Dating Help: U.S.Q.M.D. Stamp on 1898 Issued Poncho

[1stMinn]

We recently purchased the untouched and stuffed footlocker of David Allen, Company F, 13th Minnesota Volunteers. Inside was his poncho which is absolutely identical to the ones used during the Civil War. The neck hole closed with the tin button, grommet reinforcements and placement, etc. matches perfectly with surviving and documented Civil War ones.

 

 

The poncho is crispy enough that we are not going to try to unfold and photograph it until a real hot, sunny day. But the U.S.Q.M.D. marking below is all we have found at this point.

 

 

The 1893 Annual Report of the QM General says that Civil War ponchos and gum blankets were still being issued until 1893 when some new production apparently began. We assume the volunteers might have continued using the surplus stock later. Can anyone show us documentation (as opposed to collector speculation) for the first use of this oval USQMD stamp on field equipment?

 

Stephen

[Keith]

Cant answer any of your questions; but, what you obtained in that foot locker is amazing....thanks.

[jagjetta]

Sorry to not have a definitive date on this, Stephen. All I can offer is another Span-Am era item with the same marking:

 

 

 

 

Absolutely GREAT poncho! I want it to be earlier, too!

 

John

[Major Z]

This post is a "well no duh," but your oval must date prior to 1912 when the Quartermaster Department reorganized to form the Quartermaster Corps. Obviously your stamp is well before this time but there is what I would assume to be an ending point of its use.

 

http://www.quartermaster.army.mil/QM_History_July_2012.pdf

[1stMinn]

Well, I'm a little red faced. The sun got warm enough today, and I was able to unfold the poncho.

 

 

The "tin button" that I had seen one side of is actually mounted on a small post with cloth covering on the reverse. So It does appear to be one of those post-1893 produced ponchos. Not quite as rare, but still the only one I've ever turned up!

 

 

Stephen