Stocking stuffers

[robert-m]

Re: Stocking stuffers

I have no clue why I haven't thought about a scarf. I feel rather dumb now. That's on my list now.

[Gallo de Cielo]

Re: Stocking stuffers

What one asks for as a "stocking stuffer," which will eventually become a knapsack stuffer, should hopefully conform to several schools of thought.

The first school of thought is don't carry way too much stuff. Having a mess of buds to share duties and disperse essential equipment with is helpful. Things I would ponder having are a peach can with a bail/cup with a bail, skillet, side knife to cut on slab bacon and the such with, some empty poke sacks to put issued and cooked rations in, a nightcap, some correct smaller bottles and/or tins to keep molasses, vinegar, salt, sugar, etc in.

The second school of thought is not to pack with an "event" in mind (ie, I'll be out only two days so I can do without this) but rather what you would have wanted and needed while still keeping the first school of thought in mind (ie, don't be a human pack-mule). Yes, you may only be carrying something for two days but you're portraying a random pair of days within the context of a soldier's life.

There are other good suggestions above that I won't repeat. Don't buy things just to buy things. Get things you can use and that have a function. For instance- the skillet can be both cooking vessel and plate. Eventually you'll want to round out with a few random things- paper and quill has been suggested already (if you are a writing man of course). Maybe a thin, light dime novel. Maybe dice. Maybe a deck of cards. A comb. A Bible.

My two cents,

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Stocking stuffers

Many of the above mentioned items can be found at Ragged Soldier Sutlery ( www.raggedsoldier.com ) We carry blank notebooks (lined) and plain wooden pencils. We are just about to add plain paper playing cards (should be on the website within a few days).

Also, carrying a Harper's Weekly for a date appropriate to whatever event you are doing is lightweight and can always be used to start your fire after you and your comrades have worn it out reading it! We currently have a number of issues in stock (that also will be posted to the website within a few days and we can get many other issues on special order). Just remember in choosing dates, it often required about 3 weeks for the news to get into Harper's Weekly, e.g., the news of Vicksburg and Gettysburg didn't appear until July 24, and then, if you are doing confederate, some extra time would have been required for a specific issue to be traded between the pickets.