I attended a lecture last weekend about Civil War quilts. We learned that occasionally an intricate family quilt was sent with soldiers. However, if a cot quilt was made on the spot and needed in a hurry, it was a simple design like you have, and it was tied. They were not machine quilted.
If it was hand quilted, it would have been done with rows close together unless the "batting" was an old blanket. Both cotton and wool batting at the time would have required close hand stitching. Materials were in short supply during the war.
There were a lot of hand stitched "fancy" quilts made during the Civil War as fundraisers for the cause also - both North and South.
The whole topic is very interesting. Your quilt is a wonderful tribute to your family, and your father-in-law will love it!
Dayle