Supply Depots / Regiments

[Jack Enright]

What is the best way to find out which depot supplied equipment to a specific regiment?

On vendors websites, I've often seen reference to a certain pattern of sack coat, canteen, etc, as being "as supplied by the New York Depot, or Cincinnatti Depot", but I don't know how to cross reference between the regiment and the depot.

Is the best source a detailed regimental history, or are there internet accessible records of shipments from the individual depots?

Being in England, I don't have easy access to State archives or museums, so any advice on this point would be very helpful. :)

Best regards,

Jack

[Brian Baird]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Jack,
My notes are at home but in very general terms, NY & Phil. Depots supplied the AOP. Cinn. supplied the Army of the Cumberland, St. Louis supplied the Army of the Tn. When the A. of the Tenn. moved to eastern Tn in late 1863 then Cinn. became the main supply depot. To resupply Sherman's army on the march to the sea, his QM went to NY and shipped supplies from there.
I have read where the depots would send needed items to other depots especially to St. Louis which had limited manufacturing and did not let out contracts for uniforms.
Hope this helps.
Brian Baird

[Jack Enright]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Thanks, Brian - that's very helpful. I hadn't realised that which depot supplied a certain regiment was set by which army the regiment was part of, rather than which state it was recruited in.

Cheers, mate! :)

Jack

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Hallo!

Herr Jack, in brief and to over-generalize...

The Federal arsenals were complex being a mix of "construction," "repair," and "deposit" meaning some made things, some repaired things, some stored things, and some let out contracts for uniforms and gear.
For example, Philadelphia Arsenal had production, New York Arsenal did not.
And Quartermaster "open market" purchases and contracts" mess things up.

At any rate, the arsenals often contracted locally, as well as shipped between themselves.

The level of detail as to what arsenal a requisition for say widgets was filled from for such-and-such a unit, NUG, was not something the Period system seems to have preserved or recorded. Such-and-such unit requisitioned and received say "100 fatigue blouses" what arsenal or contractor made them was not typically part of the "detail."

The Ordnance Department often did the same. I recall an Ohio unit that had to wait until it got to Washington, D.C. to get its arms.

Curt

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

The regiment drew from the local quartemaster's depot not directly from an arsenal (like New York). Of course which local depot they used varied according to where they were assigned.

Centralize Depots behind the lines (example City Point in the Petersburg Campaign) were replenished by the central arsenals.

The central arsenals got goods either their own work force or contractors (New York used at least 23 different manufacturers that supplied 20,000 or more sack coats each to the arsenal and many more who supplied lessor amounts).

If one arsenal didn't have the requisitioned items they could get it from another arsenal.

That was the beauty of the federal logistics system. They had the ability to move massive quantities of material around to support the entire war effort.

If you were representing an early war militia unit or early raised regiment then that material would have come out of a specific state or local arsenal butonce you were in federal service you'd get what they decided to give you no matter where it came from.

Another fly in the oinment was material recovered from the battlefield. If it could be salvaged with inly a little work, it went directly into the local quartermasters depot for reissuance.

[Dan Munson]

Combining and synthesizing Curt’s, Curt’s and Bob’s comments, you come down to a pretty fair mini-summation of the U.S. Army quartermaster system, 1861-65.

Bob’s observation is correct: new units, except perhaps in some very rare instances, did not draw their initial quartermaster supplies directly from an arsenal or depot, but rather from the quartermaster authorities at the camp they inhabited. After assignment to a field force, replacement quartermaster items would be obtained via requisition. Company commanders would periodically assess their companies’ needs, fill out the “Clothing Camp & Garrison Equipage Requisition” form and submit it, up the chain of command, for filling. (See Rev. Army Regulations, 1861, paragraphs 1152-1154.) If the local QM officers had the requisitioned items on hand, a company commander might within a few days be ordering out a detail to hike over to the QM and pick up the items. (Actually, I believe the commander himself may have had to go along, because somewhere in the process he had to sign a receipt for the items drawn -- from the time they left the QM until the time they were actually issued to soldiers, the drawn items were the personal responsibility of the company commander, and he was liable for their loss or damage. 1861 Army Regs., paras. 1155, 1158-1160.) There apparently was nothing in place akin to what we nowadays call a “back-order” system. Items on a requisition which were temporarily unavailable were simply not supplied, and the requisitioning unit would have to re-submit at a later date (hopefully with better results). Presumably, local QM officers used the unfulfilled parts of requisitions as a guide in requesting supplies from further up the QM chain.

And as pointed out by the other fellows, for obvious logistical reasons, the ultimate “source” of QM supplies for a given garrison or field army tended to the geographically closest arsenal or depot. However, as also was mentioned, federal arsenals and depots could, and sometimes did, ship “surplus” items to another arsenal/depot to help supply their temporary shortage. Another way that “eastern” depot items might end up in “western” depot territory (and vice versa) was through troop movement. When the 11th and 12th Corps left the Army of the Potomac in the fall of 1863 and went by rail to the relief of Chattanooga, they brought along all sorts of eastern depot items (like, for example, a number of canteens with jack-chain cork attachments, which came only from New York Depot). But once in the west, those corps drew replacement QM material which came largely from the western depots. Going the other way, when Sherman’s army received its big re-supply of clothing after the fall of Savannah, the materials were largely, if not exclusively, from eastern depots and arsenals.

Dan Munson
Co. F, 1st Calif. Vol. Inf.

[Brian Baird]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Here's a letter from Meigs written in Nov. 1864 that explains the QM Dept. This is from the OR's

CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS OF THE UNION AUTHORITIES FROM JANUARY 1, 1864, TO APRIL 30, 1865.(*)--#36
QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, D.C., November 3, 1864.


... Owing to the reduced supply of cotton in the market, and its high price, it has been necessary at times to purchase a lighter material for tents than was desirable, and linen has, to some extent, been used in their manufacture. ...
The depot of clothing and equipage at Philadelphia is the largest in the United States. It has not only furnished clothing, but has also provided much material, which it has forwarded to other manufacturing depots, to be there made up into clothing. It has been under the charge of Col. George H. Crosman, an officer of experience and ability, under whose management it has promptly met every demand. His financial statement shows the receipt during the year of public money to the amount of $23,587,057, nearly all of which has been expended in the operations of the depot, this not being a station from which many disbursing officers receive their funds.
The depot of clothing and equipage at New York has been under the charge of Lieut. Col. D. H. Vinton, deputy quartermaster-general. Its conduct has been such that no complaints against it have reached the department during the past year. The financial statement shows the receipt and expenditure of $23,648,683.
The tables at the end of this report, giving the quantities of material of war on hand at these several depots at the end of the year, will give some idea of the magnitude of the operations.
The depot at Cincinnati has been under charge of Colonel Swords, with Capt. C. W. Moulton in immediate charge of the clothing and equipage. Colonel Swords, as senior and supervising quartermaster of the Departments of the Ohio and Cumberland, was called upon to supply funds to many disbursing officers. In this duty and in the operations of the depot he reports the receipt and expenditure or distribution of $27,480,894.
Col. William Myers, assistant quartermaster and aide-de-camp, has been stationed at Saint Louis during the fiscal year. Under the direction of Brig. Gen. Robert Allen, senior quartermaster in the Valley of the Mississippi, he has been the principal disbursing and financial officer of the department.
He reports that he has received by transfers from other officers and by direct remittances from the Treasury during the year, and for sales of property, $34,615,582.45; he has disbursed or transferred to other officers for disbursement, $34,559,855.26, leaving on hand 30th of June, 1864, $55,727.19.
His duties have been discharged with rare ability and intelligence, and to the entire approbation of his superior officers.
At New York Maj. S. Van Vliet, quartermaster, has had charge of the operations of the Quartermaster's Department not relating to the purchase and supply of clothing and equipage.
The provision of other supplies to be shipped to troops in the field or in camp (excepting forage, which, for the greater portion of the year, has been under the direction of an officer specially assigned), the line of men to be sent to the various depots on the coast, the transportation by rail or water of troops and supplies passing through New York, and the charter of steamers and vessels for the movement of stores of all kinds, and for the outfit of military expeditions, the erection of numerous hospitals and barracks, have been, at this point, under charge of this officer, who has labored steadily and with success at his post, and deserved the approbation of the department. His financial statement shows the receipt and expenditure or distribution of $16,998,682.
At Philadelphia, Capt. A. Boyd, assistant quartermaster, as assistant quartermaster to Colonel Crosman, was charged with the duties of transportation and the purchase of regular quartermaster's stores. Upon this office also was devolved the duty of directing the shipment of coal for the supply of the steam transports in the service of the department and the erection of hospitals and barracks in the vicinity of Philadelphia.
Two hundred and fifty-five thousand three hundred and seventy-six tons of anthracite coal have been shipped from this depot during the fiscal year. His receipts and expenditures during the year amounted to $8,050,010.
Capt. James A. Ekin, now colonel in the Quartermaster's Department, had charge, during the early part of the year, of the depot at Indianapolis, where his ability and steady devotion to duty were so signal, that he was transferred to the charge of the quartermaster's department of the Cavalry Bureau and depot in this city, and on the reorganization of the Quartermaster-General's Office was placed at the head of the division for the supply of horses and mules to the Army. This officer reports that while depot quartermaster at Indianapolis, and while chief quartermaster of the Cavalry Bureau, he supplied during the fiscal year to the Army 62,450 horses and 1,400 mules. His receipts and expenditures and transfers of money to other officers have amounted to nearly $12,000,000.
Of the great depot at Nashville I have spoken in another part of this report. It has been, since 1st of November, 1862, under the charge of Lieut. Col. (now Brig. Gen.) J. L. Donaldson.
The depot at Louisville has been under the immediate supervision of Brig. Gen. Robert Allen, whose duties and services have been also noticed in the former part of this report.
The depot at Baltimore was organized by Lieut. Col. J. L. Donaldson, and after his transfer to Nashville was placed in charge of Capt. Charles W. Thomas, assistant quartermaster, who conducted it with fidelity and success.
The depot at Fortress Monroe has been under charge of Col. Herman Biggs, now inspector of the Quartermaster's Department, then chief quartermaster Department of Virginia and North Carolina. His management of the extensive business there transacted, particularly as shown in the embarkation and transportation of 35,000 troops, with their material and supplies, with such dispatch that they were landed by surprise at City Point, and seized, without opposition, that important post, within twenty miles of Richmond, are highly commended by his commanding officers. His financial statement shows the receipt of $1,856,278.91.
Col. S. B. Holabird, aide-de-camp and quartermaster, has been chief quartermaster of the Department of the Gulf since General Banks assumed command in the Southwest.
The position is a very difficult one to fill; the responsibility is very heavy. He has succeeded in providing amply for the wants of the troops operating in a hostile country, intersected by water-courses, and obstructed by thickets and swamps. Owing to the unfriendly state of feeling among the population of New Orleans, the throng of eager traders in cotton, sugar, and other productions of the rebel territory at this commercial center, the seizure and appropriation to military purposes of large quantities of property for which numerous claimants, loyal or disloyal, spring up, he has been subject to unusual opposition, which he has borne, and through which he has striven with signal devotion and energy to fulfill his duties to the department and to the country.
The troops in this department have had a varied fortune, sometimes moving by the Gulf, sometimes by the intricate bayous and watercourses of the interior; sometimes with success, and sometimes with great disaster. Through all fortune, and in every field of operation, however, under the energetic management of Colonel Holabird, the troops have been kept supplied with those articles which it is the duty of the Quartermaster's Department to furnish or to transport.
The depot at Fort Leavenworth, which is the base of supplies for all troops in the Departments of Kansas and New Mexico, and for those operating on the great plains, has been under charge of Capt. H. C. Hodges, assistant quartermaster, who has managed it with fidelity and ability. His financial statement shows the receipt and expenditure or distribution during the year of $4,040,948.
Maj. (now Col.) J. C. McFerran has had charge of the operations of the department in the Department of New Mexico. He has been most strongly commended in the dispatches of the general commanding, and has been recommended for promotion.
The affairs of the department on the Pacific Coast have been under the charge of Col. E. B. Babbitt, deputy quartermaster-general, chief quartermaster of the Department of the Pacific, assisted at the San Francisco depot by Maj. R. W. Kirkham, quartermaster. Much of the clothing and other material for the supply of the army on the Pacific-has been manufactured in California, whose woolen mills produce excellent army cloth and blankets.
The importance of securing some cheaper, more rapid, and safe means of military communication with the great provinces and States on the Pacific Coast has already attracted the attention of Congress. In case of domestic disturbances or foreign war, the Government would be crippled by the difficulty, slowness, and insufficiency of the present means of transportation and communication.
It is, in a military sense, of the utmost importance that the Pacific Railroad should be pressed vigorously, to the earliest possible completion.
With a blockaded coast, or even should our fleet be so powerful as to prevent any actual blockade, it would be extremely difficult and expensive to maintain and supply an army in those distant territories, with communication only by sea, under convoy of armed vessels, or by the slow march of wagon trains from Independence to San Francisco.
Col. A. J. Perry, now chief of the division of clothing and equipage of this office, has been throughout the fiscal year in charge of the duties now assigned by law to this division. To him is justly due much of the credit for the system, order, regularity, and certainty with which the clothing and equipage of the Army has been provided.
All returns and reports from the various purchasing and manufacturing depots of the supplies, and all reports and returns of officers who receive and distribute or become in any way responsible for them before their final issue to the troops in the field, are sent to the branch of the office under his supervision, and there examined and finally reported to the Treasury Department for settlement.
The other officers on duty in this office, Assistant Quartermaster-General Col. Charles Thomas and the officers in charge of the several branches of the office, have been constant and sedulous in their attention to the laborious and responsible duties imposed upon them--duties which never cease, and which, as the war proceeds and expands, and the Army grows, constantly increase.
The examination, record, and preservation of the contracts, reports, returns of the expenditures of the department; the assignment of officers to posts suited to their respective capacities and experience; the examination of the intricate questions involved in the settlement of disputed accounts and claims arising either under contract or purchase, or from the necessary forcible seizure and appropriation of property by armies in the field; the issue of the instructions necessary to guide the officers of depots, departments, and of separate commands; the direction of the provision and transportation of needed supplies to the different and distant seats of active war--all these have their direction and control at this office, and fully occupy its officers.
Boards have been organized under the law requiring officers of this department to be examined, and these boards will doubtless enable the President to sift out of the service the incompetent and inefficient and unworthy, of whom, in so large a body of officers, some must be found.
M. C. MEIGS,
Quartermaster-General U.S. Army, Brevet Major-General.



Brian Baird

[Brian Baird]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Here's a brief explanation on how the QM Dept was organized by Meigs. Again this is fro the OR's. The report is date November 3, 1864

ORGANIZATION.
The organization of the Quartermaster's Department, as authorized by the law of August, 1864, is simple and efficient.
With the troops are--
1. To each regiment a regimental quartermaster, with rank of lieutenant. He has charge of the property of the Quartermaster's Department with the regiment, such as the wagons, harness, and animals of the regimental train, and the tents and equipage which pertain to the regiment. He receives in bulk, and issues to the proper officers, the clothing, forage, and other supplies furnished by the Quartermaster's Department for the use of the regiment.
2. To each brigade, consisting of two or more regiments, an assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain. He is commonly designated as the brigade quartermaster. He receives, takes charge of, and transfers to the proper officer all property and supplies furnished for the use of the brigade, and has charge of the brigade train, its material, and animals. He distributes supplies to the regimental quartermasters.
3. To each division, of two or more brigades, a quartermaster, with the rank of major. He is designated division quartermaster, and performs duties relating to the division similar to those attributed for a brigade to the brigade quartermaster.
4. When several divisions are organized into a corps d'armée a chief quartermaster for the corps' is designated, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He has the general superintendence of the affairs of the Quartermaster's Department within the corps.
5. When several corps are united into an army, a chief quartermaster, with the rank of colonel, is designated.
Each of these officers exercises a general supervision over the conduct of the officers and agents subordinate to him and within his command. Each takes his orders and instructions from the commander of the body of troops to which he is attached, and also from his immediate superior in the Quartermaster's Department.
Funds for the necessary expenditures of the operations of the Quartermaster's Department, with troops in campaign, are furnished on the requisition of the chief quartermaster, who is the senior officer of the Quartermaster's Department present with any army or separate corps; and being placed to his credit, they are by him disbursed or transferred to the corps, division, or brigade quartermasters, to enable them to pay for approved expenditures.
The efficiency of this organization is shown in the great marches which have been made by the Army of the Potomac and by that of General Sherman, during which there has been very little loss of material of the trains, and little loss of draft animals, except that resulting from the bad state of the roads, in which many mules and artillery horses give out, and the loss of animals killed in battle when necessarily under fire.
To direct and control the procuring, safe-keeping, forwarding, transportation, and distribution of the clothing, forage, fuel, and other supplies, which it is the duty of the Quartermaster's Department to provide--and the list includes everything necessary to an army in the field or in garrison, except arms, ammunition, subsistence, and medical supplies, and all these are transported and stored by the Quartermaster's Department--officers are assigned as chief quartermasters of military departments, or of principal depots, the latter not exceeding ten in number, with the rank of colonel.
These officers, assisted by officers detailed to their aid from among the captains who are assistant quartermasters, and with occasionally the assignment of lieutenants of the line to serve as acting assistant quartermasters, make, under the direction of the Quartermaster-General's Office, contracts and purchases for all needed supplies, provide for their inspection, storage, safe-keeping, and transportation from the principal depots in the loyal States to the subordinate or advanced depots which are established on the border, or at the points which have been won from the enemy, fortified and constituted advanced depots or bases of operations.
In addition to the principal depots, posts are established at important points, garrisoned by troops, at which the regimental quartermasters attached to the garrisons act as post quartermasters, or officers are specially assigned for this duty.
All these officers are held responsible to their immediate commanders and report to the Quartermaster-General's Office in Washington, to which place their returns of property and accounts for disbursements are finally sent, and in which they receive a careful examination before being transmitted to the Treasury for final examination and settlement by the proper auditors and comptrollers.
The business of the Quartermaster-General's Office is distributed among nine divisions, each of which is charged with the supervision of its appropriate portion of the work of the department as prescribed by law.
The general control and supervision of the whole rests with the Quartermaster-General, who receives his orders and instructions from the Secretary of War, and reports to him direct.
All requisitions for remittances of money from the Treasury to officers of the Quartermaster's Department are referred first to the chief of the division of the office having charge of the particular branch of expenditure for which the money is needed, and they then pass under the inspection of the Quartermaster-General, who signs the request, which is submitted to the Secretary of War, and upon which, if he approves, is based the requisition which he addresses to the Treasury Department.
Six inspectors of the Quartermaster's Department, with the rank of colonel, under the immediate direction of the Quartermaster-General or of the Secretary of War, visit and inspect the various armies, posts, and depots, and inquire into all reported or suspected abuses. From the services of these officers, whose reports are transmitted to the inspection division of the office, and there analyzed and acted upon, great benefit is expected.
Most of the officers holding high rank in this organization hold it by temporary assignment, the rank ceasing when, from any cause, they are relieved and transferred to other less onerous duties.
This enables the Department to hold out to meritorious officers the hope of promotion in some degree commensurate with their efforts and success, and the system has already had a very happy effect in exciting emulation and giving satisfaction to many who had toiled long and were growing discouraged before the passage of the law of 4th of July, 1864, at the small prospect of promotion, while they were conscious that their duties were most important, their services most valuable, and their exertions, labors, and responsibilities as great as those of others who, entering the service with them, passed them rapidly by in the casualties and promotions of active service.
To some of the officers of this department holding most responsible and important positions, commissions as brigadier-generals of volunteers or as brevet brigadier-generals have been given in consideration of most important and valuable service.

Brian Baird

[Dan Munson]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Excellent stuff regarding Meigs! He and his chief officers really were un-sung heroes of the Federal war effort. I have the ORs on CD at home, and will take an in-depth look at his complete report this weekend.

Most people on this web site are familiar with Don Smith (Trans-Miss Depot Co.) as a quality vendor. I have the pleasure of re-enacting with him and other great guys out here in the far west as a member of Co. F, 1st California V.I. In that connection, it was with interest that I read Meigs' comments about supply arrangements for the troops in the Departments of New Mexico (which would have included the 1st California up until August 1864) the Pacific. California did indeed set up manufactories for almost everything in the way of military equipment except weapons. But supplies for troops scattered across the expanse of the "Rocky Mountain West" was, as Meigs' report notes, handled by overland shipment from Kansas. What a fun journey that must have been!

[Jack Enright]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Gentlemen:-

thank you all for your contributions on this thread, which go way beyond anything I could have expected.

And isn't it fascinating how getting curious about one small aspect of this era, and following up a train of thought, can open your eyes to a whole tapestry of people and events, and their effects on the course of history?

I've seen reference to a raft of books about the generals, battles, politicians, and so on, of this period; but I don't think I've seen one about the people who Dan Munson so justifiably calls the 'unsung heroes' - and yet, without them, the armies on both sides simply could not have functioned for more than a few weeks.

When you also throw in the more than a million troops involved, with operations spread over thousands of miles, and the fact that this was no basic guerilla-type war, but one using what was cutting edge technology of the time, the logistics staffing, planning and operations were more than important. They made possible things which, without their contribution, wouldn't have even come up for consideration, let alone been carried out. And some of these operations had a direct impact on the course of the war. For example, the movement of Federal troops from the Army of the Potomac to Tennessee for the relief of Chattanooga, in the autumn of 1863.

Planning started on 24th September, for the 1200 mile move from Culpeper, Virginia, to Bridgeport, Tennessee. "By October 2, nearly 20,000 men, 10 six-gun batteries with their horses and ammunition, and 100 car-loads of baggage had arrived at the Tennessee railhead." ('The Civil War', Vol. II, Shelby Foote)

When you consider that, not only did the men (and the horses!) have to be fed and watered throughout the trip, but they had to be kept supplied with everything they needed when they reached Tennessee, it was a truly remarkable feat by all concerned.

And, on the Confederate side, could they have kept up the struggle for a fraction of the time they did without the remarkable achievements of Josiah Gorgas? Not a chance.

I really hope that, one day, some author will write a book to tell their story, and to give those 'unsung heroes' the credit they deserve.

Dan; I didn't know that the OR's were available on CD. Could you tell me where I can buy a copy, please?

Thanks again to you all, and best regards,

Jack

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Amatuers study tactics, professionals worry about logistics.

Fortunately for the Union Army the 'business management' skills so derided in the south were prevalent in the north and were absolutley necessary to fighting a modern war. It took a while to learn but learn they did.

The "tail" has always been the unsung hero of American wars and few people realize how important logistics is (sometimes even so called historians). If I remember correctly the combat to tail ratio of the American military during WWII was something like 1:10.

Sometimes it is even simple little things we never think about. For example the USMRR regauged all the track in areas they worked in to a standard gauge to facilitate train movement. Using the same road bed the USMRR was able to move quantities of men and material their CSA counterparts could only dream about because when the rails were in southern hands they had multiple different gauges to deal with. Many times the guage changed at the county line and troop shad to de-train and then re-train just to move on.

One of the real reasons the North won is that their logistical system, especially transportation, was so superior to the CSA's.

Glad we could help you in your quest for knowledge.

[Dan Munson]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Jack - I sent you an email with info about obtaining a CD of the Official Records. Also sent a link to a web site which has a searchable collection of the ORs on-line.

[Dan Munson]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Jack - regarding your wish that "someone would write a book," "someone" has. Montgomery Meigs himself (I believe it was) compiled a history of the Quartermaster Department in the Civil War. I have seen exactly one copy of it - in a university library. It was, as I recall, a couple of inches thick, so there must have been a lot of info packed into it. I always meant to take a look through it, back in my college days....but alas, it is one of the things I never got around to. I'll bet the book is still there, though...and the university is only a couple of miles from my house. Hmmmmm....

[AZReenactor]

Dan , Now which library is near your house, exactly? I'll bet their card catalog is online so that we could figure out the title of that book. Then a little jump over to World Cat will let us search the card catalogs across the country, sorting the result by proximity. Of course you know the one close to you but this info is helpful to those that would have to travel to access it. ;-)

In other news, I was down in Tucson this last week and had time for a quick survey through the microfilm of the Benecia Letterbooks and the 1st CA Inf Letterbooks. I am already finding some good useful stuff and adding it to our research page.

[Dan Munson]

Re: Supply Depots / Regiments

Troy -

That would be the Oviatt Library at California State University, Northridge.

I have this recollection of seeing that book on the shelf while I was a student there (late 1970s). I spent a lot of time in the library's Civil War book section. Even back then I knew Monty Meigs was QM General for the US Army. I recall briefly looking at some of the pages and making a mental vow to take a serious look at it "someday"...which day, as I said, never came.

I can probably get into the library, even though I have no connection to the university at present. However, I could join the alumni association, which I believe would get me library privileges.

P.S. -- The same library also had a copy of Orton's "The Record of California Men in the War of the Rebellion," which I saw for the first time there. Read that one quite thoroughly!