Fishing

[Cfarrell]

Gents,

I was wondering if any of you fellers may have ever come across and references referring to soldiers fishing for their meals. Such as with a hook and line! Any articles from newspapers, letters to or from home, or even some pictures would aid me in my quest. I do have a picture of officers of the 164th New York fishing in a creek (or river?) near Pope's Run. I thank you for your time.

Cody

[markj]

Re: Fishing

Try searching Vicki Betts' newspaper site.

http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts/newspaper_titles.htm

I did a search and got numerous hits (although not all of them are applicable to your question). Here's one you'll enjoy:

STANDARD [CLARKSVILLE, TX], April 25, 1863, p. 2, c. 1-2

Fort Arbuckle
Indian Territory
March 30th 1863

We had some wagon work, gun work, and horse shoeing done at Washita, got some powder and caps, and stopped on the evening of Thursday the 26th, on Pennington, a beautiful creek, which runs by Tishemingo, in water as clear as crystal, pouring through a sandy bed, with a hill on one side, and masses of rock, bordering and projecting into the stream, we caught fish by tying four hooks together, jerking them into the fish as they passed over the hooks, using no bait.—They were called red horse fish, and were clean looking and had a good flavor. It was a beautiful camping place. Small pieces of quartz were numerous lying about the larger rocks, which were gray externally. I had no means of breaking, and determining their proper classifications.

A Soldier of the 29th. [Texas Cavalry]

I've seen other references in various sources and will post them if I see them. This seems to have been a pretty common pastime.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[fahtz]

Re: Fishing

This comes from Service with the Missouri State Guard The Memoir of Brigadier General James Harding: Edited by James McGhee Oak Hills Publishing

"The weather at this time was cold and disagreeable, with a chilly rain. Col. George Vest, now United States senator, insisted on going fishing, notwithstanding the very unfavorable condition of the river and the discouragement he recieved from everyone to whom he made known his intentions. He did go fishing, just below where the troops were crossing, and succeeded in catching some fine cat-fish, which made an acceptable addition to our bill of fare for the supper that night. I don't think any man alive except Vest could have caught fish under the circumstances." (Pg. 48)

Fishing also makes a great LH demo. I love fishing and do it at any moment I can at events.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Fishing

Small pieces of quartz were numerous lying about the larger rocks, which were gray externally. I had no means of breaking, and determining their proper classifications.

That's in interesting bit, too... at least this one soldier had things other than war on his mind--continuing with a hobby or profession of geology! Another aspect of the well-rounded citizen-soldier.

[Matthew.Rector]

Re: Fishing

Here's a photograph from Civil War Collection of the Library of Congress. It doesn't say if these are soldiers or not, but I thought it may be of interest.

TITLE: Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. Fishing on the James River
CALL NUMBER: LC-B811- 2503[P&P]
REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-DIG-cwpb-01835 (b&w copy scan of left half)
LC-DIG-cwpb-01834 (b&w copy scan of right half)
MEDIUM: 1 negative (2 plates) : glass, stereograph, wet collodion.
CREATED/PUBLISHED: [between 1861 and 1869]

NOTES:
Caption from negative sleeve: Signal Station, Cobb's Hill, James River, Va.
Two plates form left (LC-B811-2503B) and right (LC-B811-2503A) halves of a stereograph pair.
Forms part of Brady Civil War Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).

[markj]

Re: Fishing

That's in interesting bit, too... at least this one soldier had things other than war on his mind--continuing with a hobby or profession of geology! Another aspect of the well-rounded citizen-soldier.

Indeed. The published diary of Private Samuel McIlvaine, 10th Indiana Volunteer Infantry ("By the Dim and Flaring Lamps...."), reported on his regular "spelunking" (cave exploring) excursions. I'm sorry to say, this hobby was the death of him: McIlvaine died in September 1863 after suffering an accidental fall while exiting Nickajack Cave near Shell Mount TN.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[billwatson]

Re: Fishing

Here's a photograph from Civil War Collection of the Library of Congress. It doesn't say if these are soldiers or not, but I thought it may be of interest.

Especially cool because that is one cool little skiff. Men fishing from boats is the most under represented impression in the hobby. :-)

[1stMaine]

Re: Fishing

Comrade Watson,

I am especially impressed with the brilliantly-clen white suspenders that feller is wearing. Probably be hooted right out of camp if one showed up wearing a similar set :sarcastic
Next thing ya know, the sutlers will all be converting gum blankets into waders and sou'westers.

respects,

[Masked Battery]

Re: Fishing

Take a look at J.J. Omenhausser's watercolor illustrations from Pt. Lookout prison.

[markj]

Re: Fishing

Especially cool because that is one cool little skiff. Men fishing from boats is the most under represented impression in the hobby. :-)

Various accounts will show that troops couldn't get enough of oysters when and where they could find them. There are plenty of remarks about "oyster suppers" by both enlisted men and officers.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Cfarrell]

Re: Fishing

Gents,

Thanks so much for the help. That is just what I was looking for. Thanks again Mark and Mitch! And thanks Matt for the picture.

[easttnfed]

Re: Fishing

Matthew,

If you look at the picture close enough, the guy in the front is a man servant.

[PigPen]

Re: Fishing

Not with a line but with a seign.

Two nights ago we camped on a lake in Lafayette County Ark the other side of Red River and the boys has some exceeding rich sport seigning the lake with a brush seign (Idon't know if I spelled seign right). They caught about a waggonload of buffalo fish verry fine, fat, & well flavored. The water became quite muddy. It was'nt over waist deep and the fish could be plainly seen running & popping thier heads up. They got after them with sticks & knives & caught many - One monster alligator garcam plunging and puffing along - About 20 men attacked him with clubs. They fought him for about 50 yards when one man mounted him with his knife and he was finally killed - He measured 7 feet 2 inches adn weighed 174 pounds.

Captain Elijah P. Petty October 10, 1862.



Cap. Petty's letters are preserved in Journey to Plesant Hill. He wrote almost everyday to his wife, until he was killed at the battle of Pleasant Hill La.

[pvtken]

Re: Fishing

What would a soldier use for fishing line? Obviously not modern day nylon stuff.
-Ken Huxtable

[PigPen]

Re: Fishing

We've fished with waxed linen thread and cotton thread out of a housewife before. With a ramrod for a pole!