M1874 blanket bag Indianapolis Arsenal

[robinb]

Got this yesterday. It was mounted to a home made pack board using M1910 haversack straps and WW2 parachute harness material. The arsenal is what threw me. I had never even heard of Indianapolis Arsenal until now. The were in business from 1865-1902.

 

[BEAST]

Very nice piece! I haven't seen too many of the Indianapolis Arsenal marked items. The arsenal still exists today, but as a high school. Arsenal Tech is on the east side of the city and many of the original buildings still are in use. Here is a brief history of the arsenal:

 

 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Indianapolis Arsenal was established by the Federal Ordnance Department in April, 1863. Prior to that time, the state of Indiana operated its own arsenal in Indianapolis to supply munitions for Indiana regiments. The state arsenal operated from 1861-1864, at which time the land was taken over for use by the Federal Arsenal. Captain of Ordnance, William Y. Riley, was appointed to command the first National Arsenal which was located on forty acres of land on Michigan Avenue on the east side of Indianapolis near the area that became known as Woodruff Place. Riley was replaced by Captain Thomas Treadwell in August of the same year. Treadwell oversaw the construction of the first stone storehouse completed in 1865. Over the years, nine other buildings were constructed on the property, with the last structure being completed in 1893. Unlike its predecessor which also manufactured munitions, the Indianapolis Arsenal mainly served as an arms and supply storehouse for the United States Army. It was reported that at one time, the Arsenal stored 100,000 rifles.

 

The Indianapolis Arsenal had a normal complement of fifty soldiers. Over its nearly forty year history, the Arsenal was commanded by fifteen different officers. The Arsenal's last two commanders were Major Almon L. Varney (1892-1899) and Major Charles Shaler (1899-1902). During the Spanish American War, the Arsenal's status was raised from third to first class. Artillery harnesses and horse equipment were made in its shops.

 

The Arsenal's importance declined after the war with Spain, and the government authorized its closing in June, 1902. A detachment from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, maintained the grounds until they were purchased for use by the Winona Lake Technical and Agricultural Institution in April, 1903. After six years, Winona Lake went into receivership and in September, 1912, the land was used to start Arsenal Technical Schools, the predecessor of Arsenal Technical High School, which became the city's third high school in 1916.

 

Sources: Information in Collection.

Sengenberger, Ella. "Looking Back to Arsenal Days."

Thornbrough, Emma Lou. Indiana in the Civil War Era.

Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (Arsenal Technical High School Entry).

 

http://www.indianahistory.org/library/manu...ides/m0650.html

[New Romantic]

Pretty cool Robin, also the first time I've seen that Arsenal made equipment. Most accouterments from that time you find these days are either Watervliet Arsenal or Rock Island Arsenal marked.

[skohler]

Very interesting, I'm from Indy and had no idea it was actually an aresenal. That is a high school that could actually use a military presence. Not the nicest of schools here, "Arsenal Tech" or just "Tech" and usually it is followed by something bad that happened.

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

[New Romantic]

A little correction here- this is actually the 1878 blanket bag. There were a 1874 equipments but rather than the blanket bag, there was the clothing bag which was worn on the hip like the haversack. The 1874 clothing bags seem plentiful and they are often mis id'd a being a haversack.