Confederate Issue Flour Sack

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

I'm looking to make some C.S. issue sacks for flour, cornmeal etc...In looking through EoG I came across the picture of a flour sack in the collection of the MoC. I was curious as to whether or not any other individuals had viewed this bag in person, and might be willing to share their notes; type of stitching, dimensions, etc....

Thanks,

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04
23rd VA Regt.

[Moonshine]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Try touching base with Mr. Joe Hoffman (skilletlicker.com). He had these reproduced a while back and probably could be of help in this area.

Best,

[Charles Heath]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Paul,

If the CS ration bag Skillet Joe sold was patterned after the one at the MOC, then it was a very small flour sack indeed. The stencil on the bag added a nice touch. I poked around in the back room for a moment to see if I still had one in the collection of poke sacks and ration bags, but no such luck.

We wore out a couple of these bags in short order, and they were a handy size for a number of items. If you use cloth bags in the field for bulk items, remember to set them on wooden boxes, inside basins, or some other type of dunnage to keep the moisture in the ground from ruining the food product.

[Spinster]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Joe's all out of those---in fact, I scooped up the last of them in a "what ya got in the back room Joe?" trade over a year ago.

And, they did prove a popular thing---since the troops at Banks Grand Retreat were under Rules of Engagement that specified that they could only loot food from civilians, but not material culture, one poor feller was so enamoured of the little Confederate States flour bag that he came around quietly to bargain in earnest for it as a war trophy.

He left with it, and Miz Bertie and I had a bait of coffee that we kept hid from the young women. :D

They were quite small--I've one account of such in my home area, where they were issued to 'widows otherwise incapable of providing for themselves'.

[jgr1974]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

I do have a stencil for this bag. If anyone is interested. I would either stencil there bag, or make one to their specs. I do not know the original dimensions, of the bag, but have made up some generic ones. If somone would provide me with the correct dimensions, I would be happy to make some up!!!

Contact me here or email me at jgr1974@hotmail.com if anyone is interested or has questions!

Jeremy Richardson
The Mad Mick!!!

[NC1862]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

By the sound of it, these things are quite popular. I wonder if anyone will be reproducing some more in the future?

[Spinster]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Tyler,

Like so many things---stuff comes in cycles. Joe had them piled up in the back room because folks weren't buying them---and eventually, put them 'on sale'---and then I cleaned out what was left after the sale.

These sorts of specialty items are hard to do in any volume enough to be profitable. So, if Joe or someone else gets up a 'run' of them, hop on it.

I've stenciled enough cloth in my time to know I'm not going to be doing the few I'd like to have. I'd druther not have given up the one I did have---but the soldier wanted it so badly, and those men were so wore out, if one of them had of asked for the shoes off my feet I would have probably handed them over too.

So, if someone wants to get up a run, I'm good for buying several myself, not only of the flour, but also of the "Havana Sugar" .

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Like many other goods I wish I had again, these were produced by Pat Brown. Pat is deployed in Iraq and I am not sure when he will be back. When he gets back I have a whole laundry list of things for him to produce, among them these very sacks. He is also waaaaaaay past due on "For Fatigue Purposes" Vol. II.

[Rough and Ready Boy]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

That sack was on display two years ago and I took a pic which I could send via email. It was about the size of a pillow case or well, an old flour sack.

Doug Davis
26th NC

[poilu1917]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

This is actually the MoC's artifact of the month:

"This white canvas flour bag, which is stamped in black ink, "Confederate * States", is believed to have been used for tax-in-kind. On April 24, 1863, the Confederate Congress levied this tax on civilians, taking 10% of all agricultural products and livestock raised for slaughter. Congress hoped to feed their armies and pay for the war through these taxes, but civilians were resentful of the steep rate – especially poorer farmers, who came to see this policy as unfair as conscription."

http://www.moc.org/collections-archi...h?mode=general

Here are some additional images:

[advanceguard]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

W&W was making them also....

[Jalaco]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

N.J. ************ has them on his site...just type "flour" into the 'quick find' bar on the left side of screen, and they pop up. Link wasn't working here when I tried to copy and paste.

Not sure if this is something different similar, different, if he even has any left, etc. Remember seeing them the other day before seeing this thread.

[Jalaco]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Not sure why it substitutes the stars in my post, won't let me type out that word for some reason... it's the New Jersey guy, y'all can find his site on google.

[Jeff Nichols]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Third item down...

http://confederatesaddles.com/cswp/?page_id=53&category=4&page_number=8

[The Southern Volunteer]

Re: Confederate Issue Flour Sack

Y'all have any ideas on the type of canvas used for these sacks?