North Carolina Hunting Shirts - Part Two (Military Use)

                                                   

So, I had to write a part two for this blog post.

The 1st part examined hunting shirts in estate/inventory records and runaway advertisements. 

Here is a runaway ad that I failed to add to the last blog post:

The Virginia Gazette Fri, Nov 14, 1777 ·Page 8

Runaway enslaved man named Baccus was secured in the gaol in Prince George, VA - he had belonged to a man from Granville County, NC.   He is wearing a hunting shirt over his clothing made of Virginia Cloth.   

Okay back to part 2:

This part is referring Hunting shirts in a military setting for North Carolina troops.  I tried to add as much images as possible but unfortunately it's going to be a lot of correspondence/text......   So the first evidence of hunting shirts for military use is the Battle of Alamance in 1771.

Battle of Alamance reference:

We find an invoice for supplies for the militia.   This is from the Documenting the American South: Colonial and State Records of North Carolina (https://docsouth.unc.edu).  Most of the documents listed below will be from this source.   We can see that they purchased 21 yards of onzabrig for hunting shirts at 1 pound, 6 shillings and 3 pence which was 1 shilling and 3 pence a yard..  The question is did they cost 9 shillings per shirt to manufacture or was it 9 shillings for all the shirts - which we don't know.

Invoice from Johnston & Thackston for supplies for the militia

Johnston & Thackston

1771

Volume 22, Page 455

---

His Excellency Govt. Tryon to Johnston & Thackston,

1771.					Dr.
May 7.	To 1 quire paper				£0	1	6
11.	674 yd. Bedtyke for Shotbags, 4s. 4d.	£1	7	1
	47 yds. Cotton for blankets and tools, 3s.	7	1	0
	6 oz. thread for making Do, 6d.	0	3	0
	3 pr. Garters, 10d.	0	2	6
	5 doz. Vest Buttons for Shotbags, 10d.	0	4	2
	1 brod. hoe, 5s. 8d.; 1 quire paper, 1s. 6d.	0	7	2
	21 yds, onabs. for hunting-Shirts, 1s. 3d.	1	6	3
	2 oz. thr’d, Do, 6d.	0	1	0
	Cash paid for making Do	0	9	0	11	1	2
14.	5 narrow axes, 7s. 6d.	1	17	6
	3 Do, 6s. 6d.	0	19	6
	3 broad Do, 7s. 6d	1	2	6
	1 Do	0	6	8
	2 blanketts for the Hospital, 1s. 11d	1	8	0	5	14	2
	Rec’d June 20, 1771, the Above Acc’t in full.				£16	16	10

JOHNSTON & THACKSTON.

"Virginia Gazette": Williamsburg, VA June 1, 1771, pg 2

Then we have a reference to the aftermath of the battle of Alamance and they mention finding "hunting shirts", wallets of dumplings, jackets, breeches, powder horns and shot bags among the wounded of the Regulators.

1775 Minutemen of North Carolina:

Minutes of the North Carolina Provincial Council

North Carolina. Provincial Council

October 18, 1775 - October 22, 1775

Volume 10, Pages 283-294

 Friday October 20th 1775.

Resolved, That Commissions do issue signed by the President to the Minute and Militia Officers, in the several districts and Counties within this province.

Resolved, That the one thousand Troops raised in this Province on the Continental establishment, be supplied with one Blanket, a Hunting Shirt, Splatter dasher, and Garters, so as not to exceed the sum of Forty Shillings for each Soldier; this Council being of Opinion that the same is absolutely necessary, and was intended by the late Provincial Congress.

The Council being informed, That the Minute Men, directed to be raised in some of the Counties in this province, cannot be enlisted in time to answer the intention of the Congress.

In the book The North Carolina Continentals by Hugh Rankin (published by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971)  they note:

Once the news arrived that their troops were on the Continental establishment, the Provincial Council decided that the Carolina soldiers should be dressed in something better than hunting shirts and splatterdashes. Cloth was ordered to be purchased and made into coats, waistcoats, and breeches, which, along with the haversacks and cartouches furnished the troops, were to be paid for by a monthly deduction of ten shillings from each man's pay. This was but optimistic projection, for there were not even enough arms or sufficient ammunition to put the troops into the field. 

39. Force, American Archives, 4, III, 1925; Colonial Records, X, 360-61, 338- 39; State Records, XV, 685; R. W. Gibbes (ed.), Documentary History of the American Revolution (New York, 1853-57) I, 240, 247; Edmund C. Burnett (ed.), Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (Washington, 192 1-36), I, 251; Ford Journals of the Continental Congress, II, 307-8; Samuel Johnston to Joseph Hewes and others, 1 o march 1 776, Hayes Collection (transcripts), North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, N.C.; Thomas McKnight to Rev. Dr. McKnight, 26 December 1775, Miscellaneous Papers, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 

1777 Battle of Germantown

We have reference to the aftermath of the battle of Germantown in 1777 and the dire need of clothing for the North Carolina Brigade.   It took me a hot minute to find this (bleeping) return as the Colonial and State Records of NC did not have this image so I had to hunt it down in Google books.     

I have highlighted the returns and it seems that the 7th and 9th North Carolina units were in need of hunting shirts.  The 7th NC needed 59 hunting shirts and the 9th NC needed 19 shirts.  They describe how ill clothed the North Carolina men were at Germantown and this return shows how desperate they were for clothing.   Granted they needed coats, waistcoats, breeches and etc., but the fact the list hunting shirts is pretty cool.   

Below we see the condition of the North Carolina brigade and camp followers marching through Philadelphia on Aug. 25, 1777, before the battle of Germantown in October of 1777.   The soldier behind the horse is wearing a hunting shirt.

“An exact representation of a waggon (sic) belonging to the North Carolina brigade of continental troops which passed thro Philadelphia”  - Drawn by Pierre Eugène du Simitière - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1777 Ink on Paper (Museum of the American Revolution Gift of Judith F. Hernstadt; Conserved with support from the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati, 2023.16.01)

Side note:

This fantastic image is currently on tour in North Carolina for viewing in person this year.  It's on loan to us from the fine folks at the Museum of the American Revolution an  I can't wait to get a chance to see it this upcoming year.  The work will be on display in the East Building of the N.C. Museum of Art from May 20-Aug. 1. In August, the sketch will be installed at the N.C. History Center at Tryon Palace in New Bern through early October. The sketch will then be on view at the Visitor Center at Historic Halifax State Historic Site until Nov. 6.

It would seem that the folks in Philadelphia were awaiting payment for clothing the North Carolina troops after the campaigns in 1777 as seen here in this letter to Governor Caswell in 1779.

Letter from Ralph Pomeroy to Richard Caswell

April 13, 1779

Volume 14, Pages 67-68

RALPH POMEROY TO GOVERNOR CASWELL.

[From Executive Letter Book.]

Philadelphia, 13th April, 1779.

Sir:

I am directed by the Honorable Board of War to transmit to you the enclosed resolve of Congress, and to desire you to give the necessary orders to the Clothiers and other persons in the State of North Carolina who have supplied Clothing to any of the Continental Troops for the year 1777. That they make returns of the same, according to the Resolve.

I have also to request that the returns may be sent to James Means, Esq., Clothier General at Philadelphia, where I shall receive them.

Permit me, with all due submission, to urge that the returns may be forwarded with all possible dispatch, as the payment of arrearages due to the Troops on clothing Bounty account for the year 1777, too long delayed already, must be totally expended, until the returns in question can be collected.

I am, &c., &c.,

RALPH POMEROY.

1778-

And then we will see in the following year the requirements for clothing of recruits in North Carolina which include a hunting shirt. It becomes clear that when recruiting men to fight - North Carolina needed to provide clothing.   

Act of the North Carolina General Assembly concerning recruitment of Continental Army troops [as printed in the North-Carolina Gazette]

North Carolina. General Assembly

April 27, 1778

Volume 13, Pages 411-417

---

North Carolina Gazette, May 8, 1778.

An Act for raising Men, to complete the Continental Battalions belonging to this State.

Whereas it is absolutely necessary that the Continental Battalions belonging to this State be completed, and it is found impracticable to obtain that end in the common mode of recruiting.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That each and every person who shall voluntarily enter, or be voted into the service as aforesaid, shall be entitled to have and receive from the commanding officer of the county, a pair of shoes and stockings, two shirts, a hunting shirt, waistcoat with sleeves, a pair of breeches, and trowsers, a hat and a blanket, and five yards of tent cloth; and every six men shall be entitled to have and receive from the commanding officer one axe and a pot or a camp kettle.

And in order to procure the Cloathing aforementioned, Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every company shall furnish and provide one pair of shoes and stockings, two shirts, a hunting shirt, a waistcoat with sleeves, a pair of breeches and trowsers, a hat and a blanket, five yards of tent cloth, for each and every man, and one axe and a pot or camp kettle, for every six men raised out of such company respectively.

Here is the actual advertisement for the clothing that would be issued to North Carolina men in 1778.  Not a jacket or coat but a hunting shirt and then a waistcoat with sleeves along with a pair of breeches and trousers.

The North-Carolina Weekly Gazette

Fri, May 08, 1778 ·Page 1

Southern Campaign of 1779-

It seems that the North Carolina troops are lacking clothing and gear when it comes to the Southern Campaign in Georgia and South Carolina.  In various correspondence from March through June of 1779 - the men were needing clothing in a dire way.  This seems to be a reoccurring theme among North Carolina troops.

Here we have this account from North Carolina troops fighting in the Southern Campaign near Savannah and they didn't have any cartridge boxes - so they placed cartridges in the corners of their hunting shirts. 

GENL. JOHN ASHE TO GOVERNOR CASWELL.

[From Executive Letter Book.]

Camp, Zubley's Ferry, March 17th, 1779.

Sir:

,. . .We immediately beat to Arms, formed the Troops into two lines, and served them with Cartridges, which they could not prudently have been served with sooner, as they had several times received Cartridges which had been destroyed and lost for want of Cartouch Boxes. We marched out of lines to meet the Enemy—some carrying their Cartridges under their arms, others in the bosoms of their shirts, and some tied up in the corners of their hunting shirts.

Letter from John Ashe to Richard Caswell

Ashe, John, 1725-1781

March 17, 1779

Volume 14, Pages 39-43

---

Letter from General Benjamin Lincoln to North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell

Black Swamp, April 7th, 1779.

Dear Sir:

. . . 

Your Continental Troops & Levies are very naked. I have been encouraged to expect that clothing will be sent on for them; may it be soon. It is painful to see them in the ragged condition in which they appear, and it is more so when they are paraded with the Troops of this State. Great attention has been paid to them “in this respect, and men who are by no means superior to yours appear in a decent habit, yours quite the contrary; every officer must be hurt hereby; he knows the sufferings of the men, that they see the discrimination, must feel themselves neglected and chagrined.

Arming and seeing that the Militia are properly clothed are also matters of importance, and claim the earnest attention, for without the former they will be of little service, and without a shift of the latter, as the hot season is fast approaching, by which they can be kept clean, they will soon be unhealthy, and liable to every putrid disorder.

It will tend much to the happiness and usefulness of the men to have officers set over them whose advice they will hear and whose commands they will willingly obey.

I have the honor to be, dear Sir,
Your Excellency's Mo. Ob. Servt.,

B. LINCOLN.

Gov. Caswell.

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

April 07, 1779

Volume 14, Pages 61-63.

[From Executive Letter Book.]

---

GEN. JETHRO SUMNER TO GOVERNOR CASWELL.

[From Executive Letter Book.]

Black Swamp Camp, April 10th, 1779.

Sir:

I enclose you a return of the Brigade of State Troops, under my command, for the month of March. We wish to inform you that the Brigade is greatly distressed for clothing, and desire to have Mr. Craig ordered forward with supplies.

The arrangement of three Battalions has made it necessary that each officer be supplied with another commission. Be pleased to send them (for the three Battalions) and I shall, as soon as may be, return you a fair Copy of the arrangements. Also to the Board of War.

There is now twenty-four or five vacancies in the three Battalions, and I am doubtful many more will soon be.

I shall be glad to receive your Order and the Commissions as soon as you please.

I am, with much respect, your Servt.,

JETHRO SUMNER.

Gov. Caswell.

Sumner, Jethro, 1733?-1785

April 10, 1779

Volume 14, Page 64

It seems that there was concern for the lack of clothing among NC troops in the Southern Campaign as seen evident here.  But it seems by June of 1779 - in this letter from Craike to General Sumner - cloth and patterns finally arrive for the officers but the men would receive clothing in the form of overalls and jackets.

Charles Town, June 14th, 1779.

Brigadier Genl. Sumner of the North Carolina Cont. Troops at Head Quarters.

Dr. General:

I have delivered a quantity of Cloths of the Patterns I sent to you by Captain Hilton to Mr. Wills, who is to make them up for the Officers in abt. 20 days. I have also purchased 100 pieces of Britannias, which, if you think proper, I will deliver to the quarter Master and give him an Invoice of the Cost, to be delivered to the officers at ⅓ of the Cost, agreeable to the Resolves of our Assembly. I have not been able to procure, as yet, Cloathing for the men; Overalls & Jackets I imagine will be all that will be wanting for the Continental Troops. The 9 months' men, from what I could understand from Genl. Lincoln, are not to receive Cloathing; at the same time I wish he would consider their naked situation & give Orders to allow them some small portion of Cloathing. The Counties from which those poor fellows came are much to blame; they have not done them justice in general, as they were to have supplied their respective Draughts with Cloathing that would have been sufficient for the Campaign. As it is not probable that I shall receive any money from No. Carolina, I have no Expectation of making more purchases of any kind, which will make it unnecessary for me to stay much longer here; I will, therefore, be obliged to you to let me know what will be wanting for Troops, that I may do everything in my power before I go. I should have purchased linen for your hunting shirt, but wait to know if the Britannias will answer that purpose. Please to give my compliments to Col. Armstrong & Maj. Eaton, & I remain,

Dr. Genl.,
Your Obedt. Hble. Serv't,

THOS. CRAIKE, D. C. C.

So it seems that Craike is waiting to see if there is enough Britannias fabric leftover to make General Jethro Sumner a hunting shirt but if not then to use linen.  You wonder if the hunting shirt would be more elaborate than a normal hunting shirt?   

Then by 1782 - Hunting shirts still seem to be an issued uniform item to North Carolina troops.

1782:

Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1782

North Carolina. General Assembly

1782

Volume 24, Pages 413-474

-------------------- page 413 --------------------

LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 1782.

At a General Assembly, begun and held at Hillsborough, on the Thirteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Two, and in the Sixth year of the Independence of the said State: Being the First Session of this Assembly. Alexander Martin, Esq., Governor.

CHAPTER I.

An Act for Raising troops to compleat the Continental Battalions of this State, and other purposes.

I. Whereas the time of service of the troops raised to compleat the Continental Battalions of this State by an Act of Assembly passed at Halifax in February, one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, is nearly expired; and whereas it is absolutely necessary the said battalions be immediately compleated, and the common mode of recruiting being found ineffectual;

X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That each and every person who shall voluntarily enter, or be drafted into the said service, or be received as a substitute by the persons appointed for the purposes aforesaid, shall be entitled to have and receive two pair of shoes, two pair of stockings, two shirts, two stocks, one pair of leather or woollen breeches, two pair of over-alls, one waistcoat, one coat, one hunting-shirt, one blanket, one hat, and five yards of tent cloth; which cloathing shall be good and new, and shall be delivered to the said volunteer, draft or substitute, on the day and place of the district rendezvous. And in order to procure the aforesaid cloathing,

Hunting shirts would become a universal symbol of the American Revolution and would be used later on by militia men in North Carolina after the war.  As seen there for raising troops for protection of the inhabitants of Davidson County in 1786.

Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1786 - 1787

North Carolina. General Assembly

1786

Volume 24, Pages 783-884

---

-------------------- page 783 --------------------

LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 1786.

At a General Assembly, begun and held at Fayetteville on the eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Six, and in the Eleventh Year of the Independence of the said State, being the first session of the said Assembly. Richard Caswell, Esq., Governor.

CHAPTER I.

An Act for Raising Troops for the Protection of the Inhabitants of Davidson County.

V. And be it further Enacted, That every able bodied man who shall be enlisted into the said service, and shall furnish himself with one good rifled or smooth bored gun fit for service, one good picker, shot-bag and powder horn, twelve good flints, one pound of good powder, and two pounds of good leaden bullets or buck-shot, suitable to his gun, shall be entitled to receive from this State on the first day of October, in each year of his service, one blanket, two pair of stockings, two pair of shoes, two shirts, two leather stocks, one good hunting shirt, one good woollen or fur hat of a middle size, one pair of buckskin breeches, and one waistcoat lined, to be provided and furnished by a clothier to be appointed by his Excellency the Governor for the time being; who shall be furnished in convenient time by the commanding officer of the said troops, with a certificate sworn to before some three or more justices of some county within this State, with the amount of the number of troops under his command, entitled to draw clothes according to this Act; which the said clothier shall present to the Governor for the time being, together with the whole amount of each article wanted for the troops, and thereupon his Excellency shall grant him a warrant on the treasury for a sum sufficient to purchase the said articles at a moderate rate, and to defray the expence of making them into suits, and removing them to the troops: And the said clothier shall purchase the said articles and cause them to be made up into suits, and delivered to the troops at the times aforesaid, taking a receipt from each soldier, attested by the captain of the company to which he may belong; for all which services, the said clothier shall be allowed by the General Assembly, on the settlement of his accounts, a sum not less than the amount of the yearly pay hereby appointed for a captain in the said troop

In conclusion - there is a reference to hunting shirts used by Carolina troops in a romantic memory.  

on a patriot's back Those who actually saw the patriot in the field describe them as without uniforms very many of them bare footed and at the best clothed in made hunting shirts. Many regiments stained their hunting shirts with butternut which was used for a similar purpose the Confederates of the Civil War, The hunting shirts were colored and butternut gave at once the color that the linen would assume after a few weeks of dirt and smoke. Washington gave an order of the 24th of July 1776 recommended the hunting shirt for all the troops and Lafayette has described in his memoirs the patriot army he found on his arrival in the summer of 1777 About eleven thousand men ill armed and still worse clothed presented a strange spectacle Their clothes were parti colored and many of them were almost naked The best clad wore hunting shirts large gray linen coats which were much used in Carolina ( Vol i p 19 London 1837)  

Source: Fisher, Sydney George. The Struggle for American Independence. United Kingdom: J.B. Lippincott, 1908.