Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

[csabugler]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

I hope the Mrs lawson gets these going soon, as it appears I'm gonna die at Mills Springs!! :)
Patrick

[AZReenactor]

Re: ITS HERE! Span Moss Saddle Blankets

I am not sure when, at what cost and how many of these will be produced in the first run but, if you are a cavalry or artillery reenactor, historian or collector and have not yet placed your order I strongly urge you to do so.

Ken,
So where and how does one place an order for this long awaited piece of CS Cavalry equipment?

[Spinster]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

I hope the Mrs lawson gets these going soon, as it appears I'm gonna die at Mills Springs!! :)
Patrick

Patrick honey---read the thread a bit more closely :p ---I'm not the maker here--I'm an interested bystander, and one who has failed miserably at the job of actually making these things. I've got the chigger scars to prove it.

Dawn's the spinner and weaver and maker, and I'm just dang lucky to have gotten to meet her!

I will pass on to her that we need one large enough to bury you in though :D

[Linkstrap]

Re: ITS HERE! Span Moss Saddle Blankets

Ken,
So where and how does one place an order for this long awaited piece of CS Cavalry equipment?

Troy, you can email Karl Pepper at Glenn Pier Depot to get your name on the list.

[AZReenactor]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Jim, thank you for the info.

[VaTrooper]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

They're shown on the site now.

http://www.glennpierdepot.us/spanishmoss.htm

[MustangGray]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

List,

I realize this is a thread about Spanish Moss blankets... but what about the British Numnah? Mr. Knopp mentioned those as well, any news on their debut?

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Since this was my effort it is my responsibility to answer this question. Actually, I received a prototype from the maker about a month ago. However, while the construction was good I was not entirely happy with two very important aspects- one of which was the wool/felt material. So, I have been researching other materials and reworking its basic construction. Unfortunately, several business related and personal distractions have lately sidetracked this effort for awhile. If you will allow me some time I hope soon to get back to resolving these issues in earnest and provide more information later this summer or early fall.
One thing I should point out, however. It seems some people believe that this item could be used for a Confederate "trooper" impression. This would be incorrect. Through most of the war, the numnah was an import item “purchased” from the arsenals by officers “of means” (normally field grade officers of all branches, Lieutenant and up or, staff officers, surgeons, etc.,). From what I can tell, it was not normally issued to privates until the very last weeks of the war when the arsenals were apparently purging their stores. Therefore, in most scenarios it would not be appropriate for you to have a numnah in the field unless you are an officer as noted above. Thank you for asking.

Ken R Knopp

[dcwilliams29id]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Does anyone know how these blankets held up to hard use?

Chris Williams

[Drygoods]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

good Day All,

When I first read this thread, I wondered if people used these blankets for sleeping as I had no interest in them for horses, however, I found a little ditty that caught my attention. I don't know if any of this is useful to anyone, and I don't know the first thing about mosses or blankets of this kind, but others might like the notes.:p

Transactions Of The American Institute, New York. 1856
" Muscan Hair.

A new article for mattrasses was exhibited by A. S. Jones of this city, which is manufactured from the long moss, or, as it is sometimes called, Spanish Moss, which has been used for the purpose, with but little preparation, ever since this country was settled. The moss grows in unmeasured abundance upon the lowland forests of several of the southern states. The objection to it is that it cannot be freed from its inner bark, which wears off by constant attrition, and forms a fine dust. Its advantage is that it never harbors vermin, is perfectly inodorous, and entirely free from any animal impurities, such as sometimes get in with hair. In the present process of manufacturing the moss, which has commenced upon a large scale in this city, under a patent process, the fine, black, hair-like fibre of the moss is free from its covering by steeping in some mineral solution, and afterward in a solution charged with iron, that gives it a glossy black appearance, like iron threads, and being very curly when dried, it is one of the most elastic, cleanly, durable and bug-proof materials for beds, and withal very cheap, the present price being $18 a cwt. Mr. Jones stated that a sample was sent to a house in England, and an order came back by the first post for fifteen bales.
Dr. Smith, one of the reporters, inquired what effect dampness had upon this new material--that is new to him.
solon Robinson -- I will answer that question, having seen millions of tons of the moss growing, and in all its stages of decay, manufacture and use. This wiry fibre is almost indestructible; it will remain a long time--longer than wood on the damp ground without decay, and in any sate of moisture is but little affected; and it is said that a mattrass made of it will not carry epidemical diseases. It grows in such abundance that it can be furnished in any desired quantity, and increased demand will cheapen the price. If this process of preparing the crude material for use comes into general use, it will add another to our industrial products, furnish a new article of export, and give better and cheaper beds to the people.
T. W. Field--Yes, enable the poor to get more, and more wholesome sleep.
Dr. Waterbury--Any cheap, good substitute for feathers will be a national blessing. I am glad to see his new article, and to hear the remarks made upon it."

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Well boys!

Take a look....find attached a couple of photos of the Spanish Moss saddle “blankets”! I am told that some of you that have ordered already have your “mats” and a very few have blankets but I wanted to show everyone an early sample. See attached. First, as I am sure you have been forewarned by Karl Pepper of Glen Pier Depot (the sponsor and proprietor of this endeavor) that these mats and blankets take a while to be completed. You must be patient but you WILL be satisfied.
I have seen them and they are excellent! They are “hand-made” just as the originals and while not made of “slave” labor as no doubt were the originals, they are still extremely laborious. Dawn has done a superb job... no I say an amazing job in getting this item (truly a historical work of art -no less) available again for the first time in maybe a century!
A few notes: Spanish Moss is green when hanging from the tree but when you cure it the inner fiber comes in two colors. So, the mats/blankets can be made of black moss (cured from Louisiana) or a more brown moss (cured from Florida and likely Georgia). I am not sure about the differences except it has to do with the moss and where it grows.
The first mat and blanket took about 45 hours to complete but since then I think Dawn has reduced this quite a bit. Thankfully. Nevertheless, it is still very time consuming and difficult work to spin the moss into fiber and then set up on a large loom to weave.
You can see from the photos that they portend to be excellent items for both horse and rider. The blanket is made according to the size of an original I have handled and measured. It is meant to be folded like a regulation blanket. At first it will be rough and scratchy but with a little use the roughage wears off to make it nicely smooth. It is light weight yet seems to provide a lot of cushion and air flow under the saddle to the horses back. Preventing chafing. In all, apparently just what it was supposed to do by period descriptions.
Several of you folks out there have them now and more on the way so I would like to see some feedback from those that are actually using them. What do you think?


Ken R Knopp

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Ken, them blankets won't turn a horse funny colors like that one in the pic, will they? :tounge_sm

Mike Nickerson

[bqbowden]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

I was wondering how folks liked the moss blankets and how they compare to "modern" variations. Do they perform as good or better than wool blankets? How about as they compare to the more modern horse pads?

[unionreb]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Berry,

I have been riding the Spanish Moss pad for a few months now. I got production pad #1. It rides great, my horses back does not get as hot or wet as it did when just riding a wool blanket. As of late, I put my sleeping blanket under the saddle on top of the pad and it will get warm, but does not soak up the sweat from the horse. I get no saddle slippage. Dawn did a great job, good tight weave.

Any further question, email me.

[PackinPelican]

Re: Confederate Spanish Moss Saddle Blankets

Last year, I drove Karl down to Mr. Duet's (the moss guy) house in Louisiana to pay for the first of the moss and load it into Dawn's van. Dawn also had in her possesion, an original specimen of a blanket and it was impressive. Will all the determination to make an authentic piece, I don't think you can lose here. They are sparing nothing to make sure this is an accurate representation of the original. I was impressed! They kept using me as Mr. Duet's (Pronounced "Doo-ay") translator too...