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Another Edinburg Grandstaff

By Dan Harshman

You have probably heard us talk before about Major George Grandstaff who built the Edinburg Mill and was a son of Philip Grandstaff and Elizabeth Haas. As we mentioned last month, Hugh was also a direct descendent of Philip Grandstaff and he is a part of our Museum’s exhibit that pays tribute to the U. S. Military. 

Hugh’s military career ran from 1897 thru 1921. He served as a Bugler, Barber, Mess Sergeant and Machine Gunner during this time in the Spanish American War (Panama), the Philippine Insurrection and World War I. He retired in Germany after WWI as a Master Sergeant, after which he returned to Edinburg.

In 2003 shortly after we began work on the adaptive reuse of the Edinburg Mill the Grandstaff family gave us Hugh’s Foot Locker and its contents. The unique thing about this foot locker is that it remained intact in the attic of Hugh’s home on Center Street from 1921 until it was given to the Museum. We were lucky enough to have Les Jenson, the Curator of Arms and Armor at the West Point Museum, help us identify the items and give us some insight to how they might have fit into the career of the soldier that used them. Mr. Jenson told us that it was rare to find a foot locker just as it had been when it was packed for the last time. You can see all that the locker contained, along with descriptions, in our military exhibit. Here is a quick run down of some of the items.

The locker contained 2 blue 1902 pattern uniform coats that were probably used at the end of WWI; they are both infantry dress coats. Infantry trim was blue from the time of the Civil War until 1884 when the trim changed to white for the period from 1884-1902. Although used around 1920, one of the coats still has the earlier and older white stripes and chevrons. Another 1902 pattern coat was a Dress Coat for a private with some overseas service. It has a red and blue ribbon that is pre WWI and indicates service in the Philippine Campaign.

Hugh also had two newer 1912 pattern coats, one of which shows under the lining that it is from a July 1918 military contract. This pattern coat was used throughout WWI, and one of the coats has the 1st Sgt chevrons on only the right sleeve which dates it at 1918 when new regulations specified that chevrons be only on the right sleeve. The other coat was used slightly later and indicates that Hugh is now a Master Sergeant, the rank he retired at.

 There is also one more coat that was purchased rather then being issued by the military. It was tailor made in Louisville and everything about the coat is an upgrade from the issued items; it has better cloth, better buttons and better overall quality. It also only has the 1st Sgt Chevrons on the right sleeve and has 1-1/2 years of service overseas service chevrons. Purchasing such an item was common among soldiers in headquarter companies. This coat might have been purchased after Hugh returned from overseas but before he was discharged. This is the sort of purchase a regular soldier might have made.

 And what good is a coat without some trousers to wear it with. There were three pair in the foot locker, all from around WWI. One pair of trousers were set up to be worn with Khaki leggings and a pair of WWI britches were marked as issued from the Philadelphia General Supply Depot. 

The third pair are a 1902 pattern medium blue trouser issued around 1913. They have a stripe on the leg, the width of which tells you the wearer is a Sergeant of the infantry.

The exhibit also includes three Enlisted Man’s Caps. One that was used from 1902 until 1912; it is a relatively early example with a black visor. There is also a later example that has a brown visor. The third one is the 1912 replacement. None of the caps still have the metal insignias on them. There is also a WWI Campaign Hat that was used by many after the war for civilian services.

 The balance of the contents of the foot locker consisted of a uniform belt, WWI period mittens made for use with a machine gun, a single knit glove of the same period, a winter cap from WWI, a 1918 contract wool overseas cap marked to E Co. 5th Infantry, WWI patented non-regulation khaki leggings marked with 33rd Machine Gun Battalion, a canvas hood and a pair of slippers.

These last two items are unique to the collection. The canvas hood is from the 1880s and was made for a canvas overcoat of the same period. Hugh probably purchased this at a company store. These hoods were very useful and were around for many years, even after they were no longer issued.

 It is rare to find a pair of slippers. Although they were commonly purchased and used by soldiers, they almost never survived as part of a uniform grouping. Hugh’s slippers appear to have been made and purchased in the orient or the Philippines. There were also pieces of red flannel and wool khaki cloth that probably were on hand to mend a damaged uniform. 

 I mentioned earlier that Hugh had served as a Bugler; The History of Edinburg, VA recounts a story that Hugh told of his enlistment. “When he was a young lad he used to visit his uncle in Richmond and walk by the Old Soldiers’ Home which was located nearby. Usually there were veterans sitting on benches in front of the home, and he would stop and listen to them tell about their adventures. They made army life sound so good, especially when they told of having fried chicken everyday for dinner, that he really wanted to join up, but he was underweight. They told him to eat a lot and drink a lot of water just before he took his physical, which he did, and he was accepted into the army. Later, when he learned about the duties of the soldiers, he decided he wanted to be a bugler. So every day when he had some free time he would go out to the woods and sit on a tree stump where he taught himself to play all the bugle calls that were used at that time. After he retired and was living in Edinburg again, a parade of soldiers came marching through town, and “Mr. Hugh” took his bugle downtown and played a call that stopped them all dead in the street. According to his story, the soldiers never found out who played the call.”

 I hope you will stop in to see these and the many other items on display to honor all those who have, and still do, serve our Country.