Bathroom tissue in the field

[JosephRoman]

Had a good discussion this past weekend on what the army soldier used as some type of bathroom tissue on campaign. Never heard of anything. I don't think the 'pine cone' comment of this past weekends event would have gone over well. Any ideas?

Joe Roman
3rd Wis Inf:

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

Joseph- This is a subject that I would venture most of us have thought about but didn't want to really talk about. I am unaware of the army issuing anything to the soldiers but maybe someone else might have more information. I would venture a guess that the common soldier in the field used any paper/fabric he could find. Letters, books or even old clothing pieces. It is a relevant topic because as we are well aware most Civil War soldiers died of disease and this was probably a significant contributor to many deaths.

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

This information I found about toilet paper took less than five minutes to find online.

http://wordinfo.info/unit/3949/ip:6/il:T
http://encyclopedia.toiletpaperworld.com/toilet-paper-history/complete-historical-timeline
http://www.tagyerit.com/tp/history.htm

[Citman05]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

Gayetty's Medicated Paper $1.35




Click to enlarge
A product advertised as "the Necessity of the Age" this was one of, if not the first, commercially manufactured toilet papers in the United States. The label predates our popularly sold "Perforated Paper", having begun production in 1857. Sold in packages of flat sheets originally with a water mark bearing makers name on each! Our package is meticulously made in period style with appropriate materials in a size conducive to carrying in the field by the individual soldier. Soft facial quality tissue, for those wishing to forego the total "emersion" irritation of less friendly compositions without sacrificing authenticity. Label is faithfully taken from early commercial broadsides for the product.

http://www.sutleroffortscott.com/oscommerce2/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=128&osCsid=aeoh041j03f5n8oisjvmek5h87

This is medicated paper that the Sutler of Fort Scott makes, they make lots of cool items.

[GrumpyDave]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

This information I found about toilet paper took less than five minutes to find online.

http://wordinfo.info/unit/3949/ip:6/il:T


http://encyclopedia.toiletpaperworld.com/toilet-paper-history/complete-historical-timeline
http://www.tagyerit.com/tp/history.htm

And, Tyler, it's been discussed on this forum ad naseum. And, there's no photographic evidence soldiers ever went(Federal soldiers in Andersonvilled did), so, don't worry about it. Just don't go at events hold it until you get home. Now, let me pull my tongue out fo my cheek.

[IowaYank]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

Don't throw away the arsenal pack wrapper and keep it below your tins. Works well.

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

Eat LOTS and LOTS of cheese before you go to the event. (Notice I said before and not during)... oh and I just discovered last night that eating take out Chinese food reverses the effect upon arrival at home.

[Silas]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

This is one of those topics which can go south in a hurry. Yeah, it's been discussed. And discussed. And discussed. Problem is that most of the threads get removed and/or deleted by moderators because people get carried away with the subject matter.

Considering that the overwhelming majority of events are public affairs with portajohns or running water, the question is, for the most part, academic. Not too many events on the schedule are multiple day affairs away from modern conveniences. For those events, bring some news print, scrounge cartridge wrappers after skirmishes and/or avail yourself of leaves if you lack sufficient paper.

Here's a link to a nice article from the US Army Quartermaster Museum about the "Historical Background of Army Operational Rations" : http://www.qmfound.com/army_rations_...background.htm Not much Civil War in the article, but I think that's the point. Toilet paper wasn't an issue item.

[Bill Cross]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

There are two ways to look at this topic:

1.) What did THEY use?
2.) What can WE use?

As to #1, I'm not going to rehash what has been said before, except to say it's one reason apparently few or no letters from home have survived.

As to #2, it's relatively easy to find unbleached paper at highway rest stops or from restaurant supply houses.

As to claims it's mostly unnecessary, I regret not having sufficient paper in my knapsack at "Bummers." Thankfully, Nature provided some convenient leaves. I know: on a forum that worships information, that's TMI. ;)

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

Hallo!

IMHO, the historical curse is that modern pulp paper does not feel or act/perform exactly the same as "high" cloth (aka rag content) CW period papers....

;) :) :)

Curt

[Mark Choate]

Re: Bathroom tissue in the field

As riveting as this topic and journey has been, I think it has fulfilled it's purpose.

Thank you for visiting.....................Thread is closed.

Mark