by

Jim Downey, A.K.A. "The Green Ghost"

While I was going through some of my research files that I have in my old rusty, trusty computer, I came across some information pertaining to blankets. After looking at the information I thought that I would share it with the people who read the "Warpost".

I know that the other writers to the "Warpost" have constantly emphasized research, and as a matter of fact so does yours truly. So with that in mind here is some research that you, the reader can put to use. Since some of the people who read the "Warpost" are just as addicted to research as I am, I know that there are people who will find a great deal of information within these notes.

Maybe, just maybe, it should be a requirement for members of the "Alliance of Woodland Historians" to submit {to the "Warpost"} a documented article once a year.....OK...I’m back on earth, but it was just some wishful thinking on my part. So much for my wishful dreaming, let’s get on to the information pertaining to 18th century blankets.

The primary sources that I will start with are the "Duffin and Taylor Accounts at Fort Niagara, in 1779". Then "The Journals of the Provincial Congress of the Providence of New York 1775 - 1777, Vol.s I & II". I will then utilize secondary information found in the book "The American revolution in Indian Country".

Before starting with Duffin And Taylor Accounts, I must explain who and what Duffin and Taylor were. Duffin and Taylor were one of the two major firms {sutlers} that were at Fort Niagara at the beginning of the Revolution. The other firm was of Edward Pollard, who had been post sutler for fifteen years.

The Duffin and Taylor account book is a great source book because it not only gives an account of what was available, but also it in many cases, gives a description of the item.

Although the year of the account book is 1779, it must be understood that the items contained therein are germane to the entire "Ohio" frontier before and after that year. The important thing is that from the information, one can establish the size and value of blankets. One thing that is obvious is that the point system appears to have been utilized in almost all cases for blanket sizing. But sadly there is no mention of colors of blankets.

So far what does that give us? O.K. from the information one can see below, there was a variety of point sizes to choose from. Therefore, should you want to purchase a blanket, and your persona is within the time frame of 1779 [+ -}, purchasing a point blanket would be a good start.

Blankets # on hand Pd/S/P

1) <1 point blankets> (50 on hand) 4/4

2) <1 1/2 "" "" (30 on hand) ?

3) <2 " " (69 on hand) 7/2

4) <2 " " (10 on hand) 7/2

5) <2 " " (40 on hand) 7/2

6) <2 " " ( 9 on hand) ?

7) <2 1/2 " " fine (6 on hand) 12/6

8) <2 1/2 " " (400 on hand) 11/1

9) <2 1/2 "" "" (22 on hand) 30/-

10) <3 " " (25 on hand) 10/6

11) <3 " " fair (50 on hand) 0/3

12) <3 " " ? ?

13) <3 " " (14 on hand) ?

14) <4 " " ( 3 on hand ) 24/ -

15 <Rose> (4 on hand) ?

16 <Buffalo> (1 on hand) 4/-

As to the colors of blankets at Fort Niagara, I have only found one reference to a specific color and that color was scarlet. It appears that Chiefs and principle warriors were distinguished with gifts of three point or scarlet blankets. There also appears to have been about 7,365 male, females and children Indians at or around Fort Niagara from November 1778 to March, 1779. One astounding point of information is that each Indian was normally issued a blanket.

From the Journal of the Provincial Congress of the Providence of New York 1775- 1777, Vols. I & II, I have obtained the following information’s.

The first thing that I found was that the size of a blanket for soldiers of New York in 1775 was to be Four Points. This information is based upon letters from Mr. Peter T. Curtenius, the purchasing agent for the Province of N.Y.

On June 17th, 1775 Mr Curtenius wrote to the Provincial Congress of N.Y. that he had a hard time finding the right sort and size blankets for the N.Y. troops. Then he went on to state that he sent blankets to a Capt. Wendell and they were Two Point blankets, but Mr. Curtenius also states that two blankets " sewd together will make one good blanket."

Now based upon the aforementioned information that has been obtained so far, it appears that Four Point blankets were supposed to have been issued to the Provincial troops of N.Y. in 1775. But now we must ask, were they available?

The Provincial Congress on June 28th, 1775 wrote to a Mr. John Alsop of Philadelphia, informing him that New York was raising 3000 men for its Army quota. The problem was that N.Y, was short 2852 blankets and couldn’t obtain any in that region. the provincial Congress of the colony then made a request to John Alsop to obtain as many blankets as he could.

On August 10th, 1775 Peter T. Curtenius in a letter to New York’s Provincial Congress stated: "My clerk is returned from Philadelphia, and informs me that he can get from Thomas & Issac Warton, blankets, match coats 7 etc. to the amount of 1135 pounds, 10 shillings, 3 pence, Pennsylvania currency upon condition that I take the whole of this store"

We then see a letter from New York’s Congress dated August 14th, 1775 stating that "All our troops are furnished with blankets...".

So based upon the letters to and from the Provincial Congress of New York we have probable cause to believe that all N.Y. troops received blankets, and the intent of the colony’s Congress was that each soldier was to have a blanket equivalent to a Four Point blanket.

Therefore if your persona is a soldier in or from New York in 1775 it would be documented that your blanket should be a "four pointer".

Here is a little side note just to show you that no matter how things change, in reality they stay the same. Mr. Curtenius wrote to the Provincial Congress of New York that he "purchased of Robinson & Price last week 45 blankets for Capt. Ledyards Company at a rate of 19 shillings, 6 pence per blanket, that from the size and quality he supposes they cost 3 pounds, 10 shillings sterling per ps." Now here’s the clincher, and again this is Mr. Curtenius stating, "That within a fortnight, {Curtenius} supplied blankets of a better quality to the poorhouse at 12 shillings per blanket...".

Even in the 18th Century soldiers got screwed!

Now for my final tidbit of info, let me give you some added information pertaining to blankets and bedding.

On February 19th, 1776, at the lower barracks in N.Y. {Manhattan} the Provincial Congess ordered an inventory of military equipment, etc. thesis the part of the inventory pertaining to blankets and bedding:

6736 Osnaburg sheets (new)

300 "" "" (old)

140 white sheets (new)

20 "" "" (old)

92 check sheets (new)

370 pillow cases osnaburg (new)

120 Bolster cases (new)

160 old moth eaten blankets most of them fit for nothing but making cartridges for field pieces.

O.K. Folks, that’s it on my blanket notes for now. But if you think I can bore you about blankets, wait till you see what I’m going to do to stockings! Have I got a note or two on them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a serious note, I would like to publicly that the folks at The Warpost for the Get Well notes in the last issue. Yes, it’s true The Green Ghost went down for an eight count, but fear not! I’m back up on my old feet again. The truth is I had a blood clot and an infection in the left leg, but I’m trekking 3 to 6 miles a day in the woods again. The best part of the situation is that I’m under Doctor’s Orders to go trekking! Yeah, like he had to twist my arm!

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Stolen From The Camp Chase Gazette

: I am including this reprint for those of us who live near or travel through Canada and wish to carry our muskets along.

"There is some good news for reenactors in the proposed revisions to Canada’s new firearms laws, which originally would have imposed a heavy fee on most people taking weapons into the country.

According to Andy Desjardins, a Canadian firearms instructor and safety officer for the American Civil War Historical Reenactment Society, {sponsors of the 49th NY, 10th Louisiana, and other fine Civil War reenactment units} the law will be amended to exempt almost all reproduction antique firearms. Previous plans had called for exempting only flintlock reproductions, but the inclusion of percussion cap weapons probably will mean that American Civil War reenactors will not have to buy the expensive temporary firearms permits.

‘This is great news for all’, Desjardins said. But he added a note of caution. ‘I hate to get too excited until I get to see the revised proposals on Bill C-68.’

Bill C-68 was passed and approved in 1995, but enforcement was delayed until regulations could be put into place, probably late this year or early 1998, Desjardins said. The big change for reenactors travelling to events in Canada would have been that instead of simply declaring firearms at the border, they would have had to pay a $50.00 charge {Canadian Money} for a 60-day permit.

Canadian reenactors, many of whom do pre-1860’s periods, lobbied for the exemption of reproduction antique weapons from the provisions of C-68. They found sympathetic ears, but the original proposed changes did not include percussion cap rifles and pistols. The Ministry of Justice announced in a press release April 22 that this had been changed.

The new regulations were not final yet at press time. For more information contact Mr. Richard Feltoe, Curator - Red Path Sugar Museum, 96 Queen Quay East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1A3, (416) 366-3561...or visit the Canadian Firearms Centre Web site at http://canada.justice.gc.ca/Orientations/CCAF/index_en.html

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