Source: Dale Leppard a reenactor with the
17th PA Cavalry Regiment, Co. E
wrote this article.
Reprinted by permission. Thanks Dale.
THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS
by Dale Leppard
QMSgt. 17th Pa. Co. E
| The Quartermaster’s Department provided the quarters and transportation of the army, storage and transportation for all army supplies, army clothing, camp and garrison equipage, cavalry and artillery horses, mules, fuel, forage, straw and stationary. It also paid the incidental expenses of the army including per diem to extra duty men, postage on public service, the expenses of courts-martial, the pursuit and apprehension of deserters, the burials of officers and soldiers, hired escorts, expresses, interpreters, spies and guides, veterinary surgeons and medicines for horses, the supplying of water for posts, and the authorized expenses for movements and operations of an army not expressly assigned to any other department. The Quartermaster’s Department was also responsible for keeping the sealed patterns used in acquiring new contracts for uniforms and equipment, and provided supplies for the construction and maintenance of the United States Military Railroads. It engaged in the building of roads, bridges, ships and docks, and maintained repair shops for its wagons which employed thousands. Early in the war, the Department was also responsible for the ambulances, and the transportation of the sick and wounded soldiers and medical supplies. The appropriations from the Federal Government for the Quartermaster's Department totaled more than one billion dollars. |
 Photograph-Library of Congress |
The Federal Army organization provided for a Chief Quartermaster for each Army with the rank of Colonel. For each Corps within an Army was a Chief Quartermaster with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Each Division within a Corps had a Divisional Quartermaster with the rank of Major. Each Brigade within a Division had a Quartermaster with the rank of Captain. Finally, each Regiment within a Brigade had a Regimental Quartermaster with the rank of Lieutenant. All of these had staffs and assistants. The Regimental Quartermaster had, under his direction, a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant charged with the responsibility of storing and transporting the property assigned to the Regimental Quartermaster for the Regiment. |
Beginning in 1862, each Company of Cavalry was authorized a Company Quartermaster Sergeant. The Company Quartermaster Sergeant was under the direction of the Company Commander and the First Sergeant. He was responsible for the Company wagon and all the property it contained, including the tents, the Company mess gear, the Company desk, the Company library, the ordnance, the subsistence provisions, and the Company tools (blacksmith, carpenter, gunsmith, etc.). He was further charged with overseeing the camp set-up of the tents and picket lines. He inspected the Company horses and mules, and reported any problems to the Veterinary Surgeon of the Regiment. He was also responsible for acquiring the fuel (wood), forage for the horses, and straw for bedding. These would normally be drawn from the supplies of the Regimental Quartermaster, along with replacements for uniforms and equipment. When not available, the Company Quartermaster Sergeant was responsible for forage parties to acquire them. The Company Quartermaster Sergeant was required to sign for the uniforms and equipment that were in his custody. Similarly, before disbursing these items to a soldier, he required a signature of receipt, countersigned by an officer. The rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant was not a command position, although he was required to know the drills, and the duties and responsibilities of the line NCO’s. He was a member of the Company, and his name was recorded next after the First Sergeant on the Company rolls. During combat, his place was safeguarding the Company wagon and its supplies. He was generally required to fight only in defense of the Company property. In an extreme emergency, he could be used to replace a fallen line NCO, but this was extremely rare. The wagons were driven by Teamsters, who were usually members of the Company. Additionally, each Cavalry Company was authorized a Wagoner with the rank of Corporal. The Company Quartermaster Sergeant was designated by his chevrons which were three stripes with a single tie in worsted. This was an unofficial chevron that was not incorporated into United States Military regulations until 1866. It was, however, the standard chevron of Volunteer Cavalry Companies since 1862. |
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