We manufacture the War of 1812 U.S. Army tent in both the enlisted and officer version, it sas a simple, durable shelter modeled after the Revolutionary War “common tents” and “marquees.” The tents are constructed of untreated, heavy cotton canvas, these tents were originally hand hand-stitched and supported by a pair of upright wooden poles with a ridgepole, however ours are machine stitched and they support the poles.
The most common version of our enlisted tent for the era is a wedge-shaped A-frame design tent, large enough to house 4 to 6 soldiers. Officers were provided with larger versions (often called “marquees”) and our tents do the same, which included additional wall height and interior space.
The natural cotton canvas fabric, undyed or slightly off-white, is breathable but wasn’t waterproof in its original state ( you can specify in your order if you want your fabric with or without waterproofing). Soldiers frequently treated the canvas with oils, wax, or soap solutions to increase resistance to rain. Ground sheets were not standard issue, so soldiers often used blankets or straw bedding inside.
Detailed tent specifications are as follows:
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Type: A-frame wedge tent (enlisted)
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Dimensions: Approx. 10 ft (length) × 7 ft (width) × 7 ft (height at ridge)
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Capacity: 4–6 men (enlisted version)
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Fabric: Heavy cotton canvas, approx. 12–14 oz. per square yard
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Color: Natural off-white / light cream (undyed cotton)
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Poles: 2 vertical hardwood poles (6 ft each) + 1 ridgepole (10 ft)
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Pegs: 14 hardwood stakes, hand-carved
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Guy Ropes: Natural hemp ropes.
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Ventilation: Simple flap openings at front and rear.
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Portability: Designed to be transported with baggage trains, not man-carried originally.
Technical Specifications – Officer’s Marquee Tent (War of 1812)
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Type: Officer’s Marquee Tent (rectangular base, ridge-pole supported)
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Dimensions: Approx. 14–16 ft (length) × 10–12 ft (width) × 10 ft (height at ridge)
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Capacity: 2–3 officers comfortably, with space for furniture, trunks, or an orderly
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Fabric: Heavy cotton canvas, 12–14 oz. per square yard, hand-stitched
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Color: Natural off-white/light cream (undyed canvas typical of the era)
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Poles: 2 tall uprights (10 ft each) + 1 ridgepole (14 ft), hardwood construction
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Pegs: 24 hardwood stakes, hand-carved, used to secure side walls and ropes
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Guy Ropes: Hemp ropes, with wooden tensioners
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Walls: Higher than enlisted wedge tents (approx. 4 ft wall height before sloping roof)
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Ventilation: Front flap door, sometimes double-flapped; ventilation from raised side walls if untied
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Flooring: No built-in floor (officers often used rugs, wooden planking, or straw mats)
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Transport: Carried by wagon or baggage train, not intended for man-carry
