Period Fence Rails

[swankgreg]

Re: Period Fence Rails

Ok, my group tried our hand at constructing these at a small event we attended this past weekend. We used rails from an existing rail fence they had on site. The rails were of the more modern styling with the pegged ends, and were about eight feet long. We used six for the main rigging, with a couple more to roll the shelter half/gum blanket under so that the wind would not blow them off. So eight rails per structure. We were able to set each up in a matter of minutes, rail collecting included. Each kept us quite dry despite a large amount of rain the first night, as noted by the 8in of mud in the background! We had four modern sized men under each, but probably could have gotten five in comfortably.

[flattop32355]

Re: Period Fence Rails

It would appear to me that the front height of the structure can be increased somewhat by moving the crossing pieces inward, realizing that there is a limit on how far in they can be moved and still maintain stability.

I like the idea of putting a shelter half over the wood, then gum blankets over that, to increase the weatherproofing. I'm guessing the additional two rails spoken of in the original text were to help keep the gum blankets from getting blown away.

A brilliant and elegant means of gaining shelter. That's going to get used, and soon.

[Johan Steele]

Re: Period Fence Rails

This is a superb and informative thread. I've read of this style shelter a couple of times but never properly figured how it was put together instead interpretting it to mean chooseing a corner in a zig zag fence taking the rail from the near corner and turning it 180 degrees then acquiring 3-4 more rails and placing them parallel and between leaning aginst a top rail, toss a couple shelter halves over that and you're set. That was how I had interpreted a similar description of a "saw dog" shelter; I can see now how wrong I was.

Mr Swank & Trent thank you for the education, illustrations and photos.

[Phantom Captain]

Re: Period Fence Rails

It would appear to me that the front height of the structure can be increased somewhat by moving the crossing pieces inward, realizing that there is a limit on how far in they can be moved and still maintain stability.

I like the idea of putting a shelter half over the wood, then gum blankets over that, to increase the weatherproofing. I'm guessing the additional two rails spoken of in the original text were to help keep the gum blankets from getting blown away.

A brilliant and elegant means of gaining shelter. That's going to get used, and soon.

Hi Bernard,

In regards to elevating the structure that's exactly what we did. In the excerpt I posted the soldier described laying the first three rails two feet apart. If you look closely at the first picture we drew them in to about a foot and a half to raise everything up a bit. I do believe in really bad weather the soldiers would have kept the entire structure lower to not give as much room for letting the elements in.

Also if you look at the first picture you can see that's also exactly what we did with the two far rails (the extra two rails spoken of in the text) that are actually just lying on top of the original structure to hold the shelter halves and gum blankets down. These can moved in closer if desired to let the shelter halves and/or gum blankets actually drape down the sides depending on the weather. I have to say we were all really impressed and quite comfortable and toasty sleeping in these on two pretty cold and one rainy night. The straw really helped insulate us from heat loss into the ground and the structures themselves protected us and held all our combined heat in pretty well!! We will definitely be making a point of using them again whenever possible.

[MD_Independent]

Re: Period Fence Rails

This thread inspired me to try my hand at rail splitting. Three wedges and a maul worked very well, even on the nasty old red oak I found laying around the farm. Knocked out about ten twelve footers in an hour. Easiest work I've ever done. But being a former sawyer, that's not saying much. If the mill and local farmers can supply me with enough cedar or locust logs, me thinks I'll sell them on the side. Nothing beats the look and feel of a hand split rail. Pics on facebook. May keep me busy during this depression.

[Missouri Mule]

Re: Period Fence Rails

For what it's worth, red cedar seems to be a good wood for making fence rails. The Boone Home in Defiance, MO (location of the Lost Tribes event) uses red cedar for their split rail fences (they have easy access to a lot of it). I've even done hands-on rail splitting demonstrations with 2nd graders -- the logs split pretty easily and work great.

[Spinster]

Re: Period Fence Rails

With the upcoming Shiloh event, it's time for this bit of Fieldcraft to bump to the top.


Personally, my money is on snow for this thing rather than rain, but the structure will work in either condition.

[Mississippian]

Re: Period Fence Rails

Mr. Easley is correct, cedar makes an excellent fence. In his memoir, Brig. Gen. Arthur Manigault (a AoT brigade commander) made mention that fences in Tennessee were all made of sturdy cedar that resisted rot and insect damage, and that they lasted many years. By contrast Manigault's own fences back in the lowcountry of South Carolina had to be replaced every couple of years because they rotted away.

Will MacDonald