THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS
by Dale Leppard
QMSgt. 17th Pa. Vol. Cav., Co. E Reenactment Unit
| 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.
Sources:
THE COMPANY QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT by Cpl. Dale Leppard QMSgt. 17th Pa. Vol. Cav., Co.E
My initial research concerning the Quartermaster Department and the Quartermaster ratings indicated that at the Company level, a Company Quartermaster Sergeant was detailed to protect the Company Wagon. While he was required to know the drill, and the duties and responsibilities of a Sergeant of the line, the regulations indicated that he was only assigned to a line command in a desperate situation to fill vacancies. However, a new pamphlet printed this year (1999) and based upon the rosters of June 30th, 1863 (on the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg) contradicts those statements. Of the Companies of the 17th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry present at Gettysburg, no less than seven of the Company Quartermaster Sergeants were serving in the line. It is also interesting that they were listed with the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant, not Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Apparently, "Company" was implied, as they were serving in the Troop and not on the Regimental or Battalion staff. In our own Company E, Quartermaster Sergeant George Washington Lininger was serving in the line. At first glance, this seems explainable, as there were only 32 officers and men of the Troop present for the battle. However, there was hardly a desperate need for NCOs of the line. In fact, two Sergeants and a Corporal were on detached duty. Further, if we include the farrier and saddler (who wore two chevrons and drew additional pay) as NCOs, the Company was extremely top heavy with 2 Commissioned Officers, 12 Non-Commissioned Officers and 18 Privates. The records further indicate that a Private was detailed to be the Troop Wagoner with the Company Wagon in the Regimental Wagon Train. This is most significant, as my previous research indicated that this duty should fall to the Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Lastly, it is interesting to note that 2 Privates were detailed as Teamsters with the Quartermaster Department of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps. Once again, it appears that the regulations were used as a guide by the Volunteer Cavalry Regiments. The Quartermaster Sergeants of the 17th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry appear to have been used as NCOs of the line, with Privates detailed to the Troop Wagons. It is also interesting that (in our Company, at least) the ratio of Officers and NCOs to Troopers was almost one for one at the Battle of Gettysburg. Of further interest is the high proportion of men from E Troop that were connected to the Supply Service. In addition to the Quartermaster Sergeant and Commissary Sergeant, who both served in the line, one Sergeant was detailed to the Commissary Department of the 2nd Brigade, 2 Privates were detailed as Teamsters to the Quartermaster Department of the 2nd Brigade, one Private was detailed as Troop Wagoner to the Regimental Wagon Train, and one Sergeant, one Corporal, and 15 Privates were detailed to the Ambulance Corps of the 2nd Brigade. One possible reason for these numerous detached services might be the lack of horses. On the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Troop reported only 42 serviceable horses. The total strength of officers and men reported at that time was 54, with 32 serving in the line. Clearly there was a shortage of horses. Source: 1. "Gettysburg Cavalrymen: 17th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry", by George A. Rummel III, 1999. |
Co. QMSgt. Dale Leppard with company wagon belonging to 1st Lt. Guy Loose
