"I have no hesitation to heartily recommend your shelter tent reproductions.  You have taken the information in my book and applied it to make very accurate reproductions.  Your attention to detail makes The Haversack Depot's products the best available.  I am proud to have them in my personal collection."
                                                                                          Frederick C. Gaede, author, The Federal Civil War Shelter Tent

To differentiate among the various types of shelter halves I will use the typology assigned to these items by Frederick C. Gaede on page 122 of his classic work The Federal Civil War Shelter Tent, O'Donnell Publications, June 2001.  For anyone not already owning this fine reference work I cannot recommend it more highly.  Every re-enactor needs to own a copy.

Day’s Poncho Tent Half

This combination tent and poncho is described in The Federal Civil War Shelter Tent by Frederick C. Gaede. This replica is based upon detailed drawings received from Mr. Gaede, the original example still exists but it’s whereabouts is unknown.

It is made from a single piece of light weight, but very strong, sheeting with a black waterproof finish. It measures 56 inches by 62 inches and has 6 bone buttons on each side so that when used as a tent the painted or unpainted side can be to the outside. Six hand worked button holes are also at the edge. The center neck slit is covered with wool as was the original. It has 4 brass grommets and hemp rope tent loops.

The original order of 15,000 of these tents was placed in October 1861 so it is more correct for an earlier war impression than the drill shelter half.

Weighs much less than a rubber poncho or shelter half.
(For more detail click on image)

Day’s Poncho Tent Half
Each half is only 1 1/4 lb. and folds to a very small size, ideal item for campaigning. 

1 (one) Day's Poncho Half
Price $95.00 plus $7.00 priority mail
(two are required to make a tent)

Gift Certificates Available



Type IIa and Type IIIa
Shelter Halfs

Shelter half, 66 inches long by 63 inches wide, 8 oz. cotton drill, each half has 23 hand worked button holes and 8 grommets worked in heavy waxed linen thread. Genuine hemp guy rope and tent pin loops. Real bone buttons. Shelter half weighs only 1.5 lbs. and takes up very little room in your knapsack. Drill shelter halves were issued from 1862 to 1864. They were made in either 2 or 3 sections, the 3 section half being more common as cotton drill was normally woven in 28 1/2 widths. The two piece half is also correct and two exist in private collections. See page 124 The Federal Civil War Shelter Tent by Frederick C. Gaede.


For a more detailed description please click on the image of the shelter.

3 piece construction $95.00
Priority mail $7.00
2 piece construction $85.00
Priority mail $7.00

(For more detail click on image)
Illustration shows two halves buttoned together making a complete tent.
It takes two halves to make a tent!
 Gift Certificates Available





(For more detail click on image)

Kit contains:  One half, completely sewn together, with locations for buttons and button holes marked and grommet holes punched, 23 bone buttons,  8 strands of heavy waxed linen thread for grommets, genuine hemp guy rope and 2 hemp tent pin loops.

Early war 2 piece, 8 oz. drill shelter half $55.00
Priority mail $7.00
Early war 3 piece, 8 oz. drill shelter half $65.00
Priority mail $7.00
Gift Certificates Available

Shelter Half Kit

This kit is intended for those who desire to make their own button holes and grommets.  The half is completely sewn together and needs only the button holes and grommets to complete.  One button hole and one grommet will be already completed to show how they should look.


(For more detail click on image)

Recommend you know how to do hand worked button holes before purchasing this kit.

NO RETURNS ON KITS.