Use of hatchets on the march

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

I forgot I had this. It is a page from a hardware catalog from the period.

[Bill]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

From time to time, I've carried a small shingling hatchet. They were and are a very common construction tool. In the group of soldier photos, four of them are using shingling hatchets. I'd bet they were "borrowed" from some civilian!
Notice the different sized blades. They were made from about two inches, up to about six inches wide.

They're not much good for firewood, but they sure come in handy for building shelter. I always carried the hatchet under the blanket straps on my double bag pack.

I'm trying to deside if I want to drag it to "Bummers".

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

"Since we had left the hospital in July, 16 months ago, we had not had our knapsack strapped to our back and had never carried it. We had cut it to pieces and remodeled it so as to fit closely and compactly to the cannel of our saddle, our haversack we had never carried and it was fastened to the near side of the pommel our canteen was hung to the other side of the pommel as was also a good hatchet." History of the 72d Indiana Volunteer Infantry of the Mounted Lightning Brigade Benjamin F. McGee (pg 441)

But this ole boy seemed to go heavy...I tried folding his "two issue blankets, a gum blanket and a light CS fly (very close to a shelter half) and I dont see for the life of me how that worked out for the horse. That works out to a saddle pad about 3.5 inches thick and 13.3 lbs (on my scale) no matter how you fold it results in seven inches (pret near) of additional thickess betwixt beast and saddle.

"When on a march our cartridge box was swung loosely to the pommel and if we had five days rations it hung on the right side and if our rations were out, it hung on the left, but was never fast so that any moment we could dismount and sling it over our shoulder. The muzzle of our gun up to the first band was stuck into a boot at the right side by the saddle girth and a strap around our shoulder held it up by our side when riding and this was the only article strapped or fastened to us. Under our saddle, we carried two good sleeping blankets, a dog tent and a gum blanket. In our cartridge box we carried 40 rounds of metallic cartridges and in our saddle pockets 40 to 60 rounds more, an extra horse shoe, some nails, etc. In our knapsack were a shirt, pair of socks, pair ol drawers, a portfolio our children (will some day be proud of that old portfolio as this history owes all its value to that) paper envelopes, thread, buttons and a Bible. We have it yet and other useful articles. Bear in mind that a cavalry man and his horse live together and we never slept a night except when laying in camp but our saddle was under our head or near it and day or night we could just lay our hand on any single article we wanted.

[MickCole]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Interesting hatchet.

http://www.ccrelics.com/shop/custom_...sp?SKU=CCR2157

That one looks a lot like the one Cherokee Chief Bob Benge used to kill my gx-grandmother Sarah Livingston. See http://www.hto-livingston.com/BengesAxe.html

Very interesting, indeed.

Mick Cole

[Hoosier Yank]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

A couple of reference are made to axe's in "The 27th Indiana Infantry Giants in the Cornfield" by Wilbrun D. Jones, Jr.

My g-g-g randfather Reuben Hendrickson of Co. F, 27th INF was severly beaten by SGT Noah Sims of Co. C over the ownship of an axe.

Then a Pvt. Andrews of Co. G pulled a knife on a Pvt. Downing. Downing opted to pick up an axe for the knife fight! Good man Downing! Always bring a better weapon to the fight! :wink_smil

[Swisscavalryboy]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Hello

In the book "Ten Years In The Ranks, U.S. Army", written by Augustus Meyers (a member of company D, 2nd U.S. Infantry), he describes the use of a hatchet (at the time of early 1862) on page 195 as follows:

"Shelter tents were issued to us........ Tent and ridge-poles of light wood, made to telescope in convenient lengths, and small hardwood tent-pins were also issued to us. All this had to be strapped to our knapsack and incresed the load to be carried on our back very considerably. The poles and pins we threw away after a few days' trial in the field and trusted to chance to pick up forked sticks and ridge-poles in the woods. For this purpose I provided myself with a small hatchet, and to even up loads my bunkie carried a frying pan for our use."

I hope this helps to illuminate the matter a little bit.

Markus Ruegger

[Remember1864]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Well, since we're talking axes and hatchets here's this bit. Quote from J.K. Merrifield, 88th Illinois, Opdycke's Brigade @ the "Carter House", Franklin, TN; 30 November 1864. "We charged up to the works...we used bayonets, butts of guns, AXES, picks, shovels..Captain Barnard, of Company K, in the 88th Illinois, who used a little four-barrel pistol and even a HATCHET that he always carried with him to assist in putting up his tent.

[Blanket Head]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Gents,
I came across these images of 2nd Rhode Islanders in our archives this morning. The first image shows what I believe is a hatchet in a carrier hanging from a belt on the man standing at the left. The second image clearly shows a hatchet inside the belt of the man also standing at left. These I believe were taken outside D.C. in the summer of 1861. I apologize for the poor photography by myself.

Regards,

Kaleb Dissinger
Army Heritage Museum

[10TnVI]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

In the first image I believe what you are seeing is the man's capbox with a fold in his blouse just behind it-

[ironbrigade6]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Yes they absolutly wouldve had them on the march. Every 7th man was issued a hatchet and might strap it to his knapsack or on his belt. Also the regiments Pioneers wouldve had some axes that they wouldve carried.

Jon Bachmann
Co. C 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

[billmatt04]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

For those of you who use hatchets or axes, how many of you use original tools as opposed to reproductions? I have had a very difficult time in tracking down high-quality reproductions but frequently run into antiques. My personal feeling is that I would much rather use a repop than an antique, but part of the issue is availability.

Anyway, I wanted to see what everyone else has done to deal with this issue. Thanks a lot.

[estephenson]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

with metal items it is always better, in my eyes, to use an original. My spade, axe, bayonet, etc. are all original because either a reproduction is not made correctly, or is of such inferior quality that they would break.