Pistol's Legacy: Sutlers, Post Traders, and the American Army, 1820-1895
Murphy, John Thomas
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/72325
Description
Title
Pistol's Legacy: Sutlers, Post Traders, and the American Army, 1820-1895
Author(s)
Murphy, John Thomas
Issue Date
1993
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Spence, Clark C.
Department of Study
History
Discipline
History
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
History, United States
Abstract
Traditionally, civilians followed armies on campaign in order to supply liquor, food, or clothing, but by the sixteenth century, this practice, called sutling, had developed a questionable reputation. In Henry V, William Shakespeare depicted Pistol, a sutler with King Harry's army in France, as corrupt, unscrupulous, and cowardly. It was an image that persisted, and sutlers and post traders who served the American army from 1820 to 1895 have continued to be described as either price-gouging whiskey dealers or, at best, necessary evils. But such appraisals are simplistic and misrepresent the contributions and complexities of the sutler/post trader system.
Regulations introduced in 1820 integrated sutlers into the military community and created a cooperative relationship that continued until the Civil War. The war, however, engendered complaints about high prices and questioned the methods for appointing sutlers. Though not absolutely free of problems, rules governing appointments brought competent individuals into sutling, most of whom served the army well. Obtaining a sutlership was a process reliant on political networking, good personal contacts, and proof of ability to fill the position. During the administration of Ulysses S. Grant, partisan politics intruded upon the selection of post traders, but controversy involving Grant's secretary of war, William W. Belknap, revealed that difficulties were as much organizational as ethical or moral.
Despite periodic criticism, sutlers and post traders contributed to the quality of garrison life by providing merchandise and services for their customers. At each military post, the sutler's or post trader's store became a regular haven from army routine and the focal point for all community activity. The sutler/post trader system fulfilled this role for seventy-five years.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
