Sewing a blanket

[Blum]

Hello,

Sorry for my poor English but i am French.

In the purpose of keeping warmth when sleeping at the bivouac, a friend of mine told me that he use a blanket sewn along the edges to make something like a sleeping bag.

I don’t know if it may be authentic.
Do you have primary source about cw soldiers using blanket sewing like a sleeping bag ?

Authentic or not he can no more use his blanket like an overcoat and I am not sure it is a good idea ! :(

Jean-Marc Atlan

[privstull]

Re: Sewing a blanket

I have never heard or read of any accounts of this happening and never seen any pictures or original blankets that even looked to be at one time sewn like a sleeping bag. Now im not saying that this would have never happened, but im just going on what i have seen and read. If it were me, i'd leave the blanket the way it is because that way you cant go wrong. Besides, how much harder is it to just wrap your blanket over you when your sleeping?

[RyanBWeddle]

use a shelter tent

". . . . The shelter-tent is of much use to the soldiers.
1.It serves, buttoned up, as a bag, in which the man sleeps, under
the large tent, or anywhere.
2. It serves as a bag to collect provisions and forage.
3. The men, buttoning them together, make of them tents or gal-
leries under which they are protected from the cold and rain. The
more men unite, the better the tent, but eight men together can make
an excellent tent.

GENERAL ORDERS, ~ HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
No. 52. Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 15, 1863.
The suggestions contained in the following extract from a communication from the medical director of this army will be strictly observed
by all concerned, and it is made the duty of corps and other independent commanders, as well as of officers of the inspector-general’s department, to enforce a compliance with the same.
By command of Major-General Hooker:
S.WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General "

From the OR p. 491 Vol 25(Part II) Series I

[Blum]

Re: Sewing a blanket

Thanks for all your answers !

As i said, it is not for me but for a friend of mine.
In my opinion, to do right, we must do only what we can find in primary sources.

I will send all you write to my friend.

jma

Jean-Marc, please sign your full name to all posts - Mike Chapman