Post by Robert Braun on Jan 15, 2003 12:26:17 GMT -5
The following specifications for the U. S. Army common tent are from the Quartermaster's Manual, circa American Civil War.
[Note: These specifications are not meant to imply that the common tent of the Civil War era were identical or even substantially similar to common tents in use during 1832. This is merely a starting point for discussion and further investigation.]
Description of Common Tent
Dimensions when finished:
To be made of cotton duck 28 ½ wide, clear of all imperfections, and weighting ten ounces to the linear yard
Ends of tents to be cut with a sweep of four inches from the corner to the center
To be made in a workmanlike manner, with no less than two and a half stitches of equal length to the inch, made with double thread of five-fold cotton twine, well waxed. The seams not less than one inch in width, and no slack in them.
Grommets must be worked in all the holes and be well made with waxed cotton twine
The doors and stay pieces to be of same material as the tent, the stay pieces on the end and ridge of the tent to be nine inches square.
The sod-cloth to be of seven ounce cotton duck, nine inches in width in the clear from the tabling and to extend around the tent.
The tabling on the foot of the tent when finished will be one and a half inch in width
The door lines to be of six thread manilla line, three feet long in the clear
The foot lines to be of six thread manilla line sixteen inches long in the clear.
Twelve door strings one inch in width and fourteen inches long in the clear.
All lines to be well whipped one inch from the ends with waxed twine and properly knotted.
Description of Common Tent Poles
Ridge, 6 feet 10 inches long, 2 ½ inches wide, 1 7/8 inches think, bands on each end 2 inches wide, secured by two screws 1 inch long, ½ hole 1 inch from each end.
Upright 7 feet 4 inches long, 2 inches think, bands on upper end 1 ¾ inch wide secured by 2 screws 1 inch long, spindles 3/8 inch iron to project out 1 ½ inch and inserted 2 inches in upright.
Bands and spindles to be galvanized.
Description of Common Tent Pins
Sixteen inches long, 1 ¼ inch wide, 1 inch think, 1 notch 3 inches from the top. For each common tent there should be 14 pins.
[Note: These specifications are not meant to imply that the common tent of the Civil War era were identical or even substantially similar to common tents in use during 1832. This is merely a starting point for discussion and further investigation.]
Description of Common Tent
Dimensions when finished:
- Height when pitched 6 feet 10 inches
- Length of ridge when pitched 6 feet 10 inches
- Width when pitched 8 feet 4 inches
- Height of door when pitched 5 feet 6 inches
- Width of door when pitched 1 foot at bottom and 9 inches at top
- From top of ridge to lower edge of roof, when pitches 8 feet ½ inch
To be made of cotton duck 28 ½ wide, clear of all imperfections, and weighting ten ounces to the linear yard
Ends of tents to be cut with a sweep of four inches from the corner to the center
To be made in a workmanlike manner, with no less than two and a half stitches of equal length to the inch, made with double thread of five-fold cotton twine, well waxed. The seams not less than one inch in width, and no slack in them.
Grommets must be worked in all the holes and be well made with waxed cotton twine
The doors and stay pieces to be of same material as the tent, the stay pieces on the end and ridge of the tent to be nine inches square.
The sod-cloth to be of seven ounce cotton duck, nine inches in width in the clear from the tabling and to extend around the tent.
The tabling on the foot of the tent when finished will be one and a half inch in width
The door lines to be of six thread manilla line, three feet long in the clear
The foot lines to be of six thread manilla line sixteen inches long in the clear.
Twelve door strings one inch in width and fourteen inches long in the clear.
All lines to be well whipped one inch from the ends with waxed twine and properly knotted.
Description of Common Tent Poles
Ridge, 6 feet 10 inches long, 2 ½ inches wide, 1 7/8 inches think, bands on each end 2 inches wide, secured by two screws 1 inch long, ½ hole 1 inch from each end.
Upright 7 feet 4 inches long, 2 inches think, bands on upper end 1 ¾ inch wide secured by 2 screws 1 inch long, spindles 3/8 inch iron to project out 1 ½ inch and inserted 2 inches in upright.
Bands and spindles to be galvanized.
Description of Common Tent Pins
Sixteen inches long, 1 ¼ inch wide, 1 inch think, 1 notch 3 inches from the top. For each common tent there should be 14 pins.