Federal Regulation Shelter Half. Of all the indispensable equipment issued to the Union soldier, none is as difficult to find today as the common canvas shelter half. Essentially half a "pup tent," they were designed so that two could be buttoned together to provide two soldiers with protection from the elements. On this example the corner reinforcing and the buttons had been removed. The buttons and corners have been restored with period materials. The remaining side is left plain. You can see where the stitching was on three of the corners, but the fourth corner appeared to have never received a reinforcement. According to the consignor the shelter was purchased at an estate sale in Pennsylvania. The family has noted that the shelter belonged to an uncle who was a Lieutenant in the Civil War.
This example is included in The Federal Civil War Shelter Tent by Fred Gaede on page 125 No. 17. Simple and utilitarian, they were rarely saved. Size: Approximately 62" x 57"