Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Gum Blanket Repairs

A question I have been tossing around in my head as of late, is should I repair a few different pieves of gear that have become a bit kicked about or should I just replace the item. What I am torn with is, would a soldier repair an item, or would he just chuck the worn out item and draw another.

[cprljohnivey]

Re: ITW: Lessons Learned, Short comments.

Worked:

1. Cooking rations up on Friday Night.
2. Dividing the "load" amongst my mess mates for the weekend (You carry the baccon, I carry the fry pan)
3. Carrying hemp rope (very light and takes up little space but strong)
4. Deciding to carry the shelter half afterall!!!!!!!
5. Carrying an extra shirt and socks!!!
6. Carrtying extra leather shoestrings to fix a busted sole of a pards shoe!
7. Having a pre-threaded needle in my housewife to repare the hole in my trousers I got from when I "ran through the brambles and ran through the briars and ran throught the places that a rabbit couldn't go..."
8. SHARING GREAT TIMES WITH GREAT PARDS AND MAKING NEW FRIENDS!!!

Didn't work:
1. Squezing 3 pards into a shelter tent designed to barely fit 2 (Wet feet and blankets in the AM)
2. Not having enough tent pins (MR Daley, when will I ever be able to get more from you?!?!?!?!?!)
3. Carrying a jack knife that should have been sharpened before the event. (Its like trying to cut your meat with a spoon!!!)
4. Realizing that the many many many of us still need to learn our drill and where their proper place is in the company/regiment!!!!

Brad Ireland
Old Line Mess
Pridgeons Shanendoah Legion

[Wild Rover]

Re: ITW: Lessons Learned, Short comments.

"Do not set your shebang up next to 14th Tn HQ shebang unless you want to be kept awake all night by lost patrols reporting in. "

Keivn Kelley

LOL, I am just glad they didn't kill the division CO.


"Who the duce are you?"


I wish I had been there to see that one!

Later,

[The Pigman]

Re: Gum Blanket Repairs

I had the same thing happen and now use the piece that came off as a rope to help hold my dog tent up.

Thanks,
Mark C. Foster

[John E. Tobey]

Re: Gum Blanket Repairs

A question I have been tossing around in my head as of late, is should I repair a few different pieves of gear that have become a bit kicked about or should I just replace the item. What I am torn with is, would a soldier repair an item, or would he just chuck the worn out item and draw another.

If talking about stuff in a Federal impression, I think it depends on the items, the commands, and the timeframe.

Some items weren't the property of the soldier, they were just "on loan" from the US government -- the only way these items were replaced were if they were lost or condemned by an inspector or superior. If they were lost, the money was deducted from the soldier's pay. If they were condemned, it was charged to the government if the wear and tear was deemed due to regular use or charged to the soldier if it was deemed the result of neglect. Such items included Ordnance supplies and Camp and Garrison equipage.

Some items *were* the property of the soldier, and the cost of such items was debited from the soldier's clothing allowance when he drew new ones. Assuming that supplies were available, a soldier could draw what he needed or wanted. Some clothing items were watched by the inspectors, however -- for example, soldiers in some units at certain times could be ordered to replace worn items of uniform if they presented an "unsoldierly appearance".

Some issue items owned by the soldiers tended to be overlooked. For instance, I doubt whether the army officially cared if a soldier had a blanket at all. If instances exist of soldiers being ordered to replace a holey blanket or waterproof exist, they are certainly rare. On the other hand, I've seen plenty of documentation to suggest that some tough fellows would do with an ancient, threadbare blanket or even send their army ones home and do without. The same applies to gum blankets. I reckon it depended on what the soldier could bear. Keep in mind that soldiers could receive the unused portion of their clothing allowance in hard cash. The less they drew, the more spondulix went into their pockets.

John Tobey

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Gum Blanket Repairs

Excellent point John.
Also it brings into question, what would be considered government property, and what would be considered personal property. I imagine that items such as musket accoutrents, musket, musket tools, etc would be government property, while haversacks, knapsacks, canteens clothing etc. would be personal. The condition of these items would echo this, your officers would insist on the care and condition of your musket and musket items, but the condition of your haversack probably would not matter.

[markj]

Re: Gum Blanket Repairs

For your perusal and edification:

Extract from "Record of Events for the Forty-eighth Tennessee Infantry (Nixon's) November 1861 - February 1864"

(Supplement to the Official Records, Vol. 67, Records of Events, Broadfoot Publishing Company, http://www.broadfootpublishing.com/cg_ref.htm)

Company E [Tullahoma, Tennessee]

On February 25, 1863 [Marcus Logan] Martin had stolen from him while on prisoner duty the following articles: one cartridge box, $2.50; one cartridge box belt, $1.00; one cap pouch, $1.00; one bayonet, $5.00; one waist belt, $.75; one gun sling, $.35; forty cartridges, $10.00 [i.e., 25 cents apiece]; fifty-two caps; five _______ equal $2.60. Was relieved from payment by recommendation [of] court martial.

JAMES C. COOPER, Captain,
Company E, Forty-eighth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Michael Comer]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

I came across this little tidbit that I found interesting and thought would be a good addition to this discussion.

Levi Wagner of the 1st Ohio lost a lot of his stuff at Chickamauga. After the initial successful push on Missionary Ridge he set out to replace some of it:

"When we struck the crest I never halted, for my mind was set on some Rebel knapsack, so down the opposite side of the ridge I went. As I got part way down a Rebel soldier jumped up from behind a log in front of me and said "don't shoot, I surrender." I asked him where his gun was, to which he replied that it was behind the log. I looked back, and seeing an officer told him to go back and report to him. I might have fixed by bayonet on my gun, marched him back to the colonel and delivered him up after telling a long story of how I had captured him, but honors of any kind I never cared for. Besides was he not a voluntary prisoner? At all events, I never saw him again. I got his gun, fired out the cartridge, threw it on the ground and started in search of a knapsack. In the narrow valley at the eastern slope of the ridge I found an opportunity to make a good choice of knapsacks, as the ground was literally covered with them as though the Rebels had been perfectly panic-stricken, and in their haste to get away had divested themselves of every pound of weight they could possibly spare. After looking over a few I chose one which I thought would supply all my needs. Upon examining my prize I found a good government blanket, two shirts, two pairs of drawers, a pair of light summer pants, a night cap, a plug of tobacco, and a cornpone."

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Oilcloth Dimensions

I have a recipe for making the chemical to paint onto the canvas/ducking. I am in need of dimensions for making an oilcloth. Also recomendations as to what kind of grommets to put onto one of the oilcloths I am making. I want to do this right. Please Help.

Is this for "Oil Cloth" or "Painted Cloth"?

[James Masson]

Re: Oilcloth Dimensions

A safety comment here, I believe some of the traditional means of treating canvas use sources known to be hazardous in California (somebody else help me out here, I don't recall the specifics :( ) Personally, I wouldn't sleep overnight with my face close to one (when the average life span was less then fifty, many folks avoided cancer by dying!)

I know this won't add to the conversation but I don't think there is any substantial health risk to sleeping on a ground cloth made to a period recipe. Linseed oil, lampblack and japan dryer are only dangerous if consumed or their fumes are inhaled and once the paint is dry it's no longer dangerous. I've seen a recipe that called for lithrage (lead oxide) but you can't even buy that anymore so it's a non-issue. I think dying from sleeping on a ground cloth made to a period recipe should be the least of his worries.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Oilcloth Dimensions

Also, another 'believe it or not,' James Country Merchantile makes the only good painted cloth groundcloths I've seen by a vendor.

WHAT!? That is not exactly what passes for an approved vendor.

[hardtack1864]

Re: Oilcloth Dimensions

Well, he did say their painted ground cloth was the best and not their uniforms. Also if they use latex paint, then of course it is not authentic and should not be discussed anymore.

[hendrickms24]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

Interesting question, I guess on average I prefer the knapsack over the blanket roll. The knapsack just seems to carry better on long marches for me, and it also makes it easier to get at your gear during those brief 15 min. rests.

I agree with you about the knapsack.
I also noticed that the Bed roll make me over heat!

[1stMaine]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

Comrades,
I have to admit that I prefer a knapsack over a blanket roll. Two reasons stand out for me. The first is that my blanket remains dry, as does all the other stuff I put into it. The second is that I don't need anybody else to help me twist it or roll it up and tie it off.
Comrade hendrickms24 also makes a very good point about overheating with a blanket roll, and I have experienced this myself, as well as seen it effect others. One advantage that a knapsack has over a blanket roll is the ability to tie off a fry-pan to it, or hang a boiler off the back without baging it against your leg.
Anyway, that's my two-cent's worth.
Respects,

[billmatt04]

knapsack question

Hello all,
I have a question concerning knapsacks and the little loop of leather that is between the shoulder straps at the top. I used the "search" option and could not find anything on them. What was their official use? Reenactors have told me to slip a small stick or dowel rod through it to support the straps so that it doesn't rip the stitching. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to do all I can to improve my impression. Thanks a lot!

Sincerely,
Matthew Cassady
Pvt. 104th Illinois Vol. Inf.