Greetings all,
I was reading Eye of the Storm, the Civil War diary of Robert Knox Sneden, and I came across a really neat passage that I thought I'd share...
"Old Jack does a good and profitable business by pricking flags, shields and figures in the arms and legs of those who can pay him from $1 to $5 each. India ink is used and raw vermillion. Six or eight fine needles are bunched together and put into a pine stick securely tied around with thread. The ink is pricked into the flesh on arm or leg on the design painted there. The jabbing takes an hour or more. The arm soon swells up and inflames which is painful for a few days only. The ink appears in blue lines. Anchors, hearts, men's names and regiments are the favorite designs, with crossed flags and muskets. Old Jack is quite an artist, and the oldest of the men-of-wars-men here [Andersonville Prison]."
I just thought this was kinda cool as I wasn't aware that it was a popular practice amongst Civil War soldiers. I guess it's not farby then for some of the fellas who sport tatoos to have their sleeves rolled up to show 'em off, eh? Well, as long as their not dragons or stuff like that. I just thought this was a neat passage and I'd share it with you fellas. I guess I learn something new every day.
Sincerely,
Matthew Cassady
Pvt. 104th IL Vol. Inf.
I was reading Eye of the Storm, the Civil War diary of Robert Knox Sneden, and I came across a really neat passage that I thought I'd share...
"Old Jack does a good and profitable business by pricking flags, shields and figures in the arms and legs of those who can pay him from $1 to $5 each. India ink is used and raw vermillion. Six or eight fine needles are bunched together and put into a pine stick securely tied around with thread. The ink is pricked into the flesh on arm or leg on the design painted there. The jabbing takes an hour or more. The arm soon swells up and inflames which is painful for a few days only. The ink appears in blue lines. Anchors, hearts, men's names and regiments are the favorite designs, with crossed flags and muskets. Old Jack is quite an artist, and the oldest of the men-of-wars-men here [Andersonville Prison]."
I just thought this was kinda cool as I wasn't aware that it was a popular practice amongst Civil War soldiers. I guess it's not farby then for some of the fellas who sport tatoos to have their sleeves rolled up to show 'em off, eh? Well, as long as their not dragons or stuff like that. I just thought this was a neat passage and I'd share it with you fellas. I guess I learn something new every day.
Sincerely,
Matthew Cassady
Pvt. 104th IL Vol. Inf.
Comment