The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-11-30
Blue Army Cloth.

Considerable feeling was lately mani
tested by wooden manufacturers in Boston
on account of some large orders which
had been given by the Adjutant-General
L. S. A. for English army Blankets
They protested against sending abroad
for such goods, and it was asserted the
mills in New England were capable of
supplying all the demands Of the War
Department. This may be true with
regard to the capacity Of our blanket
wooden mills, bat unless our military
regulations be changed we shall yet have
to send to England for large supplies of
army cloth. 1t is we'll known that darl,
blue is the chief color required for the
coats Of the officers aud priva'es of the
army and navy, and we do not overslate
the number when we say there are not
far f. ON six hundred thousand men now
wearing military uniforms. The amount
OF dark blue cloth for equpping this
great host will be about four and Il half
million yards per annum, allowing three
coats to each man. This is not putting
the allowance too high for men engaged
in hard warfare, especially when it is
also taken into consideration that large
portion of the army must also be furnished
with dark blue overcoats. Can our
manufacturers supply this large quantity
of cloth! We believe they cannot and
we think they have never manufactured
the finer qualities of army cloth. In
conversation il few days since with GUS
toner clothier who frequently furnishes
suits for many of the highest officers in
the regular army, he informed us they
always wanted the best cloth, such as
maintained il fresh appearance from the
day it was put on until it was worn
'hrcadbarc The West of England blue
broadcloth was usually selected as pos
Sc sing this quality. Beside the blue
coats required for our army and navy,
the officers wear dark blue trowscrs, and
overcoa's of the infantry soldiers, who
are clothed in the United States uniform,
is Il SO blue, but its tone is quite ght.
For the entire annual equipment of our
array aud navy in uniform, we may safely
allow one-half the quantity of cloth for
making the total six and three-quarter
million yards Of indigo blue cloth.
Our manufacturers, we arc told, can
not obtain sufficient supply of indigo
to die the amount of wool required for
nnc-half this amount of cloth. Never
before have we required SO much of this
colorng material, and never before was
the supply SO limited, the stock of The
finer qualities being nearly exhausted.
n dealer in indigo told us few days
since that he could sell fifty cases OF it
for every one he has on hand or can get.
The East India crops of Bengal aud
Manila indigo were greatly reduced last
year by disturbances among the cultva-
tors, and the crops in South America
were unusually light. These facts and
circumstance, lead us to conclude that
we shall yet have to send to England,
which commands such large share OF
the worlds indigo crop, for very large
stores Of indigo unless our military regu-
lations are greatly relaxed so far us they
relate to permanent colors. We have no
hesitation in asserting that durable dark
blue colors can be dyed with logwooG.-
They will withstand exposure until the
uniforms are worn out, and this should
be satisfactory. Such colors are dyed
by several " boiling dips alternately
in weak mordant of sulphate of iron
and bath of logwood until the proper
tone is received, then finished with II
very weak liquor of blue gals. The
color thus obtained will be as permanent
as that of common blaa1nklt hats, which
is we'll known to withstand sunlig ht and
rain for Il long period.
a blue color can be dyed, with log
wood, upon wool with variety of what
are called G: mordants." BY preparing
the wool with Il sulphaie of copper solu-
ton, then dyeing it in logwood liquor,
Blue color is obtained which, when
new: is not unlike that Of indigo, but it
is photogenIc, and soon fades when cx-
posed to the action of sunlight a very
beautiful dark blue can also be dyed on
wool with the prussiate Of potash, the
niur!ate of tin and Il minute quantity OF
the nitrate of iron; after which logwood
is applied to render the tone deep aud
rich. However pleasing this color may
appear when new, it fades when exposed
to sunshine and moisture. A mnrdant
composed Of the bichromate of potash
and crude tartar makes very good blue
with logwood5 but the sulphate of iron
and logwood blue is the most tcnable
color. \ logwood blue is neither so
beautiful nor so permanent us the color
obtained from alkaline indigo, still it
will answer every purpose for common
army clothing, and effect saving of at