Chris supplesa posted this on the MLK forum, it is very interesting.
14 September 1863
To Captain Richard H. Gayle, Steamer "Cornubia"
"Captain,
Please receive on board: 150 coils rope, 27 bails hammocks, 4 casks, 6 bales cotton shirts, 8 bales white flannel shirts, 4 bales blue cloth overcoats, 5 bales duck trousers, 33 bales duck frocks, 2 boxes combs, 2 cases tin pots."
J.T. Bourne
per Geo. P. Gibson
Four Years with the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Journal of William Ray, Company F, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers,"
"July 12, 1862
Fine morning, not gone yet and I don't see as we are likely to go. I didnt rest well last night, the cause of it is I slept in a hammack and it was so soft and easy that I couldnt after sleeping on the ground so long. Making hammocks first started in Co C, 6th Regt and they all got hammocks. The Brigade doctor seeing this issued an order for the whole Regt to have them as they would be much healthier. Then three or four of our boys made them and I laid down in one to try them and got up with the conclusion to make one. So I went at it yesterday morning to make it and did make it, taking my half of tent to make it. And find it much more comfortable living without a tent and with a hammock."
"July 27, 1862
And fine day. Formed revilee line this morning. This being Sunday we had no drill, had the Sunday morning inspection. Come out in splendid order. Cap complimented us verry highly for our cleanliness, said we need never fear but that we would ever pass any inspection as long as we kept ourselves in as good order as this morning. Had dress parade at usual time 6 P.M.
John and I moved our hammocks to a better cooler place, there being a small ridge just wide enough for a tent or two hammocks. This ridge is formed by an old road running each side and they have washed out to the depth of 4 to 6 feet. Which causes a good drain thereby making it a dry place even when it rains. And it being a few rods from the Co. We have a good breez when there is any going. This ridge is nearly all occupied by those that have hammocks and the boys call it hammock Ridge. We are fixed up neat having our oilclothes stretched so as to form a tent over us down as far as our hammocks come. So we are better situated than if we were in tents for it cannot rain throught and we are off the ground free from all vermin and the damp of ground."
"July 28, 1862
And fine day. No revilee line this morning. The Brigade has to change Camp. Well the quatermaster had some teams bring evrything that the boys wanted them to such as boards, tables and stools &c before we moved. Then the teams came back and got dinner, then hauled our knappsacks over here, which is about 1 1/2 miles from the old Camp. We got here about three oclock, went to work, fixed up as well as we could. John and I fixed our hammocks up for the night. Then to fix up right on the morrow. It was clever in the Quatermaster to haul our boards &c over. John and I have two seats and a table which makes us verry comfortably situated for eating, writing &c."
"August 16, 1862
And fine day. .....Camped in a large clover field. Probably will move tomorrow. I ought to write a letter home. We have not had any mail since we left Falmouth. John and I have not put up our hammocks as we are not likely to stay long."
The U.S. Navy also used them
14 September 1863
To Captain Richard H. Gayle, Steamer "Cornubia"
"Captain,
Please receive on board: 150 coils rope, 27 bails hammocks, 4 casks, 6 bales cotton shirts, 8 bales white flannel shirts, 4 bales blue cloth overcoats, 5 bales duck trousers, 33 bales duck frocks, 2 boxes combs, 2 cases tin pots."
J.T. Bourne
per Geo. P. Gibson
Four Years with the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Journal of William Ray, Company F, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers,"
"July 12, 1862
Fine morning, not gone yet and I don't see as we are likely to go. I didnt rest well last night, the cause of it is I slept in a hammack and it was so soft and easy that I couldnt after sleeping on the ground so long. Making hammocks first started in Co C, 6th Regt and they all got hammocks. The Brigade doctor seeing this issued an order for the whole Regt to have them as they would be much healthier. Then three or four of our boys made them and I laid down in one to try them and got up with the conclusion to make one. So I went at it yesterday morning to make it and did make it, taking my half of tent to make it. And find it much more comfortable living without a tent and with a hammock."
"July 27, 1862
And fine day. Formed revilee line this morning. This being Sunday we had no drill, had the Sunday morning inspection. Come out in splendid order. Cap complimented us verry highly for our cleanliness, said we need never fear but that we would ever pass any inspection as long as we kept ourselves in as good order as this morning. Had dress parade at usual time 6 P.M.
John and I moved our hammocks to a better cooler place, there being a small ridge just wide enough for a tent or two hammocks. This ridge is formed by an old road running each side and they have washed out to the depth of 4 to 6 feet. Which causes a good drain thereby making it a dry place even when it rains. And it being a few rods from the Co. We have a good breez when there is any going. This ridge is nearly all occupied by those that have hammocks and the boys call it hammock Ridge. We are fixed up neat having our oilclothes stretched so as to form a tent over us down as far as our hammocks come. So we are better situated than if we were in tents for it cannot rain throught and we are off the ground free from all vermin and the damp of ground."
"July 28, 1862
And fine day. No revilee line this morning. The Brigade has to change Camp. Well the quatermaster had some teams bring evrything that the boys wanted them to such as boards, tables and stools &c before we moved. Then the teams came back and got dinner, then hauled our knappsacks over here, which is about 1 1/2 miles from the old Camp. We got here about three oclock, went to work, fixed up as well as we could. John and I fixed our hammocks up for the night. Then to fix up right on the morrow. It was clever in the Quatermaster to haul our boards &c over. John and I have two seats and a table which makes us verry comfortably situated for eating, writing &c."
"August 16, 1862
And fine day. .....Camped in a large clover field. Probably will move tomorrow. I ought to write a letter home. We have not had any mail since we left Falmouth. John and I have not put up our hammocks as we are not likely to stay long."
The U.S. Navy also used them
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