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This was sent to the event listserver several weeks ago, but I figured, "Why not post it here, too?"
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Unless you’ve attended it before, “Winter 1864” is an event that is most likely very different from any event you’ve attended—even from other garrison events. Even if you have attended previous W64s, this one is different because it is four days long. Below is a very basic list of selected items to consider bringing that you would not typically consider bringing to an event portraying troops on campaign. All items brought should be correct for the period (with a few exceptions for health and safety, as noted below). This list is not intended or represented as being comprehensive or covering “all” items that a soldier could have had during winter quarters. Rather, it’s basic items that the event committee believes will be particularly useful; not everyone needs to bring all of the following—this list is merely to promote some thinking and early preparation by registrants.
“Please note that the closeness of participants’ living quarters at this event makes accurate gear and behavior of particular importance, because it is difficult to hide inaccurate or ‘unauthentic’ items from your fellow participants when you are all quartered in a hut that may be about the size of a large closet.” – From page 3 of the W64 2008 event standards
Personal Hygiene
This is a four-day event; please take care of your person!
1. Towel.
2. Soap (lye soap).
3. Shaving brush.
4. Razor for the clean-shaven. *
5. Looking glass (mirror).
6. Comb.
7. Toothbrush and tooth powder (in a pinch? Use baking soda for tooth powder.)
8. Sanitary paper for the sinks (a.k.a. toilet paper—this will NOT be issued and you probably want to bring some).
* Note on Razors: Straight razors must be extremely sharp and devoid of burrs and irregularities to be safe and not feel as if your face is being torn off during a shave. A strop to polish the razor before use is required. Many reenactors do not have access to these items. If you are unable to procure a sharpened razor and correct strop, one modern compromise is acceptable: a modern straight razor will be acceptable at this event. Such razors use a modern, cartridge-type razor blade in lieu of a period straight razor. While this is certainly not period-correct, it is A) Sanitary (assuming more than one person may share a razor) and B) Will ensure that the blade is sharp enough for a good, controlled shave. Dull razors are unsafe and more prone to result in a cut than a sharp blade.
Clothing
In addition to your uniform and overcoat, consider the following:
1. Extra pair of drawers (after all, it’s a four-day event)
2. Extra shirt (if you wear two shirts for warmth, bring a third and/or fourth shirt)
3. Extra socks (you’re nuts if you don’t bring at least one extra pair, the heavier the better; two extra pair are better than one extra pair)
4. Mittens (it’s nearly suicidal to attend W64 without them)
5. Scarf (a darn good idea)
6. Wool sleeping cap (bring it! W64 2006 proved that a warm fire in every hut’s stove is not guaranteed for all weather conditions)
Period-incorrect Advice: Consider applying a waterproofing product such as “Sno-Seal” or equal to your bootees. It’s quite likely you’ll be tramping around in the snow. Of course, Civil War soldiers did not have modern waterproofing compounds. That said, very wet, very cold feet are not healthy in the type of weather experienced at previous editions of this event.
(EDITORIAL NOTE: After this was posted to the event listserver, a good discussion ensued regarding waterproofing approaches that are more period-correct than the one suggested above.)
Amusements
The event committee has activities, details, and “scenarios” planned, but we are not cruise directors. This is winter quarters and troops got bored during winter quarters. Idle conversation in your hut or the guardhouse may occupy the first two days, but after that it’s up to you fill much of your time. Prepare for it.
1. Period books to read, including novels, military handbooks if that’s your thing, and even the Bible.
2. Playing cards and dice. If you intend to gamble, bring some period scrip (i.e., money) with which to gamble (keep the denominations normal; it’s unlikely that enlisted men gambled with $20+ bets very often).
3. Period games such as checkers or chess. Bring wooden pieces and use a “board” painted on the back of a gum blanket, or other improvised playing surface.
4. Items (and creativity) to make your own amusements—for example, a footrace or similar activity.
5. A period musical instrument and a reasonable amount of talent to play it.
6. Photos of loved ones at home.
Stuff to Make Life Easier
1. Candles. The huts are dark inside even in the daytime, and are even darker at night. The Quartermaster Sergeant will issue a certain quantity of candles (to be determined, but think “about two candles per man”), but also plan to bring anywhere from two to six of your own candles per man.
2. Candleholder. This is important, because tipsy candles present a very real and dangerous fire-hazard in the confines of the huts. Be safe: bring a candleholder or period-correct soldier-improvised lantern. (See the event standards regarding lighting.) *
3. Other lighting. A tin (such as a sardine tin) filled with modern lamp oil and a wick makes a soldier-improvised light similar to that described in Hardtack and Coffee but that is much safer (i.e., lamp oil instead of using animal fat as fuel; animal fat sputters, splatters, and inflicts burns).
4. Coffee pot for your hut’s stove, plus coffee and sugar to make the brew. There is also a campfire at one end of the company street, but no guarantee it’s “cookable” when you want to brew coffee.
5. Ticking to serve as a mattress—or canvas. Straw will be issued by the Quartermaster Sergeant at the start of the event. If you don’t bring a mattress bag, you’ll be sleeping four nights on a bunk of very hard wood planks.
* Note on Lighting: The following huts have “chandeliers” with spaces for candles: Pine Cottage, Lawyer Office, and Post Office (commissioned officer quarters). Each participant will be made aware of their hut assignment well in advance of the event.
*********************
Additional discussion here on any of the above-listed items is welcome and probably educational.
*************************
WINTER 1864 2008
STUFF TO CONSIDER BRINGING THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD CARRYING AT A MARCHING EVENT
STUFF TO CONSIDER BRINGING THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD CARRYING AT A MARCHING EVENT
November 1, 2007
Unless you’ve attended it before, “Winter 1864” is an event that is most likely very different from any event you’ve attended—even from other garrison events. Even if you have attended previous W64s, this one is different because it is four days long. Below is a very basic list of selected items to consider bringing that you would not typically consider bringing to an event portraying troops on campaign. All items brought should be correct for the period (with a few exceptions for health and safety, as noted below). This list is not intended or represented as being comprehensive or covering “all” items that a soldier could have had during winter quarters. Rather, it’s basic items that the event committee believes will be particularly useful; not everyone needs to bring all of the following—this list is merely to promote some thinking and early preparation by registrants.
“Please note that the closeness of participants’ living quarters at this event makes accurate gear and behavior of particular importance, because it is difficult to hide inaccurate or ‘unauthentic’ items from your fellow participants when you are all quartered in a hut that may be about the size of a large closet.” – From page 3 of the W64 2008 event standards
Personal Hygiene
This is a four-day event; please take care of your person!
1. Towel.
2. Soap (lye soap).
3. Shaving brush.
4. Razor for the clean-shaven. *
5. Looking glass (mirror).
6. Comb.
7. Toothbrush and tooth powder (in a pinch? Use baking soda for tooth powder.)
8. Sanitary paper for the sinks (a.k.a. toilet paper—this will NOT be issued and you probably want to bring some).
* Note on Razors: Straight razors must be extremely sharp and devoid of burrs and irregularities to be safe and not feel as if your face is being torn off during a shave. A strop to polish the razor before use is required. Many reenactors do not have access to these items. If you are unable to procure a sharpened razor and correct strop, one modern compromise is acceptable: a modern straight razor will be acceptable at this event. Such razors use a modern, cartridge-type razor blade in lieu of a period straight razor. While this is certainly not period-correct, it is A) Sanitary (assuming more than one person may share a razor) and B) Will ensure that the blade is sharp enough for a good, controlled shave. Dull razors are unsafe and more prone to result in a cut than a sharp blade.
Clothing
In addition to your uniform and overcoat, consider the following:
1. Extra pair of drawers (after all, it’s a four-day event)
2. Extra shirt (if you wear two shirts for warmth, bring a third and/or fourth shirt)
3. Extra socks (you’re nuts if you don’t bring at least one extra pair, the heavier the better; two extra pair are better than one extra pair)
4. Mittens (it’s nearly suicidal to attend W64 without them)
5. Scarf (a darn good idea)
6. Wool sleeping cap (bring it! W64 2006 proved that a warm fire in every hut’s stove is not guaranteed for all weather conditions)
Period-incorrect Advice: Consider applying a waterproofing product such as “Sno-Seal” or equal to your bootees. It’s quite likely you’ll be tramping around in the snow. Of course, Civil War soldiers did not have modern waterproofing compounds. That said, very wet, very cold feet are not healthy in the type of weather experienced at previous editions of this event.
(EDITORIAL NOTE: After this was posted to the event listserver, a good discussion ensued regarding waterproofing approaches that are more period-correct than the one suggested above.)
Amusements
The event committee has activities, details, and “scenarios” planned, but we are not cruise directors. This is winter quarters and troops got bored during winter quarters. Idle conversation in your hut or the guardhouse may occupy the first two days, but after that it’s up to you fill much of your time. Prepare for it.
1. Period books to read, including novels, military handbooks if that’s your thing, and even the Bible.
2. Playing cards and dice. If you intend to gamble, bring some period scrip (i.e., money) with which to gamble (keep the denominations normal; it’s unlikely that enlisted men gambled with $20+ bets very often).
3. Period games such as checkers or chess. Bring wooden pieces and use a “board” painted on the back of a gum blanket, or other improvised playing surface.
4. Items (and creativity) to make your own amusements—for example, a footrace or similar activity.
5. A period musical instrument and a reasonable amount of talent to play it.
6. Photos of loved ones at home.
Stuff to Make Life Easier
1. Candles. The huts are dark inside even in the daytime, and are even darker at night. The Quartermaster Sergeant will issue a certain quantity of candles (to be determined, but think “about two candles per man”), but also plan to bring anywhere from two to six of your own candles per man.
2. Candleholder. This is important, because tipsy candles present a very real and dangerous fire-hazard in the confines of the huts. Be safe: bring a candleholder or period-correct soldier-improvised lantern. (See the event standards regarding lighting.) *
3. Other lighting. A tin (such as a sardine tin) filled with modern lamp oil and a wick makes a soldier-improvised light similar to that described in Hardtack and Coffee but that is much safer (i.e., lamp oil instead of using animal fat as fuel; animal fat sputters, splatters, and inflicts burns).
4. Coffee pot for your hut’s stove, plus coffee and sugar to make the brew. There is also a campfire at one end of the company street, but no guarantee it’s “cookable” when you want to brew coffee.
5. Ticking to serve as a mattress—or canvas. Straw will be issued by the Quartermaster Sergeant at the start of the event. If you don’t bring a mattress bag, you’ll be sleeping four nights on a bunk of very hard wood planks.
* Note on Lighting: The following huts have “chandeliers” with spaces for candles: Pine Cottage, Lawyer Office, and Post Office (commissioned officer quarters). Each participant will be made aware of their hut assignment well in advance of the event.
*********************
Additional discussion here on any of the above-listed items is welcome and probably educational.
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