Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

[27VA]

Gents

Anyone have pictures of recreated winter quarters they have built? A few pards and I are in the process of building a few for a scenerio on my farm. The prior threads have discussions but not alot of designs or pix. The examples at White Oak Museum are great both inside and out, anyone have better pic of the indoor examples. I believe they are partially underground?
Our first attempt was without levels, squares or measuring implements only a rope for measuring and crude tools. The mortor/chinking concoction was a test and building a fireplace that actually drawed right another. We did use some rough cut boards for end gables.
On another note any recommended period recounts about Life in the Huts during winter, would like to read them at our scenerio.
Thanks

[BrandonEnglish]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

Hey Shawn,

I don't know where you live, but if you can check out the winter hut and commissary hut at Pamplin Park they are worth a look. I helped build them when I worked there using all period tools and methods. We planked the floor and used bricks for a fireplace (this represented, for a time, an officers quarters). All we used for mortar was mud mixed with pine straw and it worked great, I spent many a winter day warm and cozy i there with a small fire going.

[JimConley]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14665

[27VA]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

Thanks
looked at this post...good personal accounts not alot of pix or drawings
White Oaks web page only has two small pix of the reproduction huts they have inside, and its been 2 yrs since I've been there. Those are the ones I'm after.

Thanks keep them coming

[3alabama]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

Shawn, you can also checkout Morven Park in VA. This is where the 17th Miss camped in the winter of 61-62. They have recreated 3 huts that the 17th Miss built there from period accounts, diary entries etc... Also have a look on there site at the pic of one of them

http://www.morvenpark.org/mansion.php

[Busterbuttonboy]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

I would strongly recommend heading to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and or West Virginia Division of Culture and History:
http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/shpoindex.aspx, http://www.wvculture.org/

Wherein you will be able to find site reports from ARCHAEOLOGICAL digs throughout the states on winter huts. These reports will be able to give you dimensions of the huts as well as condition/size/material of hearths. I was amazed after being in 3 full excavated huts (2 enlisted-1 officer) at the size of them.
Also consult, "Huts in History." Defiantly available through inter-library loans.

[unionprivate]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

I would recommend getting ahold of Scott Shotz of the 151st NY. It was at their "home field", where all of the winter 64 events were located in Newfane, NY. He personally, along with several other men, were crucial in seeing thet they get built. Im sure there are plans or pictures floating around. Dont think they were built off of memory. Cheers!!

[Jimmayo]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

Around 1985 the parks were just getting back into allowing living histories after the boon doggles during the 100th anniversary events. The Portsmouth Rifles built these huts and hauled them up to Petersburg and set them up for a weekend. Each wall was pre-built. The walls were bolted together with lag bolts, a Jarnagin dog tent served as the roof. It helps to have a pickup truck for transport but if I remember correctly someone tied their walls to the top of his car for the trip. By the way, the fireplace was functional.

[Will Eichler]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

I suggest you contact John Weedeward or Scott Cross. In conversations over the years with both, I've seen photos of Mudsill Winter Camps gone by. Other Sills might be able to chime in.

In addition, there were some articles on the 33rd WI website about this subject. You might want to see if that site still exists.

GOOD LUCK! If you get one made, please post your results and a photo.

Best,

Will

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

Check out White Oak Museums web site. They have several huts built both inside & out. Here is the link:

http://www.whiteoakmuseum.com/

[27VA]

so far

Her is the first one pretty crude but will work

[lojafan]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

That's really neat! Are you using some kind of period building plans?

[FortySixthInft]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

I'm in the process of building a hut right now - not sure when it will be done though because I'm in college so school work and my job comes first.

Anyway, I made up my own design. It seems the soldiers were mostly left to their own devices. Here are some excerpts from "From the Cannon's Mouth" - the Civil War correspondence of General A.S. Williams.

"Two of my regiments have cut out the small scrub pines and grubbed up the roots making a square completely hedged in, in which they pitch their tents, and on the edge of the square piled up the bushes so as to completely cut off the cold winds." (pg 30)

" Almost every tent has its fire, which is built in the mouth of a trench in the front. The trench is carried through the tent covered over with flat stones and earth and terminating behind a turf chimney surmounted by a barrel to increase the draft. In this way the fire is carried under the tent; the stones, once heated, keep up the warmth a long time, and the tent is made very comfortable. Others dig deep cellars and build regular fire-places, carrying the chimney through the ground under the wall of the tent to some distance away and use the barrel for a chimney." (pg 30)

"In one regiment, which is encamped among trees of larger growth, the men are building log huts along the line of streets. If we are left in the position long this whole regiment will be hutted." (pg 30)

There are a few winter huts built at the Carlisle War College Army Heritage Center in Carlisle, PA (about 30 minutes North of Gettysburg). I couldn't find any pictures online, but if you're ever in the area, definitely check them out. If I remember right, they have three "enlisted" quarters and a bigger structure for the commissary. On a side note, they also have an entire WWI trench, a German bunker, a redoubt, a Vietnam set up, a WWII barracks set up, and some other stuff. Really cool place.

[27VA]

Re: updated progress

still working on them, the little one is done and the larger one needs a door and few more hours of chinking

[Tyler Gibson]

Re: Pix/ideas Winter Quarters

If you feel like doing a little work... Do it right!