Use of hatchets on the march

[cgjersvik124]

Hatchets and axes were a necessity in camp. My questions is: would a soldier carry a small hatchet on the march? If so was it ever worn on his belt?

[Jeremy Bevard]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Put one in or on your belt and march a few miles with all your gear on. You will probably find a good answer to your question.

I find putting one inside a knapsack works fine however does add weight. I have done it once or twice. It is suprising how little a hatchet is really needed when on the march or campaign. However, nice to have available if needed. Personally, I would rather do without and/or find another way/solution then carry the extra weight on my person.

[estephenson]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Axes and hatchets were the property of the company, not the soldier and would have to accounted for. They were distributed as a set number per company and would have been issued with slings in the case of axes and spades, not sure of the hatchets but I am assuming it would be carried in the knapsack.

Reminds me of my grandfather's experience in WWII. The military still required 2 musicians per company, when he enlisted he was handed a rope tension drum. He said he did not play, they said he did not have to, just keep it under his bunk to satisfy the requirement. The drum was company property and had to remain in company.

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

White Oak Museum in White Oak, VA has numerous examples of hatchets dug up in winter camps around here N. of Fredericksburg. Whether or not a soldier carried one of that type I haven't seen documented or read in any journals or diaries, Or even in any photos of soldiers. I have seen them carried by CS POWs in the Camp Douglas pic.

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohisto...ges/10434.html

They are in the first row behind the guards center ground with them stuffed in their jackets and the head is just peaking out.

Personally, I believe they were and I carry a small Swedish made mini-hatchet, that is a period style, hanf forged w/ears or points, that weighs in at 3/4 of a pound. Doesn't add that much weight or bulk to my knapsack. It can be worn on a belt but the cover has a modern snap so I don't. It keeps a good edge and have used it to cut Salt pork!

[flattop32355]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Some descriptions of messes have mentioned one man carrying the mess hatchet, while others carried other items. Definitely easier than carrying the skillet or coffee pot.

For easier access than in the knapsack, they can be slipped under the closing straps or up on top under the blanket/gum blanket/shelter half/etc.

[jwoodli]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

That's a great Camp Douglas picture, and that is an interesting way to carry a hatchet, as if they're keeping the handles warm. You got to love those Swedish Gransfors Bruks axes. I could shave with one that I have... once.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

FWIW, M. S. Schroyer's history of Company G, 147th PVI, mentions hatchets a couple of times but neglects to tell us how they were carried.

http://www.keystoneguards.org/downloads/History%20of%20Company%20G.%20-%20Diary.pdf

April, 1863, in the field:

Sometimes we drew our coffee un-ground, but always roasted and of the best quality. When it came un-ground we put it in little bags which we made out of old pieces of shelter tents, took a hatchet and pounded it on a stone until it was fine enough for use.

October, 1863, on the train west to Chattanooga:

The majority of us carried hatchets and as we were packed in the box cars like sardines, we needed more ventilation, and this we readily provided by cutting holes in the sides and ends of the cars.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

The QM Manual 1865 clearly states slings for hatchets , spades and felling axes.
So we can ssume that when issued they were with a sling.

[PieBoy96]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

From Ch. 7 of Co. Aytch:

"A big strapping fellow by the name of Tennessee Thompson, always carried bigger burdens than any other five men in the army. For example, he carried two quilts, three blankets, one gum oil cloth, one overcoat, one axe, one hatchet, one camp kettle, one oven and lid, one coffee pot, besides his knapsack, haversack, canteen, gun, cartridge-box, and three days' rations."

"We tried cutting them [mussels] up with a hatchet, but they were so slick and tough the hatchet would not cut them."

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Hallo!

I forget the owner's name now, but there once was an attributed hatchet in the "basement" of.... what was the name of that place in Gettysburg until recently?

Oh yeah, the old NPS Visitors' Center.

Up to a point, a hatchet or belt ax is not all that great a camp tool. It is too small to chop trees, or split large wood, and the size of deadfall it can chop can more easily be burned in halves and then halves again and halves again-

...making its weight and hassles the druthers of the man or mess deciding to carry one.

Curt
Company Cookfire Mess

[Johan Steele]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Mr Schmidt brings up a good point that I think is being overlooked. What use exactly is a hatchet for the PEC soldier? What is its precise purpose to a Living Historian? Ever used a hatchet for real instead of just as a prop?

The typical hatchet is too small to be useful for cutting or felling anything, too light for splittling, so why is it preferable to an honest to god ax? Yes; it's lighter but it doesn't do the job of an ax which were issued w/ slings for ease of carry. It's a kindling or small fire maker and not needed if there is an ax... reality is that for most it's nothing more than a prop.

This btw comes from a man who has both a full sized ax & hatchet in his kit, along w/ the Regimental Armorers tools (thank you Todd Wat for the ideas) and 6000 rounds of ammunition (simulated).

I spend a good amount of time teaching the public how to use period tools to include both a hatchet and ax... and yes the axe is far superior to a hatchet when opening an ammo box when no screwdriver is available.

[PieBoy96]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Let's check some original photographs about hatchet use. Whether these were carried by the individual man or not, well, we will never know. Let's start with a pile of original excavated ones from US camps (notice the über-tiny one to the left):




And to the LOC we goooo....

[Jim Mayo]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Interesting hatchet.

http://www.ccrelics.com/shop/custom_show_images.asp?SKU=CCR2157

[PieBoy96]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Outstanding! Both the handle and head match the ones seen in the above photographs.

[PanzerJager]

Re: Use of hatchets on the march

Interesting hatchet.

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

I saw this hatchet in person a few years ago, I believe at the Richmond show, one of neater relics that comes to mind, I'm surprised it's still for sale. You really start day dreaming when you're holding that thing and reading all the places it's been, doesn't get much cooler then that if you ask me.

Regards,