ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT

In addition to the above accouterments, a number of personal items were issued to each man. Between 1839 and 1855, all personal military gear was provided by the U.S. Quartermaster Department, which filled its orders through contracts with private manufacturers.⁵⁵ Each volunteer Battalion solider drew a U.S. Army haversack, canteen, and knapsack. Blankets might have been provided earlier by a military sutler on the Missouri River.⁵⁶ Finally, a tent for each mess, defined as a group of six men, along with cooking gear, were issued from existing

U.S. Army stores at Fort Leavenworth. The following section briefly describes these items and offers speculation on the types of equipment used to outfit the Mormon Battalion.

Haversack - To carry rations, a soldier was issued a white cotton 13-inch by 12-inch flat haversack. The haversack was carried over the right shoulder by a 1.8-inch by 30-inch nonadjustable cotton shoulder strap and rested high on the left hip.⁵⁷ The scalloped outer flap of the haversack was secured with three small pewter buttons. During times of inclement weather, the haversack’s thin cotton fabric failed to prevent rain water from soaking its contents. In addition to food, Mormon Battalion volunteers might have also carried other essential items in their haversacks, including a knife, fork, spoon, and tin plate. A one pint tin cup, known as “dipper” or “coffee boiler,” was often tied to the outside of the haversack with a leather strip and used for drinking and cooking.⁵⁸

Figure 14

Canteen - The canteens issued during the Mexican War included a painted wooden cylindrical version, a tin drum with a convex face stamped “US” inside an embossed circle, a vulcanized Indian rubber canteen with a brass spout, or one made of sewn leather. The wooden, tin drum, and rubber canteens held between 2 and a half to 3 pints of water.⁵⁹ While in Mexico, soldiers discovered that their wooden canteens dried out and broke in the hot weather, the tin canteens caused the water to heat-up, and the rubber canteens made drinking unpalatable. Soldiers replaced their Army issued canteens with containers made from hollowed out dried gourds, which kept water cool through the hottest days.⁶⁰ Although several members of the Mormon Battalion recorded in their personal journals that they received canteens at Fort Leavenworth, not one mentioned the type; wooden, tin, or rubber, that was issued.⁶¹

Figure 15

Knapsack - Little is known about Mexican War knapsacks and even less about those that were issued to the Mormon Battalion. It is likely that black “hardpack” knapsacks were provided the Mormon volunteers.⁶² This type of knapsack was formed around a 17-inch square ridged wooden frame that was covered by black painted cloth. A leather flap covered the back of the knapsack, and three straps were attached at the top to secure a rolled-up blanket. A soldier might carry inside a number of personal items, such as a toothbrush, extra socks, candles, books, soap, writing materials, razor, comb, mirror, etc.

Figure 16

Blankets - The Mormon Battalion soldiers were issued U.S. Army blankets, perhaps as many as two per soldier. Blankets were provided on at least two different occasions, first while encamped near the Missouri River and again at Fort Leavenworth. The military specified the manufacture of wool blankets to be free from shoddy, re-worked cotton, or impure materials. The Battalion may have been issued natural white wool blankets, that measured roughly 80 inches by 64 inches, with a 3 to 4-inch black stripe 6 inches from the ends and weighing not less than 5 lbs.⁶³

Tentage - As per the military custom during that time, the soldiers of the Battalion were divided into small groups of six men, each known as a “mess.”⁶⁴ Each mess, who were to eat, sleep, and cook together, received a white canvas, open floor, “A-Frame” or “Wedge” tent. This triangular style of tent, that typically measured 6-feet and 4-inches in width, by 8 feet in length, and 7 feet in height, had been used by soldiers during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. These tents proved uncomfortably hot during the summer months.⁶⁵

Cooking Equipment - Each mess of six men received a camp kettle, frying pan, coffee pot, tin plates, and cooking utensils.⁶⁶ The Battalion’s cooking equipment, tentage, and supplies were transported in U.S. Army wagons. However, officers allowed each company to purchase a baggage wagon and a four-mule team to haul personal knapsack and bedding.

Average Weight of Mormon Battalion Military Equipage

Figure 17