Thank you Andrew Watson Kirk Heres a few references that span the war from NY 1776 to 1781 of blanket slings by the British Army : Lt. Alexander Baillie to Col. Henry Bouquet, Return of the Weight of the Clothing, Arms Accoutrements and Ammunition, provisions, and Necessarys & ca of a Grenadier upon a march, August 28th, 1762. Bouquet Papers, Series, 21648, Part 2, p. 77-78 : …A pair of stockings and garters….A blanket with strap & garters 4th British Grenadier Battalion Order Book, Kept by Adjutant and Lieutenant John Peebles, Grenadier Company, 42 or Royal Highland Regiment, August 1 to October 17, 1776 (commanded by Maj. Hon. Charles Stuart of the 43d Regt.) : Head Qrs. Dykers ferry Staten Island, 2d. Augt 76 (R: O) [Regimental Order] When the Men disembark, they are to take nothing with them, but 3 Shirts, 2 prs of hose & their Leggings which are to be put up neatly in their packs, leaving their knapsacks & all their other necessaries on board o [sic] Ship which are carefully to be laid up by the Commanding Officers of Companys in the safest manor they can contrive. A small guard to be left on board each ship and only 4 Women per Comy to come ashore. [B.O.] Morng Orders, 19th. Augt. The Battn. to Parade, Arm’d & Accoutred at [sic] with their Packs, haversacks & Canteens and everything else as for a March, at 12 OClock at the Exercising Ground. all the officers to attend – Battn. orders 21st. Augt. The Companys to parade tomorrow Morng with their Arms Accoutrements & Packs at half after 2 OClockat Major [Hon. Charles] Stewarts Quartrs. The Commanding Officers of Compys. to be particularly carefull they do not excid this hour. General (Army) Orders 20 August 1776When the Troops land they are to carry nothing with them but their Arms, Ammunition, Blankets, & three Days provisions. The Commandg. Officers of Compys. will take particular care that the Canteens are properly filld with Rum & Water & it is most earnestly reecommended to the Men to be as saving as possible of their Grog. Brigade [of Guards] Orders August 19th [1776.] When the Brigade disembarks two Gils of Rum to be delivered for each mans Canteen which must be filled with Water, Each Man to disembark with a Blanket & Haversack in which he is to carry one Shirt one pair of Socks and Three Days Provisions a careful Man to be left on board each Ship to take care of the Knapsacks. The Articles of War to be read to the Men by an Officer of each Ship. Brigade [of Guards] Orders 11 March 1777 The Waistbelts to Carry the Bayonet & to be wore across the Shoulder.� The Captains are desired to provide Webbing for Carrying the Mens Blankets according to a pattern to be Seen at the Cantonment of Lt. Colo. Sr. J. Wrottesleys Company.� The Serjeants to Observe how they are Sewed. R[egimental]:O[rders 14th May 1777 Each Compy. will immediately receive from the Qr. Mr. Serjt. 26 Slings & Wallets to put the quantity of Necesareys Intendd. to be Carrid. to the field Viz 2 shirts 1 pr. of shoes & soles 1 pr. of stockings 1 pr. of socks shoe Brushes, black ball &c Exclusive of the Necessareys they may have on (the[y] must be packd. in the snugest manner & the Blankts. done neatly round very little longer than the Wallets) to be Tyed. very close with the slings and near the end †the men that are not provided. with A blankett of their own may make use of one [of] the Cleanest Barrick Blanketts for to morrow †After Regl. Orders 7 at Night [18 May 1777] … The Regt: to parade to morrow Morning at 11 oClock with Arms, Accoutrements & Necessarys in order to be inspected by their Officers †The Necessarys to be carried in their Wallet and slung over the Right Shoulder … Washingtons General Orders 9/7/1777 The General has received a confirmation of the intelligence mentioned in the after orders of last night that the enemy have disincumbered themselves of all their baggage, even to their tents, reserving only their blankets, and such part of their cloathing as is absolutely necessary. One of the [British] officers, a subaltern, observed to me that his soldiers were infants that required constant attendance, and said as a proof of it that although they had blankets tied to their backs, yet such was their laziness that they would sleep in the dew and cold without them rather than have the trouble of untying and opening them. He said his business every night before he slept was to see that no soldier in his company laid down without a blanket. L.H. Butterfield, ed., Letters of Benjamin Rush, vol. I (Princeton, N.J., 1951), pp. 154- 155. 71st Regt, 1st Bn, Capt. Aeneas Mackintosh Coy, Orderly Book. Ebenezar 28th April 1779 B:O: The Battn to be under arms at Six(?) O Clock this afternoon with their Blankets and Provisions _____ put up any heavy articles that they cannot carry with them to be left the charge of the Qtr Mr. Sergt. -- all guards and piquets to be called in at that same time.-- The Companies are desird to Compt. their Draughts with proper Straps to Carry their Blankets, & to be as expeditious as possible in Compleating them with Trowsers. (From Orderly Book: First Battalion of Guards, British Army, New York, covering all but a few days of 1779. Reel 6, document 77 of Early American Orderly Books Series microfilmed by Research Publications Inc. 1st Battn Orders 9 September 1779 The Men lately Joind having received their Field Blankets, the Serjts. are Ordered, to see that they are Markd with the Initial Letters of each Mans Name. The Men are to be provided with proper Straps for Carrying them & Shewn how to Roll them up. (Ibid.) H. B. M. 43rd Regiment of Foot Orderly Book, 23 May- 25th August, 1781. British Museum, London: Manuscript 42,449, transcribed by Gilbert V. Riddle “Apollo Transport Of[f] Brandon James River 23rd May 1781 Orders by Major Ferguson The Quarter Master will issue Canteens Haversacks and Camp Kettles to the Battalion immediately. The Companies to send Returns for their Effectives as this is the only supply the Regiment can possible Receive during the Campaign the Soldiers cannot be to careful to preserve them. Five Regimental Waggons will land with the Regiment. One to each Grand Division the fifth for Major Fergusons Baggage. The Quarter Master will issue an equal proportion of the Trowzers, made since the Embarkation- to each Company to compleat them as near as possible to Two pair per Man. It is positively Ordered that no Soldier lands with more necessaries than his Blanket, Canteen, Haversack, Two pair of Trowzers, Two pair of Stockings, and Two Shirts, and Two pair of good Shoes. The Remaining Necessaries of each Company to be carefully packed up and Orders will be given as soon as possible for its been taken proper care of.”
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:20:31 +0000
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