Logistics: Supplying an army

[Gene]

While reading the official records of the BHW as published by the Illinois State Hist. Library, I see many lists that enumerate supplies moving into the field, including, but not limited to: food, weapons, ammunition, tentage, blankets and candles. My question is; How much of these supplies actually reached the militia units who were on the move?  In other words, what provisions would you really find in the haversack or wallet of a mounted militiaman?

[Robert Braun]

Gene, that's a great question.

You're reading about supplies ordered up by Gen. Atkinson and his staff from St. Louis and elsewhere coming upriver on steamers like Dove and Java. From the landings, most supplies were hauled by carts or ore wagons to central distribution points. From these points, supplies and foodstuffs were distributed.
Some of these depots included federal installations like Fort Crawford and Fort Winnebago.

Other supplies were ordered, sometimes on credit, by state or territorial authorities. Illinois had several central points that became "depots" for all intents and purposes. Likewise in the Michigan Territory, Fort Jackson, in Mineral Point, Iowa County, became a central depot for distribution of munitions and equipage to the various militia organizations.

Materiel like weapons, lead, gunpowder, powder flasks, saddles, blankets, and other supplies were issued to militia companies either at the time of enlistment or as soon as the supplies became available. Resuppplies of consumables like bulk gunpowder and lead, or pre-made cartridges, would have to come from a depot or stroage point, and be brought forward in carts or wagons.

Food was a continuing challenge to Atkinson for two main reasons... one was maintaining enough supplies on hand; the second was dealing with militia levees that had a habit of wasting rations or having them spoil in the summer heat. According to the correspondence, Atkinson placed much reliance on his ability to re-supply his army with food from the stores at Forts Crawford and later Fort Winnebago. He was a Regular Army soldier, and the expectation was that militia units on the government ration would draw rations in the quantities and variety authorized by Congress for the Regular Army.

Army rations during 1832 were an unexciting array of salt meat (almost always pork), wheat flour, and so-called "small rations" of candles, soap, and vinegar. At an army post, the flour could (and usually was) baked into bread. We also know that Atkinson had ordered a quantity of hard bread (also known as "hardtack") from St. Louis. How much of this actually got into the hands of the soldiers is an interesting question... although there is an account of a wounded Indian child munching on a piece of hard bread after the Battle of Mississippi.
The child could have gotten that hard bread from only once source-- a government soldier or militiaman.

By the early part of June, it is fair to observe that militiamen (particularly levees of what would become known as Illinois' "Third Army") would be expected to make up their own wallets and tent cloths from materials ordered by Atkinson from St. Louis in the latter half of May. We find the Federal Government issuing to Illinois troops (more likely the state procured the items from Federal sources and issued them through its own offices) a large array of items, including saddles, bridles, tin buckets (possibly mess kettles) and even coffee pots.

This last item is an interesting one. Coffee pots were issued and used, despite the fact that coffee was not part of the government ration! Indeed, Atkinson in one letter chastized a local commander for a contemplated coffee issue, as it was not part of the government allowance. Only after the Sauk War,  the Army substituted coffee and sugar for the traditional whiskey ration.

What was in the wallets of the militia? On active campaign, the contents were probably slim... pork and flour in quantities in accordance with government allowances, possibly a government tin cup, a small bag or container with fire-starting materials, a small amount of personal items, and possibly accompanied by a tin U. S. bucket for cooking (and tied to the saddle.) Although it makes sense that the volunteers would have had an eating bowl or trencher, we don't observe these items in the lists of issued items or in the lists of lost items. (That doesn't mean they didn't have something like a plate... we just don't have specifics in the written records.)

We might also think a knife, fork, and spoon might be in order... however, a spoon has little utilitarian value on campaign; forks were generally used to hold food while cutting, not to convey food to the mouth; and a table knife may not be required when a belt knife would suffice.

[Robert Braun]

Gene, to your question on actual provisions carried in the wallets of the militia...

In 1825, the United States Government authorized the following daily ration for its regular soldiers:

• 3/4 pound of pork or 1 1/4 pound fresh or salted beef or 12 ounces bacon;
  
• 18 ounces of bread or flour or 12 ounces hard bread or 1 1/4 pounds of corn meal;
  
• one gill whiskey
  
• To every 100 rations: 4 pounds soap, 1 ½ pounds candles, 2 quarts salt, 4 quarts vinegar, and 8 quarts peas or beans.
  

These last items were known under the general term of "small rations."

We certainly read about supplies of pork and flour being available to the militia. Using the 1825 allowances, we may figure 2 1/4 lbs pork or bacon, and 3 1/3 pounds flour for three days rations. It is entirely possible that shortages (inevitable in warfare) resulted in less being issued... or three or more days rations being expected to last for more than three days. The "small rations" may not have been issued. Since they were considered part of a soldiers allowance, technically, the man was to be credited with what he was unable to draw, to be settled with his pay and other accounts. Whether or not that actually happened would require deeper investigation.

Normally, soliders converted their flour into bread... baked at the army post bakeries. We know that once Dodge arrived at Fort Winnebago to draw rations for the Michigan Mounted Volunteers, he at once directed that flour rations be turned to bread. It seems reasonable that most of the baked bread was consumed in the several days the men were at the fort, or shortly thereafter. Once Gen. Henry and Col. Dodge's men left the vicinity of the Rock River Rapids, it is likely they carried rations of flour and pork.

One might well imagine the attempts to put the flour into a condition to make something edible. We know on the pursuit to Wisconsin Heights that rainy conditions and only occasional fires rendered actual cooking problematic. The realities, once fully considered, may well strip away any romance modern readers might hold for the campaign... overtired men shivered in wet clothes amid unseasonably chilly conditions as they dined on raw, fatty pork and sticky hunks of dough, washed down with draughts of stream or lake water.  Oh... and look... it's raining again...

Later that summer, it seems probable that hard bread was issed to Atkinson's Army, probably coinciding with the final pursuit across the Wisconin River. Rations of hard bread probably consisted of 8-10 crackers per man, or 24-30 crackers for three days rations.

Five or more pounds of provisions in the wallet would not have left much room for mess furniture (cup plate or bowl, knife, fork, spoon... likely privately owned... with the possible exception of the cup) nor an abundance of personal items. These latter items might well have been carried in saddle bags.

[Gene]

Bob:
  Thanks for such a comprehensive answer! This would certainly be a question that could arise in a living history situation. This tell us (me) what should be carried by a person  portraying a militiaman. I really appreciate this feedback.

Two more questions:

1. What was your source for this info?

2. What is a Sthingy? You referenced this a couple of times, I'm not sure what it is???
          Gene

[Robert Braun]

Thanks for your note, Gene.

There are a number of sources used to compile my responses to you. Let's discuss these at the Fort Atkinson event. I'll bring some along to show you.

As for "sthingy" well... I am informed that the discussion board has filters to keep posters from putting up obnoxious or dirty words. The word should be s-p-o-o-n... as in the logical sequence after "knife, fork, and..."
however, the filter bleeped it out and replaced the potentially offending word with "thingy."

See you Friday night!   Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

"Where is the Beef?"

Bob, in this very informative thread you made reference to fresh beef as one of the possible items in a military man's rations.  I can not put my finger on the exact quote of the Black Hawk War, but it seems to me that I read that General Atkinson's force drove cattle on his manuvers south of the Wisconsin River.  

[Robert Braun]

Good recollection, Larry!

Gen. Atkinson, indeed mentions 60 head of cattle in (I think) his July 17 dispatch to Gen. Scott, along with some 15 days provisions packed and carried by the militia, and another five days on pack animals.

I also recall a note some ten or so days later indicating that 40-50 head (or something like that) being procured, or anticipated being procured by the commander of Fort Crawford.

Certainly fresh or salt beef was part of the 1802 allowances... and regular army forts did try to substitute fresh meat for salted meat a time or two each week. There is little doubt from the records, though, that the army preference for the meat ration was salt pork.

Cattle had the advantage of transporting themselves, and the meat staying "fresh" until required. The downside was that cattle required a huge amount of forage... something that became sparse as Atkinson's force pressed deeper into what is now western Wisconsin in the latter days of July.

r.

[Gene]

I found this interesting passge in Whitneys Black Hawk War   1831-1832 (of which I am now the proud owner of a full set),

This is a memo from Capt A. Greer, Spy Battallion 2nd Brigade, 3rd Army;

The camp equipage receipted for by me for the use of the company have been unavoidably lost, or worn out in the service.

25 halters
1 axe
2 tin buckets
3 "  cups
1 " pan
2 Frying do.
1 coffee boiler

This gives another small glance at what the militia may have been carrying along in the field, though some of the other readings Ive come accross have indicated that coffee during this time was not regularly issued to troops by the US Army, whereas whiskey was!

[[e-mail]]

Yes, this info tells us what Capt. Greer's Company lost.

His experience may, or may not, have been reflected in other companies... although the issuance is indiciative of those items avaialble and used in the Sauk War.

You are correct in noting that coffee was not yet part of the government allowance, and a daily gill of whiskey was still part of the allowance. However, it is not clear to me how "available" this portion of the ration was to the army after Stillman's Run.

Bob.

[Robert Braun]

I have run across two instances in Whitney's of the army ordered to carry "ten days rations."

Using the army's scale for provisions:

•  3/4 pound of pork or 1 1/4 pound fresh or salted beef or 12 ounces bacon;
  
• 18 ounces of bread or flour or 12 ounces hard bread or 1 1/4 pounds of corn meal;
  

...ten days rations would equate to 7.5 pounds of pork, and either 11.25 lbs. flour or 7.5 lbs. hard bread (approximately 80-100 crackers.)

This would be "best case." Given the spot shortages of provisions during the Sauk War, it is entirely probable that the army was unable to issue the full allowance to each man. Regardless, there probably was not much room left in the wallets of the militia for personal items or eating utensils.

[Larry Koschkee]

In the last post of this thread Bob made reference to spot food shortages in the Sauk War.

I recently discovered Second Lieutenant R. H. Magoon's memoirs published in The History of Grant County, 1881, pp 424 - 435. Here Lt. Magoon described such shortages while serving under Capt. Clark with Col. Dodge's mounted volunteers.

"Before arriving at Gratiot's Grove, a halt was made to graze the horses. No provisions were visible for the bodily support of the soldiers. They were placed in a quandary for a time, not knowing how to remedy the omission. In the vicinity was Fetter's deserted house, and, while wandering around the premises, one of the men descried a huge, rusty iron kettle. Summoning assistance, the kettle was cleaned out and filled with mustard greens, from which they expected to sup sumptuously. Alas for the hopes of men! When the mess was boiled, it proved unplatable and nauseating...

The following evening, Capt. Clark was handed a dispatch from Col. Dodge, ordering him to proceed to Fort Hamilton, and after drawing ten days' rations, join the regiment then preparing to march on Black Hawk. No rations were visible at Fort Hamilton, and, weary and hungry, the mining regiment had to make the best of its way to headquarters, where no remedy existed for their complaints. A brace of tough plow oxen were killed for their benefit, but this "bull beef" could not be masticated by the strongest man...

An incident of the campaign will serve to illustrate some of the difficulties the miners had to submit to. Prior to marching up the Rock River country, two barrels of flour were served out to each company. By design or oversight the two barrels served to Clark's corps were musty and sour. Col. Dodge refused to replace them with flour of palatable quality. On being acquainted with the refusal, Lieut. Magoon selected a file of his best men, and, marching to the staff quarters, deliberately bore off the precious goods. This peremptory course, becoming known to the officers of the staff, caused some comment, but, beyond a feeble demur, no action was taken. Having this secured rations, the line of march was taken up."