I have found two different instances when an officer related to the camp publicly endorsed a commercial product.
The first was by Col. Robert Cowdin of the 1st Regiment. The ads I have found have been in the Lowell Daily Courier and ran after his regiment left the camp. The earliest is from Dec. 28, 1861 is for Gardner's
Rhuumatic and Neuralgic COMPOUND and is reads as follows:
"After suffering several years with Rheumatism, one bottle of Compound cured me, and I heartly endorse all that has said in its favor."
The next is more involved. Not only was it an endorsement but also a product test. The Nov. 19, 1862 Boston Evening Transcript ran a letter from Capt. William Plummer of the first Sharpshooters to William Read & Sons of Boston, sellers of Smith's bullet proof vests. On their behalf he and his men tested on of these metal vests. They used a colt revolver from 12 and then 4 paces with no damage, they then used a telescopic rifle from a distance of 200 yards the vest suffered a slight fracture and dent. After adding a greater than normal amount of powder and hitting the vest in the same area three times they succeeded in cracking it but still the bullet did not penetrate the vest. They had similar result with different types of rifles. They also tried a bayonet.
Here is his endorsement for this product:
"I am perfectly convinced, from these experiments, that at any ordinary distance there is no musket or rifle used in service which can break this armor, unless repeatedly hitting in the same spot.... The above results should convince any soldier of the importance of providing himself with one of these bullet proof vests, which, nine times out of ten, will certainly save him harmless. Instead of the vest being an encumbrance on a march, I should judge it would be found a great support in equalizing the weight of the knapsack, and preventing the straps from compressing the chest. Under no circumstances would I or my men be willingly without them, and you will please fill immeadiatly an order for the following list." The order was not included but it is very interesting. The results of the target practice on the vest may very well true. It is hard to believe that an experienced soldier would give the last part of the endorsement though. These vest were purchased by raw recruits and discarded by the side of the road very quickly after they began to march. They simply were too heavy to be practicle.
DAN SULLIVAN
The first was by Col. Robert Cowdin of the 1st Regiment. The ads I have found have been in the Lowell Daily Courier and ran after his regiment left the camp. The earliest is from Dec. 28, 1861 is for Gardner's
Rhuumatic and Neuralgic COMPOUND and is reads as follows:
"After suffering several years with Rheumatism, one bottle of Compound cured me, and I heartly endorse all that has said in its favor."
The next is more involved. Not only was it an endorsement but also a product test. The Nov. 19, 1862 Boston Evening Transcript ran a letter from Capt. William Plummer of the first Sharpshooters to William Read & Sons of Boston, sellers of Smith's bullet proof vests. On their behalf he and his men tested on of these metal vests. They used a colt revolver from 12 and then 4 paces with no damage, they then used a telescopic rifle from a distance of 200 yards the vest suffered a slight fracture and dent. After adding a greater than normal amount of powder and hitting the vest in the same area three times they succeeded in cracking it but still the bullet did not penetrate the vest. They had similar result with different types of rifles. They also tried a bayonet.
Here is his endorsement for this product:
"I am perfectly convinced, from these experiments, that at any ordinary distance there is no musket or rifle used in service which can break this armor, unless repeatedly hitting in the same spot.... The above results should convince any soldier of the importance of providing himself with one of these bullet proof vests, which, nine times out of ten, will certainly save him harmless. Instead of the vest being an encumbrance on a march, I should judge it would be found a great support in equalizing the weight of the knapsack, and preventing the straps from compressing the chest. Under no circumstances would I or my men be willingly without them, and you will please fill immeadiatly an order for the following list." The order was not included but it is very interesting. The results of the target practice on the vest may very well true. It is hard to believe that an experienced soldier would give the last part of the endorsement though. These vest were purchased by raw recruits and discarded by the side of the road very quickly after they began to march. They simply were too heavy to be practicle.
DAN SULLIVAN
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