Tents
By the end of the first year of the war The US Army saw the need for the adoption of the Tente D’Abri, or literally the abbreviated tent used by the French Army, known to us as the Shelter Half. The shelter half has seen use still today by the United States, although in a more highly evolved form. The late Civil War US shelter half was issued unchanged at one point or another until the late 1890’s.
I make all the wartime versions below according to the originals examined and from the information in Fredrick C. Gaede’s work “The Federal Civil War Shelter Tent." These tents are faithful reproductions of the originals, and include their 6”10” issue hemp rope.
USSH1 Early to Mid War Shelter Half Type IIA, 3 Piece Vertical Panels (late 1862-65) - $130.00
Made of cotton drill & totally hand sewn as per the original, reinforced Bone Buttons.
USSH1V Partial Machine Sewn Version of the Shelter Half Type IIA, 3 Piece Vertical Panels (late 1862-65) - $100.00
A Period Machine sewn version with the main seams Period machine sewn, with the Wilson pat. Rolling Hook Mechanism, with hand-sewn button holes.
USSH2 Early to Mid War Shelter Half Type IIB “Cincinnati Depot”, 3 Piece Horizontal Panels (late 1862-64) - $130.00
This is the western depot version provided to the US Army. Made of cotton drill & totally hand sewn as per the original, hand sewn buttonholes with bone buttons.
USSH2V Partial Machine Sewn Version of the Shelter Half Type IIB “Cincinnati Depot”, 3 Piece Horizontal Panels (late 1862-64) - $100.00
A Period Machine sewn version with the main seams Period machine sewn, with the Wilson pat. Rolling Hook Mechanism, with hand-sewn button holes.
USSH3 Mid to Late Shelter Half Type IIIB 2 Piece Vertical Panels (late 1863-1890’s) - $100.00
Made of two vertical pieces of cotton duck, this tent has a 3rd Tent Stake Loop, Period machine sewn with tin back tin buttons, with hand sewn button holes As per the original.
