Officers Haversacks

[PvtHull48thovi]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Ken,

Yes, I am definitely glad that I decided against it. On the other hand what I now am in need of, if any of gentleman would be so kind as to point me in the correct direction, is I am in need of paperwork. Roll call sheets, Commision sheets, as previously stated, and other such sheets as morning reports, ration requests etc. Since these events are based on a campaign and not for garrison or such. Any help would be much appreciated. Ive looked at Sullivan press and they have some things. But I actually already have everything they offer. What Im looking for now is Company level stuff.

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Having portrayed officers periodically, I recommend you get a copy of Revised U.S. Army Regulations 1863. This is a reprint of the amended 1861 regulations so it should cover you through the war. It has just about every form used by various departments (QM, Ordnance, Pay, etc) and you can either copy these directly on appropriate paper or once identified print them out via available fonts and/or programs.

A search on this forum should yield sources for both paper for our purposes and vendors who have offered the appropriate fonts for use in creating documents if the copies don't work. I just copied them, however, and carried the ones I needed based upon the scenario or event.

As to haversacks, I will say the advice you have been offered is sage and that you should buy the best one you can within your budget, but you can't afford to buy cheap since you will likely only replace it. Details equals dollars if the details are correct and the bag is well made. I have one made custom for me, but I saved a long time to buy this, using my Federal enlisted haversack in the meantime until I could afford it. Worth it in the long run.

[DougCooper]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Shelby - for background info consult the book "Experience in the War of the Great Rebellion" by Newsome. He was in the 81st Ill, and like most the 48th OVI, was captured at Mansfield. Lots of great info on their time in Camp Ford in Tyler, TX. This is off topic but if you can get over to Camp Ford, it is well worth it. the officers imprisoned there with the enlisted (including your character probably) were key to that prison have the lowest mortality rate of any prison, north or south. You guys look great by the way. You might consult Mike Brase at MB & Young or Speedy Merrick at Merrick's Custom Leather for ideas on haversack that won't break the bank.

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Taken July 1863. Sorry it's not more clear, It's a photo of a CDV. Also notice, he not only has an enlisted haversack that's stuffed full, and his dipper's on his haversack (no, you should never do that) but, he has on enlisted trousers too. There's lots more evidence of this in photographic form. Here's just one example:



And, Boyd Miles would be my first choice for more than one product.

[4vaadjutant]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Shelby-

When it comes to forms, it once again depends upon whether you are going Confederate or Union Army. In the Union Army the forms were more stadardized and uniform in size and design than on the Confederate side. The Adjutant's Department of both armies would provide a wagon with a printing press for the larger armies in the field so that new forms could be printed and available for use while campaigning. On the Confederate side, however, persistent paper shortages required quartermasters to contract with local printers to print new forms. The local typesetter would use the designs of forms in the regulations manuals for guidance on what information the forms were to provide. In the years I spent reviewing forms at the National Archives, the Museum of the Confederacy and other repositories of war documents, I do not recall ever seeing one that looked like the ones in the manuals. The manuals guided the typesetter and he used whatever typefaces he had in his trays, and on the Rebel side whatever paper he had in stock. For instance, in my collection of original forms, I have five different specimens of Special Requisition Form No. 40 that range in size form the common 8"x10" to 8"x14". We have more latitude when doing a Confederate impression because of the heavy reliance on local printers and the use of captured federal paperwork. For some time after the capture of Banks' wagon trains during the Valley Campaign of 1862, much paperwork of Stonewall Jackson's divisions was done on modified captured federal forms. Also, when doing Confederate, hand-made forms were quite common because of the shortage of paper and availablity of printed forms. That's when it is so nice to have a regulations manual for guidance in making hand-made forms that provide the information needed. There are times when my company or battalion will be doing a campaigner impression that I purposely leave printed forms at home and make whatever forms I need by hand using a ruler and a pair of scissors to trim the paper used. It's also interesting to note that much of the federal paperwork was done on paper that was bleached to make it whiter while on the Confederate side kraft paper was often used because it was more available. The paper would be washed to make it whiter, but bleach was not employed. As a consequence, many of the Union Army forms stored at the National Archives are falling apart faster than the Confederate collection because the Rebels used acid free paper so much. Shelby, go for being historically accurate.. If you are putting so much effort into doing the other aspects of your portrayal accurately, then do the same with your paperwork.

Your obe't servant,
Tom Williams
The Liberty Hall Volunteers
4th Virginia Infantry, Co. I
Stonewall Brigade
Indianapolis

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Officers Haversacks

63rd Pennsylvania. Co. B. He stopped and had his image made while he was on his way to Gettysburg.

This photo is also in the book "Under the Red Patch" the 63rd's regimental history, which, has just been recently reprinted.

[LemuelEllington]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Hello,

I would echo the sentiments of others: I have a Boyd Miles officer's haversack. Really a nice bag. One cannot go wrong with one of his haversacks.

Mike Palada
aka Lemuel Ellington, Hairy Nation Boys

Hello Gents,

Been a good while since I've been on the forum let alone had any questions. I have recently been drafted as an 2nd Lt. at an event coming up in a few months. Western Theatre. Red River Campaign to be exact. As for the question. I am looking to purchase an officers haversack and upon research I've found several really good ones on the market. The question pertains to one that The Regimental Quartermaster offers. They call it a Tarred Officers Haversack. Its a relatively inexpensive haversack compared to the one offered by **** ****** or by Dixie Leather works. I have tried to research this haversack a little and I've come up with nothing in any of the books that I have. Does anyone know how, I dare say, "correct" this haversack they offer is, and is it of a decent enough quality to get me through one or two events while I get the funds to purchase a nicer one.

[fahtz]

Re: Officers Haversacks

I have used Tom's paper work in the field and it is pretty amazing and at a VERY reasonable price. I have also used Jason Wickersty for forms and other paperwork and he is also a very good source. The paper both of these gents use is second to none. Having original paper in hand while comparing their reproduction paperwork shows the attention to detail they use. The only difference to me was the age on the original paper!

[Captmort11th]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Tom,
Im a new captain, what is an officers appointment document?

Thanks

[4vaadjutant]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Hello, John! Every officer had to be appointed to their grade by an act of Congress. The process involved several steps before the officer could officially assume his duties. One of the steps is being notified by the War Department of his appointment by the President, and paperwork that must be completed and returned to the department before he could assume his duties. The process involved being discharged from his former rank and unit, and then technically enlisting for a new term of service and being mustered-in to his new unit at his new grade. This occurred even when being promoted within his original unit - he would be discharged and mustered-out, and then mustered-in at his new grade. In the Jeff Davis Rifles Battalion we have started the practice of new officers experiencing the whole process of reporting for duty at the officer's new grade with all of the attendant forms and paperwork. I can also provide all of the forms for officers, both North and South. I have written a paper that describes the process and it is somewhere on this website, but I don't know where! If you will provide me with your email address I will be pleased to provide it to you (it's in PDF format). Welcome to the Officer's Corps - it's good to see that you want to start off on the correct foot.

Your obedient servant,
Tom Williams
4th Virginia Infantry
Indianapolis

Proprietor, Adjutant Supply Company.

[Scott Sheets]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Hi Tom,

I'd be interested in a couple sets of forms for a Federal officer for the process above. Do you have sets available for sale.

[4vaadjutant]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Hello, Scott!

Thank you for your inquiry. I am pleased to learn of your interest in properly portraying an officer.

Every officer should have in his personal kit his appointment notification, which designates his grade and effective date, as approved by Congress. It would not hurt for him to also have a copy of his orders for his current assignment. If you saw the movie “Dances With Wolves” you might recall the trouble John Dunbar experienced when he was unable to produce any evidence of his commission or any orders of his assignment. In the military community these practices were very important. In our hobby some people question the importance of addressing such details, to which I ask that if it is so important that the number of stitches per inch of a seam are important, why not also do the bureaucratic, regulatory practices that can be also followed today as a part of our portrayals? Even in the progressive community there is evidence of such things getting short-shrift in spite of the availability of the knowledge about how these things were done and historically correct paperwork is available for use. So much for pontificating!

The process for commissioning an officer is discussed in a paper I produced years ago and I believe is still somewhere on the AC website, but I have no idea where it might be (while I can do some fun things with my desktop publishing program, I am otherwise technologically challenged!). It would be my pleasure to provide you with a copy of the paper by email if I am provided your email address. It is in PDF format and features images of the Confederate appointment form and the companion Form of Oath. When I was appointed chief of staff for the 10th Iowa at Bentonville a couple years ago I set about creating new templates of the Union Army officer’s appointment form and companion Form of Oath. Each commissioned officer of the staff and the companies of the 10th Iowa were properly documented for their assignments.

The basic elements of what I provide include an appointment form signed by Edwin Stanton on proper acid-free paper, along with a Form of Oath. The procedure called for the appointee to accept the appointment in writing to the War Department along with a signed Form of Oath. The appointment was not official until the letter of acceptance and Form of Oath were received by the Adjutant-General’s Office. I mail the appointment letter and Form of Oath in a cover (i.e.: envelope) from the War Department. To my Confederate friends I suggest they retain the cover in their kit as a source of paper on which to make notes. This was often done because of frequent paper shortages in the South.

It would be my pleasure to help you create your documentation. I can also work with you on producing your orders in addition to the appointment notice and Form of Oath if you desire. There is a small charge to cover the expenses for the time, paper and postage involved to produce your paperwork. Just let me know what you want.

Your most obedient servant,

Tom Williams
4th Virginia Infantry
Indianapolis

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Tom,

Is this the link you're looking for?

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/links/showlink.php?l=252&catid=12

[Captmort11th]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Thank you Tom! It's xlhiron@yahoo.com

[Scott Sheets]

Re: Officers Haversacks

Hi Tom. My email is smsrods@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing this information.