Supplies
Highlights
In Depth
The Missouri State Guard’s clothing often came from wherever they could get it. Some uniforms were donated, others were purchased by the quartermaster, and others came from soldiers’ homes. William Bull in a letter home described how he would like his uniform to look, saying, “I want it made of gray cloth, the coat double breasted, MO buttons if they can be had if not federal staff buttons.”
In 1861, units of the Missouri State Guard were enlisted in Confederate service. These troops had slight improvements in their clothing and supplies. They were given new uniforms and belts inscribed with “C.S.” Shotguns were replaced with muskets. Clothing continued to be a problem as uniforms quickly got dirty and damaged in battle.
Edward Scott, a Missouri Confederate, described the food he ate as “bakers bread, sugar, molasses, rice, beef, and bacon”. He went on to say that they had plenty to eat. Food was not always so plentiful, however, as Captain Eathan Allen Pinnell described: “We have nothing to eat but beef without salt which we boil over the fire and half rations of flour which we make as dough in our handkerchiefs and back on sticks it is rather rough for a commencement but I shall never murmer if it is never worse.” He described shortages in supplies, including tents, saying, “Received of the quartermaster three small inferior tents, the first I have received for my company. We have been in service for four months and eleven days.”
Soldier Life
Highlights
Vocabulary
Fertile - capable of producing vegetation.
Primary Sources