Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Here is a nice example of a large portion of an original Spanish Moss blanket. This one was unearthed at the Nashville site in 1995 (96?) with all of the other surviving pieces. It is a blanket but showing a somewhat smaller width than others I have seen. It is only a piece so the length is unknown. It is also of a different weave patteren. Dawn is looking into the opportunities of copying it as a means to save time. Anyway, nice large example of a rare item.

Ken R Knopp

[Spinster]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Ken, my own fragment from the same excavation is much darker than this image appears---is the actual blanket a light/medium brown, as oppossed to the black brown that I have?

Like the fragment I have, this blanket appears to be of the sort of product made on a frame by twining, as opposed to being loom woven. Twining is a more low-tech form of weaving, with a slightly different look. It requires only wooden dowels for a frame rather than a much more expensive harness loom. It is however, a much slower form of weaving.

Dawn called for a nice chat Friday evening, just as I was about to bolt for a too-short visit (1 day) to the 14 day Southeastern Rendeavous. We had a long discussion about ways to speed up the production process, both in spinning and weaving. Included in that discussion was who did I know who would be willing and able to help spin this stuff, or weavers who would do the work as well.

Some years back, when someone on this board protested the cost of a Family Heirloom Weavers coverlet, I made the statement "I would not thread my loom for what Pat Klien is charging for a finished coverlet. " My point being that the labor and materials to get to that point cost me more, and I had not even sat down to weave.

The same statement applies to this work by Glen Pier Depot and Dawn Klug--and it applies double, as Dawn's process is much less power mechanized than Pat's. Dawn can spin and ply the moss at the rate of two balls per day. It takes 26 balls to make the largest blanket. So, that's near to two weeks in the spinning alone.

Then the loom has to be threaded. Dawn is a better weaver than I am, so she is faster--still threading and beaming the warp for a blanket would be an all day affair for me (with several breaks for swearing and beer), so at least a half day affair for her, and possibly longer. The structure of the moss is such that a conventional loom beater cannot be used in weaving much of this work--rows have to be beat in by hand with a small weighted beater that looks much like an outsized table fork. This turns a couple of days of weaving into an all week affair.

Then, the whole thing has to be seamed and hemmed. I'll weave all week, but please don't make me hemstitch for two hours. Again, another full day's work.

In amoungst all this, Dawn is also building moss piles for future use--picking up moss from friends and neighbors in a little trailer, hauling it to her yard, and building a hot pile. Then, once the moss has retted to the fine black fiber, it must be hand cleaned and carded before it even gets to the spinning stage.

But yeah, once tax season is over, I'll be casting about for additional spinners that have the time, skill, and proper equipment to spin this stuff. For me, it means a new flyer attachment in a different size for my wheel, and that's provided I'm smart enough to spin this stuff--a matter that is still open to question.

[NC5thCav]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

After reading up on all the benefits of a Spanish moss blanket, I do want one of these. It would be a great addition for regular riding, not just reenacting use.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Terri,

This moss blanket is rather brown as opposed to black. I cannot account for the difference in color except perhaps that Dawn and I theorize that climate has a lot to do with it. For example, the black moss fibers tend to come from Louisiana and the browns from Florida and possibly Georgia. Maybe the moss that grows in these different areas are hybrids of the same species? Dawn and I have discussed this frequently with no real conclusion.
I get the drift of your thoughts on weaving moss. It is truly highly skilled work (really an art form), incredibly labor and time intensive. Only a very few people really understand what it takes to do this. All the more reason to admire what Dawn is doing. When one considers she does everything you note in your post "by herself" and from a wheelchair (!) is nothing short of miraculous. She has my utmost respect and admiration. Yes, she needs some help to do more but this is also why people need to have some patience if they order one of these.
I am still planning on having you do an apron for me I just have to get around to it on the priority list. Right now its no where near the top but I will. Thanks, I appreciate you!

Ken R Knopp

[PenPusher]

I recently came across the following Payment Voucher for Moss Collars and Moss Blankets on www.footnote.com :-

http://www.footnote.com/register.php...ower%40sky.com

payment being received at Montgomery (presumably Alabama), I guess that Welborn and Seger were located in that vicinity.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Alan,

I could not access this document. What am I missing?

Ken R Knopp

[Spinster]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Ken--probably the same thing I'm missing----a paid subscription to that site.

I think I was seeing a minature blurry version of the document for a moment or two, but never a clear copy.....:confused_

[PenPusher]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Mrs Lawson, Ken,

My apologies, you should get 30 days free viewing of the document; I will take it up with footnote.com. In the meantime I will email a copy of the image direct to you if you wish.

[vbetts]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

On April 11, 1862, J. F. Minter, quartermaster at San Antonio, bought 132 moss saddle blankets for $1 each, from F. Rummel. Sibley's Brigade is in New Mexico. Any conjectures where these ended up? This voucher also appears in the subscription database, Footnote.com.

Vicki Betts
Texas

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

I dont know how I missed this but a recent purview of the "regulations and Notes for the Uniform of the Army of the United States, 1857" found the following....
General Orders No 13, Aug 15, 1855.
1. On recommendatyion of a Borad convened for the purpose in this City, and composed of field officers of two regiments, the Sec. of War directs that the 1st and 2nd Cavalry be armed and equipped, provisionally, as follows:
etc. etc. (but cool, detailed information)

Four squadrons of each regiment to be furnished with the Grimsley equipments used by the other mounted corps; the remaining (or fifth)squadron, as follows:

Horse Equipments.

8. Saddles- Campbell's with the following modifications, viz: the pommel and cantle to be more nearly vertical, and the point of the cantle cut off and made to conform to the curves of the sides; the saddle to be brass mounted, with woodend stirrups; all buckles to be barrel buckles, and brass mounted.

10. Saddle Blanket to be of moss, but of stronger warp than that in the pattern submitted to the Board.

.....So, what does this mean? I was vaguely aware the US army experimented with the Sp Moss blanket prior to the war but this provides some clear evidence along with the very interesting fact they were used with modified Campbells saddles. I did not know this but thought it worthy of note.

Ken R Knopp