Letter to Brooks from Baldwin on the material and sewing of sand bags

TitleLetter to Brooks from Baldwin on the material and sewing of sand bags
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CreatorBaldwin

CollectionsThomas Benton Brooks Papers

Dates

Descriptive InformationLetter to Brooks from Baldwin reporting that gunny cloth was used to make the sand-bags used in seige operations, and that the bags were sewn with cotton twine. He reports sand bags are now sewn using a lock-stitch, which retains its hold.

Transcription[Letter] Morris Island SC [South Carolina] Nov. [November] 20-1863; Major; I have the honor to report as follows regarding the sand-bags used in our seige operations. They were of gunny cloth, of good quality, although the material was too light to withstand hard usage. They were sewn with cotton twine; those first furnished were sewn with what is called a chain stitch, which is so defective that when one end of the [illegible] is cut, it gives way throughout its' entire length: those now furnished are sewn with a lock-stitch, which retains its' hold, although every third stitch is cut. I have the honor to be Major; Very Respectfully; Your Obedient Servant; James S. Baldwin; 2nd Lieut. [Lieutenant] NY [New York] V [Volunteer] Eng [Engineers]

LocationsMorris Island, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States(32.71573,-79.89037)

TopicsSouth Carolina--History
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Artillery operations
Fort Sumter National Monument (Agency : U.S.)

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RightsU.S. Government Work Learn More