Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

[J_V]

Re: Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

Not to initiate anything other than rational discourse on subjects mentioned in this thread;

To J.V . and respondents: As per the image of captured Rebs referenced to EOG. Blanket rolls and Knapsacks,
The inference being that having both was in preparation for a long imprisonment .
And that either or both the knapsack / Blanket roll were obtained after capture in anticipation of that imprisonment.

From whom were they obtained? And how?

My ultimate questionwould probably be this: ( Excluding Officers)

(1 When would a Prisoner, even under force of arms, be allowed to appropriate
sustenance from a battlefield?

Just a thought,

Kevin Ellis

Mr. Ellis,

I am not certain at all from whom they would have been obtained. My original post in this thread was meant at face value, and wasn't for the purpose of debunking the practice of packing both a knapsack and blanket roll. But there still remain possbilities within the universe of possibilities. Were they given a blanket by their captors for some reason? (There are many sources that indicate a shortage of blankets in the ANV) Did the man in the center take the blanket or knapsack from a fallen comrade amidst the initial chaos of a capture situation? Or did he always pack that way? I don't know, but none of those possibilities strike me as beyond the pale.

It is also interesting that the two men on either side seem to be wearing their blankets inside their knapsacks, so either the man in the center wore his blanket on the outside as personal preference or as a result of some factor of his capture situation.

Regards,

Jonathan Vaughan

[hiplainsyank]

How to make Gum Blanket

After searching to no avail, I am wondering if anyone has instructions for how to make a gum blanket, with rubber sheeting available from Nick ************. Or is that material not the correct material to make one with?

Thanks for any help.

[Rebel Yell1863]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

After searching to no avail, I am wondering if anyone has instructions for how to make a gum blanket, with rubber sheeting available from Nick ************. Or is that material not the correct material to make one with?

Thanks for any help.

Pard, try this link.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010714031207/home.earthlink.net/~wsmittle/oilcloth.htm

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

Hallo!

IMHO, kinda/sorta, but not exactly...

The difference being that the gun blankets have "sealed" or heat fused/bonded" edges and reinforcements formed "in the oven."
The best one can do, IMHO, with rubber sheeting is to simulate that process with vinyl, contact, or windshield, cement.

Others' mileage may vary...

Curt

[TobiasJones]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

Joanna,

I was about to ask the good people of the forum the same question.

Does anyone know if this info is in The Union Sketchbook or similar book? I was interested in finding the dimensions.

Evan O'Dell

[Charles Heath]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

Evan,

Open your copy of the CRRC-2 to page 142 for a pleasant surprise.

[TobiasJones]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

I'm gonna have to add that to my collection. Thanks Charles.

Evan O'Dell

[MuddyWaterMess]

Re: Two gum blankets??

I have learned the whole theory that i take what i got just as i would have. I have a mindset impression and no matter what it takes to pull that off as accurate as possible i do that. I may carry a ground cloth i may not. At some points i carry just a coverlet i pray i can spoon if not i dont. Personal comfort is something i like to try and leave at home on event weekends. Now i know to some this is not the case and by no means am i saying everyone should be like this but what i am saying is i know that if they could have it they would but sometimes that was not the case. I like to portray the few that lacked i feel it adds a sense of realism to the event. I feel that someone should do what they feel they want to do as long as they stay in the authentic spectrum. I belive that if one would like to carry two gum blankets they need to do so. I do think that what they do should be in reason with much thought. Just my boring rambling 2cents. thanks

BEN JENKINS

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: Two gum blankets??

Two points on this. First, after 24 years of Army service, my "modern" experience would tell me that soldiers make themselves comfortable in any era. 2 gum blankets would be a tremendous advantage, just for the same reasons we are describing here, make a "sandwich" with 2, or for building shebangs, it would have been handy to have. If not issued, lots of battlefield scrounging has always gone on throughout history. And as for carrying extra weight, soldiers will throw away un-needed stuff and carry what they need to stay comfortable and survive. I think there is plenty of primary source evidence as listed here to support that, and if you talk to old soldiers from WWII through today, you find that is a common thread.
So, to my second point on this discussion, the reason I looked is I am looking for a second gum blanket myself. So, I have looked at the "Goodyear 1844" vulcanized reproductions, and just noticed a couple of listings for painted groundcloth. I'm looking on advice regarding the actual authenticity of having the painted groundcloth vice the vulcanized gum blanket. Does anyone have insights or advice as to which would be best (I think gum blanket, but want to ask), and if having a painted version is correct?

[Clsinclair]

Re: Two gum blankets??

I have a copy of the Federal Quartermasters order of 20,000 (could be more as my copy is at home) painted/oil cloths in the year of 1862. The specifications were 71" X 46" with a two inch seam down one side and on one end and 1" on the other end and side. 18 grommets at no more than 14" apart. 1" tape for each blanket so that it could be tied off as a shawl. Two of the grommets were spaced on the edge for the tape. There's a picture of one of these in Echo's of Glory. I got the copy out of a 2002 issue of "The Watch Dog" . Also there should be a seam in the cloth as drill and canvas was only 27.5" wide at the time.

Regards,
Claude Sinclair

[Chip42]

Re: Two gum blankets??

Dan:

I have a photocopy of the notebook of the quartermaster of the 7th Michigan from May '64. In it he documents equipments carried by various soldiers to include:

gum blankets: Up to 2 per man
Shelter halves: Up to 3 halves per man. (very interesting)

Happy to scan and post or e-mail if you would like to see.

Highly detailed info, as he even covers who had breast and box plates and who didn't.

From this piece of documentation, one would guess that the 7th didn't put much stock in uniform discipline.

Hope this helps.

Sam Lowe
Botsford Mess

Aut Viam Invenium Aut Faciam

[Marylander in Grey]

Re: Two gum blankets??

Gentlemen,
My 2 Cents is research your unit. Read the letters and diaries, find the QM reports for issued gear and base your impression on what was common amoung the men you portray.
IRYOS

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Two gum blankets??

So it boils down to:

(1) it is documented to have happened
(2) soldiers (at least Union) had ready access to sufficient quantity
(3) it was an individual's choice

Now it probably didn't happen early in the war because none of the soldiers had the experience to "modify" what the army issued and of course access would have been limited until supply caught up with demand.

So if you want to do it, do it (I do because a second oil cloth is very VERY handy). Just remember you have to carry it.

No can say for sure it wasn't authentic nor what proportion of soldiers didn't do it.

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Two gum blankets??

I think that this has been answered sufficiently, thanks to all of those that provided some of the excellant responses Scott, Troy, Bob, Aaron, et al.

[RoanokeRifle]

Groundcloth Variation?

Hello,


I've been to several Civil War era homes, and a common thing to do I guess would be to have a hand-painted floorcloth extending the entire length of the room.
A carpet substitute.

A friend of mine was looking for antiques on the Eastern Shore and came upon two seperate peices of such a ground covering and they were the same dimensions and everything as a regular groundcloth.

These were painted almost like a compass Rose, black and white.
(We agreed they would have been the coolest groundcloth a soldier could have....)

Hence, my question:

I was wondering if anyone has documentation on the use of these as a groundcloth by a soldier in the Civil War.