Plaid blanket

[rpierson]

Re: Plaid blanket

Man, unless you are willing to do the research yourself and back that item up as 100% authentic for the period, I wouldn't use it. Obviously most of the guys here are doubtful and you can bet most of your pards will be also. So either dig an dig and dig to find justification for its use or go for something that is obviously correct. If you're going to sport something suspect, you should definitely be able to back it up. For AoT the list of acceptable blankets is pretty long and does include "civilian" styles as long as they are "civilian" from the mid 19th century.

Anyway, save yourself a headache and get a less dubious blanket.

-Randall Pierson

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Plaid blanket

Hallo!

Yes, the basic military or "Government" tartan was based upon the vegetable dyed "Campbell" sett used by the Earl of Campbell when he formed the "watch." After the Rebellion of 1745 the Disarming Act banned tartan after August of 1747 (with the exception of the military a bit later when William Pitt persuaded George II to allow Highlanders to enter service) which was not repealled until 37 years later, and which did not see a rebirth of tartan among civiians until after the George IV and Victoria "Revival" where many/much was reinvented anew as "clan tartans."
And again reinvented with the post ACW advent of ultra strong and bright, color fast colors afforded by aniline dyestuff.

Anyways, it became Victorian practice that when a new highland regiment was raised, lines of different colors were added to the "Government Sett" such red and white for Seaforth or yellow for Gordon Highlanders.

The problem with tartan setts and particulalry the "expansion" and "invention" or "clan tartans" is that two to three generations had grown up in the Highlands since the wearing of tartan by everyday folk (and not nobility) and much was forgotten. For many years there was a mix of folks trying to find actual documented regional tartans and local tartans, versus weavers and buisnessmen inventing setts to feed the growing demand. One of the early efforts in compiling a referecne book of known samples was done by the Highland Society of London begining in 1816.
One of the first submissions came from "Mrs. MacKenzie of Seaforth of a MacKensie sett which is similar but different, and where the white stripes are edged in black.

There is a Southern connection to tartan. James Oglethorpe recruited some 130 colonies from the Inverness area of Scotland in 1737 to populate and defend south Georgia against the Spanish in Florida, were in tartan plaids and the mounted rangers in tartan trews. And 350 folks from Argyll were recruited by Duncan Campbell of Kilduskland to settle on the Upper Cape Fear River in 1739.
How much "Highland" traditional weaving was still around in 1861 is open to debate.

Curt

[ScottCross]

Re: Plaid blanket

I have seen quite a few original civilian blankets from the mid 19th century and have never encountered one woven in a military tartan pattern. Also, most civilian blankets of the time period were manufactured on narrow looms, so that the blanket has a center seem where two pieces were sewn together. I don't think the use of your blanket could be considered authentic. There are good alternitives available, this isn't one of them.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Plaid blanket

I can't comment on the plaid, though what Curt Schmidt is saying is the direction to research that. But like Justin A. Meinert said, it looks to me like a shawl, not a blanket, due to the fringe, unless its size is so huge to preclude that.

Were plaid shawls for men that unusual in the period? I have a wool brown-and-red windowpane checked shawl with fringe that I use as a civilian blanket occasionally (so the plaid isn't an issue), and never thought of it as something that would be challenged, but now I don't know.

We have seen accounts of the gentleman's plaid shawl having become a common article of dress in many places in England, and it is now seen not unfrequently in France. It is beginning to be worn by American gentlemen, and is not now a subject of wonder in our streets; it is also for sale in all our large stores, and as it is a most convenient and comfortable article of apparel, it may yet become (not fashionable we would say) consistently common sense, and common to wear them. It appears to us that these shawls can be profitably manufactured in the United States; we would therefore be glad to see a more extended market opened for them. Nov. 13 1852 Scientific American

An example more specific to the war in the south, in 1863 Georgia:

We left in the afternoon for this place. Our friend, Mr. Davis, in attending to our baggage, forgot his overcoat and blanket-shawl at the Trout House, which is a serious loss in this cold weather, and he on his way to camp.

I think that's the context that Lincoln's shawl was worn in, that Justin linked to. Those were well-to-do people, so I don't know that wearing a shawl is the right look for a working-class man unless he was an immigrant who picked up the habit from overseas or there's another shawl-wearing demographic I'm unaware of, but it didn't occur to me that these wouldn't wind up on the second-hand market eventually and trickle down as lightweight blankets.

Then there's still the question of whether a soldier might have got hold of one, when they were down to substituting carpets, hearth rugs and old quilts for regular blankets.

IF the plaid is appropriate to the era (big huge if), that's the context I'd see it in.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Plaid blanket

I have a nearly identical blanket in "Black Watch" plaid, that my grandmother bought at the Pendleton mill in the early 1950's.

[Utley]

Re: Plaid blanket

Adding a little to what Hank Trent said about shawls..... Major Connelly of the 123rd Illinois mentions in his memoir, Three Years in the Army of the Cumberland that he used a shawl as a blanket at times when living on the march, etc.

Also, a great place to check is mid-19th century store ledgers and records. Should be able to Google some of these. In 18th century living history, those have opened the door to many more items than many folks thought were actually around. This would be the case as well, I suspect, if you searched out store ledgers and inventory lists for your general area during and before the war. It wasn't all "homemade", by any means. Also, mass produced blankets were single panel well back into the 18th century, so it also doesn't have to be a two panel blanket.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Plaid blanket

Ive also wondered this in regards to all the trader blankets that must of been out there. For example the Hudson point blankets (indicating the number of pelts they were worth) I would think these would have been common any where trapping was an industry, this would cover large portions of both the North and South. In my earlier post one of the descriptions of Confederate prisoners talks about them having "white stripped blankets worn in the indian fasion". Food for thought I would say.

[Silas]

Re: Plaid blanket

Here's a link to a fairly recent thread about using Hudson's Bay blankets : http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...vilian-Blanket

Here's another which contains a link about the point system : http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...ts-with-Points

Some good advice handed out in these two threads. Found in this last thread is some familiar advice already dispensed in the current thread :

A more productive approach to that question would be "I am portraying unit XYZ at this specific time and place, what type of blanket would be most appropriate."

Trying to match gear you happen to own to an impression almost invariably leads to those farb-o-licious justifications of how the particular item is appropriate if you squint real hard and don't ask too many questions.

Direct link : http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...6429#post76429

[RNMCSA]

Re: Plaid blanket

Thank you for the links Silas, Ive tried using the search function for information on blankets several times and have only ever come up with one of those threads and had forgotten it untill now. So on to my next question. Several of the blankets mentioned as available on those threads are no longer available.
Those that still are;
1. South Union Mills
2. He who shall not be named
3. FHW (problem I have here is the "homespun blankets" they offer seem to me a synthetic mix) so are they still acceptable?
Anyone know of any other good sources?
I still need a blanket and since Im not indipendantly wealthy it has been a struggle to put together as much of my kit as I have so far. Long story short I need a blanket that will be PEC enough to cover a wide range of scenarios untill I can affoard several to pick and choose from.

[Silas]

Re: Plaid blanket

A hundred bucks or more for a ready to go blanket sounds like a lot, but they last a long time. I was going to recommend you look at what is available from Waumbaugh and White, but their website is down as I write this. I've been carrying one of their blankets for about a year. They've been purchasing many items from FHW so I would not be surprised if the ones they carry are from FHW. S&S lists a FHW blanket for a hundred dollars. A call to Carter and Jasper, an approved vendor, is worth the time. I've still got my Julius Jones blanket that I purchased from Matt Woodburn from 2003.

I made a blanket from seven yards of jean cloth. It weighs seven pounds, but is pretty warm. Cost for the FHW fabric ten years ago was $10/yard. I don't take it to events any longer, but it is on my kid's bed these days during the cold months.

For an infantry impression, you cannot do this hobby without a musket. For a campaign impression, you must also have a solid blanket and an impervious layer.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Plaid blanket

Thanks again Silas,
Ive thought about trying my hand at making my own. I would love to get in the field but Im trying to buy authintic first and well its been a slow process. I still need drawers, brogans, blanket, and rifle. At least for a basic kit. I made the mistake once of buying some stuff cheap and well I wont do that again. It has been a lot of fun reasearching my kit though and when its finally together I can definatly be proud of it. Im looking forward to putting miles on it and getting it dirty.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Plaid blanket

I would say a County Cloth 1858 Tøjhusmuseet/Fred Gaede blanket would be the closest thing to a skeleton key of a blanket. I would argue that the 1858 would fit MOST impressions from 61 to 66. Personally I have an 1858, a CS issue blanket, a coverlet, and a "Shoddy" US blanket. Keep in mind that hundred and something dollar blanket will last your entire reenacting life.

[Spinster]

Re: Plaid blanket

I cannot discern the finish of this particular blanket from the photo. My memory of this type of modern blanketing is that it has a slightly fulled, teasel brushed surface that raises the nap and that the fringe ends are fulled/matted together.

This self fringe (made directly from the warp threads) by twisting and fulling was not a common period blanket finish. The fabric weight is heavy when compared to common period shawls. The wool types in these popular 20th century blanket/throws is not comparable in durability to common period ingrain carpetings.

It's neither fish nor fowl. I own a lovely Herringbone wool coat given to me by my mother. It's wool. The weave pattern is correct. Its cut and styling bears resemblance to a period ladies coat only in that it has arms. It's not correct for me to wear in 1862.

My herringbone coat stays home when I travel to 1862. As should the lovely Pendleton throw.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Plaid blanket

Problem is Robert these blankets are not available anymore. maybe Spinster can help me out with the FHW question, there Homespun blankets are listed as being part Acrylic? No where on there website can I find anything listed for a Confederate blanket I see talked about, nor any ACW blanket for that matter. That leaves basicly two choices out there from No name or S&S (which is a FHW). I have found a couple of mills on line offering homespun middle seam blankets in 100% cotton that look nice. This however brings up another issue; wool I think would have been preferred. Does anyone known if anymore runs of good blankets are planned by anyone?

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Plaid blanket

I guess plan B would be the S&S blanket, from what I can tell they are excellent. Or a civilian alternative one of Chris Utley's civilian blankets.