blog/

            As [one of our cavalry] passed by, the general halted him and inquired "what part of the army he belonged to." "I don't belong to the army, I belong to the cavalry." "That's a fact," says [the general], "you can pass on." Silas Grisamore, 18th Louisiana

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

              Bob,

              I read about that in one of the older, more obscure relic books. Maybe Gavin's book ? Anyway, it mentioned that they were finding the remains of cloth also, which by the picture appeared to have possibly been English Kersey. Haven't looked at the book since I was probably 10 years old.

              Best,
              Fenny I Hanes

              Richmond Depot, Inc.
              PO BOX 4849
              Midlothian, VA 23112
              www.richmonddepot.com
              (804)305-2968

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

                In light of the excavation (and I thought the turning basin discoveries were fun) commentary, you may enjoy this bit of trivia:

                Depots for the Deposit of Supplies for the Army from the different States.

                Mississippi Depot, Main between 8th and 7th streets.

                Alabama Depot, Main, between 8th and 7th streets.

                North Carolina Depot, Main, between 8th and 7th streets, opposite Spotswood Hotel.

                South Carolina Depot, south-side Main, between 14th and 15th streets.

                Georgia Hospital and Relief Association, south-side Main, between 14th and 15th streets.

                Fourth Texas Depot, 15th, between Main and Cary streets.

                Fifth Texas Depot, corner Cary and Virginia streets.
                The source for this is The City Intelligencer; or, Stranger's Guide by V. & C., Richmond: Macfarlane & Fergusson, Printers, 1862. Reprinted 1976.
                [B]Charles Heath[/B]
                [EMAIL="heath9999@aol.com"]heath9999@aol.com[/EMAIL]

                [URL="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Spanglers_Spring_Living_History/"]12 - 14 Jun 09 Hoosiers at Gettysburg[/URL]

                [EMAIL="heath9999@aol.com"]17-19 Jul 09 Mumford/GCV Carpe Eventum [/EMAIL]

                [EMAIL="beatlefans1@verizon.net"]31 Jul - 2 Aug 09 Texans at Gettysburg [/EMAIL]

                [EMAIL="JDO@npmhu.org"] 11-13 Sep 09 Fortress Monroe [/EMAIL]

                [URL="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Elmira_Death_March/?yguid=25647636"]2-4 Oct 09 Death March XI - Corduroy[/URL]

                [EMAIL="oldsoldier51@yahoo.com"] G'burg Memorial March [/EMAIL]

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

                  Good stuff, Chas. Being a native of Richmond and coming "of age" in the 1960's (yep, getting up there), my summer jobs between college semesters were at what was the old American Furniture & Fixture Co,. at Pear and Main. During the war it was known as Randolph's, General Hospital #25, and also the Texas and Arkansas Hospital. On the 3rd floor an eagle was carved into the thick wooden flooring which the owner (A. C. Woolridge, Sr.) said was carved by a Federal prisoner also kept there. While it was just an old paint and finishing factory when I worked there, I was always intrigued by the massive wooden beams, thick flooring, and brick painted by may layers of paint. It overlooked a sumac covered ravine piled with junk and infested with many rats (on which we used to try and dump our extra paint). Rockett's was just down the road. I think the facility now has been converted to loft apartments. Anyway, at that time many buildings of CS association in Richmond were still being used as warehouses, factories and such. I count myself fortunate to have grown up in such a historical city where living history was really all around us. Gone are the days. And old Richmond just ain't the same.
                  Bob Williams
                  26th North Carolina Troops
                  Blogsite: http://26nc.org/blog/

                  As [one of our cavalry] passed by, the general halted him and inquired "what part of the army he belonged to." "I don't belong to the army, I belong to the cavalry." "That's a fact," says [the general], "you can pass on." Silas Grisamore, 18th Louisiana

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

                    Scott,

                    I just came back from a family dinner at an Irish restaurant & bar that sits at the corner of 14th and Cary (Sine, for those of you who know Richmond). I couldn't help but think of all the hundreds of thousands of Confederate uniforms that had been stored on that property! Some of my ancestors' uniforms probably passed through the Clothing Bureau warehouse that once stood there.

                    It's details like this that bring history alive for me.
                    Bill Reagan
                    23rd Reg't
                    Va. Vol. Infy.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

                      Originally posted by roundshot View Post
                      In 1977 while preparing the foundation for a new building in downtown Richmond, builders unearthed a charred layer of mouldered cloth and buttons on the site of the old Mayo Warehouse. The buttons were imported "I," "A," & "C" patterns of English Manufacture. This was one of many CS government storage facilities burned during the Confederate evacuation of the city. God knows how much stuff such as this is still layered beneath Richmond's streets and canals, not to mention in the James.
                      And the C buttons were being sold for 50 dollars each at relic shops. Pretty pricey for that time. Some did have cloth attached and they were a little more.
                      Jim Mayo
                      Portsmouth Rifles, Company G, 9th Va. Inf.

                      CW Show and Tell Site
                      http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/index.html

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

                        "Some of them, in their anxiety to secure work, take their stands at the door before daylight, and there remain for hours, regardless of weather..."
                        seems weird that people (women) were even lining up to get into an establishment to get something just like today! I'm proud to say I don't own a "Playstation III" but it's intersting to see people line up for something they want.

                        These points give a breath of life to a generation long gone and to the state of affairs that Richmond was in. Makes you wonder if there was a wife of a soldier who sewed something for the army to have it ironically end up in his very hands!!! Or if women signed a scrap of paper and then tucked it into a pocket saying "Made by so-and-so" in hopes it ended up in his hands. Don't laugh...stranger things have happened!!!

                        Thanks for posting this,
                        James Ross
                        James Ross

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: The Richmond Clothing Bureau

                          I'm going to give this thread a bump in light of the current discussion.

                          L. Scott Hanes
                          [SIZE=4][/SIZE][FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=4]L.Scott Hanes[/SIZE][/FONT]
                          Ashland Grays, Co.E
                          15th Regiment, Virginia Infantry

                          On detached service, Petersburg,Va.

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