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Thoughts on Modern Folks Making a Period March
The hobby has very few campaign events, and it is wise to take advantage of them when and if you can. The first campaign event in several years has evidently snuck up on many people, and there’s a big difference between covering long stretches of ground on foot and walking over to sutler row to show off new gear.
A number of folks just realized they have about 2 weeks to get ready to take a long hike in period equipment. Here are some decidedly non-period ways and a few period thoughts to help yourself before, during, and after the event. As a bit of background, the longest one day hike I have ever made was 42 miles, one of the most grueling was 36 miles on railroad tracks, and the most painful trek was with a broken leg. I don’t recommend the latter. If I could do this with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, then you desk jockeys and wrench turners can do it, too. Remember to roll your feet when you walk.
- Now, get up, go get some water, and come back to this. Remember what water tastes like? It’s not bad. Start drinking an extra couple of quarts per day. Yes, you’ll be taking a whiz much more often, and note how clear it is. Your hiney will also appreciate it, and I hope I don’t need to explain that bit of useful info. Slowly getting hydrated without upsetting your electrolyte and trace element balance is a big positive.
- Start walking tonight. Not jogging. Not biking. Not treadmilling, but walking in the 'hood. Start with about a mile, and work upwards. You have an automobile, so figure out a mile with the odometer. Start doing this in whatever shoes you normally wear, because you need to work on your period shoes. You’ll get to your period shoes, soon, but have patience. Good socks and shoes make for happy feet. I’ve seen situps and handweights mentioned for the arms, back and stomach. It’s a good suggestion, as your back and shoulders take a beating from the knapsack (and suspenders). For those who are chained to a desk all day, just get out and do it. You may find there are some useful side effects, and bring a canteen of water with you. Get used to it slapping around.
- On your way home tonight, stop by a tack shop or farm supply store and pick up some pure neatsfoot oil. You should already have this. If you can’t find that, then Meltonian (lanolin) shoe cream is also period, and still marketed by Kiwi. Find some real saddle soap (glycerine) in bar form. If you can’t find that, just use plain lard or olive oil. Also buy a pair of shoe trees. The cheap plastic ones are fine. Take a stiff brush and really clean your shoes, especially the seams abovet he sole, heel, and around the heel and toe counters. Check the laces, and replace them if needed. Don’t get the garter snake laces from Walmart, but take the time to order a decent pair. Dell Leather, among others, can supply you with plenty of these. Stash an extra lace in your housewife. Some dumbass (maybe you) will need it. After cleaning your shoes, give them a light coat of neatsfoot oil inside and out, Do this three nights in a row. On the fourth night, soften them with a good rubbing of saddle soap. This seems backwards at first, but try it one time. Saddle soap softens leather and makes it more pliable. I like the glycerine variety over the paste, but that's a personal choice. BTW, if your shoes are coated with mold, just use some vinegar to wipe them off. It’s a period solution, too. During the event, put some bacon grease on them, especially in the evening. The salt will do some harm, but only after about 75-80 years.
- Check out the rest of your gear, and maintain the leather in a similar fashion. Neatsfoot oil is meant to be applied sparingly (WW2 cav folks were using a tin soap box lid as a guide for saddle et al), so don't over do it.
- While we are at it, let’s obsess over shoes for a moment. At the usual FMA event or LH, one can have the worst shoes in the world, and it really doesn’t matter, because you don’t go anywhere. Stiff shoes will cause problems, and so will little pressure points like knotted thread on the inside by the tongue (Land), those little screw heads or nails poking up from the heel (Serio), and so on. Look for those things, and correct them. If the heel pad leather needs to be reglued, then this is a good time to do it. Additionally, if the heels are worn down significantly, it will place stress on your knees and other hard working joints, so take them to the local shoe repair fellow this week (just in case he is slow), and get them back next week. He can do a built up leather heel, and if you have drywall screws in your shoes, show him those before he rips everything apart. Most shoe repair places like to work on this old fashioned stuff, and turn around is usually just 1 week.
- If you can choose between a pair of shoes with and without hobnails, go for the pair without them for walking on asphalt. There’s a correlation between hobs and blisters for a lot of folks. For some reason asphalt early in the day is less destructive than later in the day. No idea why, but it is an observation proven out time and time again. Heel plates tend to keep the heels from wearing out after a few miles on hard surface, so there's a trade off.
- Rounded heels need to be repaired. If you can set them on a level surface and roll a soda straw under them, then they need to be repaired, because they are killing your knees. That's right -- knees. Skinny fellers tend to walk on the inside of their heels, and those who push not away from the table have heel wear on the outside. Not 110% true, but you'd be surprised.
- On day five (three days of oiling and one day of soaping), start wearing your period shoes when you walk. They will start building up wear points on your feet, and you’ll begin to feel the difference a couple of weeks ahead of time rather than right out of the box on the first day of the event. Adjust your socks to fit your shoes. Don’t wear out your good wool socks at this point, but use modern socks, and you may need two pair for this.
- Keep walking, and add a piece or two of gear every night to your ensemble to build up muscle memory. Even an empty knapsack has weight, and it gets that shoulder muscle memory started.
- Boots. Yeah, right. Cool can turn into cruel. Feet will swell in boots or shoes, and boot jacks don’t always grow on trees. Prying off a pair of boots that have been on your feet for 2-3 days can take considerable effort. Some folks don’t have this problem, but most folks do, and there’s nothing like having to make five guys bail because one man in the carpool gets a senseless boot-inflicted injury.
- Wash your period socks. Dirty socks contribute to blisters. If you use Woolite, your socks will feel more comfortable. Farb! Lye soap works, too. If your period socks were made with huge knitting needles and bulky yarn, consider buying more appropriate pairs more finely knitted. I’ve seen more feet destroyed by cotton socks than anything else, but if they work for you, then don’t change. If you want to rub your socks down with lye soap for lubrication, that’s good too. Olive oil also works. Look for holes that need to be darned, look for small pieces of trash that will cause blisters. Repair your socks if need be, and learn darning from the several fine darning websites that have nice diagrams and instructions. Hey, it’s a period skill.
- Driving Funk – After a 2 day drive sweating your ass off on the upholstery, you’ve already got a good headstart on crotch rot. Make some arrangement to wash off the funk when you get there. That lye soap and washrag in the knapsack are good for this modern challenge. Damn baby ass wipes are good for this, and good for getting the grunge off just before heading home.
- On a rainy night when you don’t want to walk around the block a few tiems, pull out your gear. Check your drawers for places that may chafe, and fix them. A looser pair of trousers is better than tight. You’ll want your legs to breathe. Dry drawers are a good thing. Linen, Osnaburg, Muslin, and plain cotton cloth drawers tend to hold water, while canton flannel wicks it away. The latter seem to work the best. Some wear drawers that are too long and need to be cut off. The hardkewl fad of plaid drawers hanging out about 4” is nice shamming and glamming on sutler row, but not on a march. There’s a lot to be said for having an extra pair of clean and dry drawers, but a shirt here and drawers there adds up to a lot of weight, and having the right drawers from the right cloth is part of the “system.” Even the old boys had to figure out what they really wanted on a march.
- Right index finger. Nothing can substitute for developing the callous from carrying the musket at shoulder arms. If you haven’t played with the peashooter all winter, then this is a good time to do so. Good time to clean the Hell out of it, and give it a good once over to find those little things that crawl into the barrel over the winter. Carry it around a little bit. Get used to it.
- Eat some bananas, and drink some Gatorade. Add a little salt to your food, and take a few potassium pills to stock up on trace elements before the event. Most of all, drink more water than normal. Some say this does no good, but it works for a lot of people.
- Pre-event applications of Gold Bond, talcum powder, or whatever on your feet, in your shoes, and crotch can make a difference. Make a “dirt bag” if you must, and keep it within another poke bag. Zinc is the biggest element in most of these anti-fungal products, and they will typically make matters worse if one is already galded and bloody. If your thighs already rub together when you walk, try a rubdown of mineral oil or other lubricant. Friction and moisture plus bacteria make your life suck. Lye soap works here, too.
- Medicines and candy. Don’t forget the insulin if you need it. Let folks know you are a diabetic (mild or otherwise) and they’ll understand when you go down with your eyes glazed over. Hopefully, this won't happen. A couple of pieces of hard candy can go a long ways, too. Remember the lemon drop club? Get some. In addition, the average person can use some Ibuprofen when they get back to the wagon park. It’s good to stash some there. It’s also a good idea to carry some in that tiny little personal meds tin in your knapsack if you know you are going to need it. Four at wake up and four at noon can make a big difference. Having a few with you is much better than asking out loud for them.
- Big wad of keys – The only person who really needs keys is the Lord God Kabuki of the Motorized Wagon Park. Otherwise put a copy of the vehicle door key in the bottom of the cartridge box. This is the one place everyone already knows to look should you be passed out on the side of the road, and it is unlikely to get lost. Standard shit here. Some use a poke bag, but it can take time to find it.
- Big fat wallet – Along with the key, a form of ID and an insurance card can be a big help when no one knows your name, and you need to get to the hospital. Sticking them behind that piece of marked pasteboard on the right bottom side of the cart box tin was a great idea for some damn event, who ever came up with it, and far better than folks spending 10-15 minutes searching through pockets, knapsacks, haversacks, hat bands, etc. It never caught on, but it is still a good idea. If you've ever shown up at an emergency room with a fellow with no ID, no money, an no insurance card, you'd understand this. Leave the big fat wallet hidden back in the vehicle, as it is just weight and friction.
- Packing light is important. No need to be a gear bomb with the kitchen sink, and home entertainment center. A march is not a LH where folks need a lot of show and tell items to gawk, fondle, and discuss at length. You should be too busy cooking, cleaning, guarding, and sleeping to worry about a checkers marathon.
- Drag it out the knapsack, mend what needs to be fixed, and maintain the leather parts. Straps that are maintained well tend not to snap and lose their shape, although I have seen some brand new knapsacks do some bizarre things in the field. Wipe the outside with a very light coating of olive oil for waterproofing. A knapsack is a great place to let wet wool socks dry in the sun by inserting them into the straps on the back and letting them wick away the moisture. Good officers will have a knapsack inspection before folks get away from the parking area. Yes, this takes manpower and willpower.
Launder your blanket - for the first time, even. Lose the dirt. You can do this by hand with soap or Woolite. Drywall buckets work well for this. Rinse well, and let it sun dry. Sometimes they have 1- 2 lbs of dirt in them. A clean blanket is also a warmer blanket, and if you have the choice between a one of the thin fed issue blankets, and a 9-pounder, well, you make the call. This is a good time to monogram and mend it, too. Remember Si Klegg?
It would be a company of dumbarses not to be able to clean their weapons or fail to have a screwdriver to get into the ammunition boxes. Have on hand a well fitting wiper, cleaning patches, pocketknife, hemp twine, period pocket trash, matches and match safe. Corporals and above should have a combination screwdriver wrench, and at least one sergeant, preferably the 2nd Sgt., should also have “the you know what.” It’s weight, but when it is needed, it is priceless. It would be like the 3rd Sgt. not having a knife….
On that note, knowing a little something about your messmates, and who carries the can boiler, the hatchet, the plate, skinning knife, and skillet can be helpful. Folks do need to have a few things to work with.
Can’t imagine firing more than 20 cartridges at any event, but 40 in the box is generally a good deal. Following the event guidelines can be good, too.
An extra shirt is a good luxury item, I say that because the federal issue shirts are made the way they are to be self drying, and, no surprise, still warm when soaked. Cotton shirts tend to be soaking wet by the end of the day, and can use a good draping over a bush. That stuff was made that way for a reason.
Vest – Open closet. Remove from hanger. Shake twice. Replace on hanger. Close closet. Smile. In two weeks, note the number of people removing their vests at the first halt.
The jacket sleeve linings typically become soaking wet. Turn it inside out, and drape it over a bush in the warm sunshine. Those wet linings are designed to keep you cooler, and they do.
A sewing kit shouldn’t be big enough to choke a mule. I’ve seen some housewives lately that were almost the size of modern coffee cans covered with painted cloth. A couple of buttons, some thread, and two needles pretty much cover that busted suspender and/or popped fly button. It’s not a dry good store for heaven’s sake.
Belts are easier on your back than suspenders. Add a couple of holes to cinch it up tighter due to water loss.
Toiletry items can be in a poke bag (outer bag) and should at least be periodish. Nothing like a pristine morning moment when someone busts loose with the Aquafresh and a bright pink toothbruth. The boar bristle brushes and toothpowder work just fine for a few days here and there.
Don’t take breaks on the bottom of a hill, and remind your officers of this. Breaks longer than 20 minutes cause the leg muscles to tighten up. The Jackson 50/10 rule still applies. Water should be available approximately every two miles, which some folks scoff at, but there's a good reason.
Hot? Soak your hat at the next water stop. It helps.
Don't go too fast. The real army didn't, except when there was a reason to haul ass. Put an old guy up front in that right general guide position who understands the concept an practice of pace. Pace is important. Reenactors tend to think marches are an end to themselves. For the old boys, it was a way to get to where the workin' started.
A surgeon needs to be an EMT or at least a good first aid man, and he needs some modern supplies like liquid skin, moleskin, pain meds, and such. Some imodium can be helpful, too. A little whiskey is good for sanitizing lances, among other things.
Leave a couple of gatorade quarts in the automobile. Sure, it tastes like warm piss might, but it puts some liquid back into your system before you leave the parking lot.
Sag wagons are a good idea, even if it is a small motor vehicle a half mile behind the column. Sag squads are good, but not the same as having a way to evacuate someone without having the "only officer who knows the route" stuck behind a battalion marching off course. 'Nuf said.
About ten miles is the normal walking distance for reenactors. Somewhere about 12 miles folks have developed enough injuries that they begin to think there is a good reason to have stopped at 10 miles. This, of course, depends on terrain, walking surface, etc.
Skirmishers – Run the young ones around a little bit to get the edge off them early in the morning, then keep an eye on them because they don't/won't drink water.
Sick Lame and lazy squad. (See Sag squad above.) There will be stragglers, elders, and those who need to go a little slower. Let them have a squad on their own with an earlier start, and later finish. When on boy gets hurt, and the other three guys in the carpool have to go home, then 4 turns into 16 in a hurry. People with injuries and in their 70s have made marches due to this consideration.
Commo – Someone needs a cell phone, and one that actually works in the rural areas (PCS sux/Analog rules). The only reason I’m thinking about getting a damn cell phone for myself is because of the need to call home when a horse throws a shoe or has a rider inflicted accident.
Have some pre-assigned “known points” on the ground on the maps. Field and staff, and the boys at the support cell need to have the same "real" map. It is good to label water points as "springs" so folks have KNOWN points were a vehicle can access the line of march.
Watch – Everyone needs to know how to use this as a compass. Look it up.
Knowing the March Route – More than one man should know the march route. Yes, I harp on this. Although some get upset that this is giving out “too much information” at least one recent event was screwed up because only one man in the battalion knew the march route, and when he was back behind the battalion tending to a malingerer (where was the surgeon?), the battalion made a wrong turn, even on a well marked bushogged, limed, ribboned, path through a field.
Lunch – Boil coffee, and eat a cracker at least. Even if you don't feel hungry, eat something. Don't over eat for lunch (dinner) either. There will be plenty of time in the late afternoon for cooking and eating, and breakfast can usually be pre cooked.
Control Cell and Kabuki – No need to expand on this. It needs to exist, and if it doesn't, you'll wish it did.
Asswipe – Harper's or Leslies works fine. A funky arse can lead to all sorts of complications.
These are a few thoughts. Some may be helpful, and some may not be helpful to you at this moment, but they may be in the future. At least do this:
1. Get out and walk.
2. Maintain/rehab your shoes.
3. Lighten your load.
4. Drink water.
Charles Heath
Your feet will eventually break into the shoes.
The hobby has very few campaign events, and it is wise to take advantage of them when and if you can. The first campaign event in several years has evidently snuck up on many people, and there’s a big difference between covering long stretches of ground on foot and walking over to sutler row to show off new gear.
A number of folks just realized they have about 2 weeks to get ready to take a long hike in period equipment. Here are some decidedly non-period ways and a few period thoughts to help yourself before, during, and after the event. As a bit of background, the longest one day hike I have ever made was 42 miles, one of the most grueling was 36 miles on railroad tracks, and the most painful trek was with a broken leg. I don’t recommend the latter. If I could do this with chronic rheumatoid arthritis, then you desk jockeys and wrench turners can do it, too. Remember to roll your feet when you walk.
- Now, get up, go get some water, and come back to this. Remember what water tastes like? It’s not bad. Start drinking an extra couple of quarts per day. Yes, you’ll be taking a whiz much more often, and note how clear it is. Your hiney will also appreciate it, and I hope I don’t need to explain that bit of useful info. Slowly getting hydrated without upsetting your electrolyte and trace element balance is a big positive.
- Start walking tonight. Not jogging. Not biking. Not treadmilling, but walking in the 'hood. Start with about a mile, and work upwards. You have an automobile, so figure out a mile with the odometer. Start doing this in whatever shoes you normally wear, because you need to work on your period shoes. You’ll get to your period shoes, soon, but have patience. Good socks and shoes make for happy feet. I’ve seen situps and handweights mentioned for the arms, back and stomach. It’s a good suggestion, as your back and shoulders take a beating from the knapsack (and suspenders). For those who are chained to a desk all day, just get out and do it. You may find there are some useful side effects, and bring a canteen of water with you. Get used to it slapping around.
- On your way home tonight, stop by a tack shop or farm supply store and pick up some pure neatsfoot oil. You should already have this. If you can’t find that, then Meltonian (lanolin) shoe cream is also period, and still marketed by Kiwi. Find some real saddle soap (glycerine) in bar form. If you can’t find that, just use plain lard or olive oil. Also buy a pair of shoe trees. The cheap plastic ones are fine. Take a stiff brush and really clean your shoes, especially the seams abovet he sole, heel, and around the heel and toe counters. Check the laces, and replace them if needed. Don’t get the garter snake laces from Walmart, but take the time to order a decent pair. Dell Leather, among others, can supply you with plenty of these. Stash an extra lace in your housewife. Some dumbass (maybe you) will need it. After cleaning your shoes, give them a light coat of neatsfoot oil inside and out, Do this three nights in a row. On the fourth night, soften them with a good rubbing of saddle soap. This seems backwards at first, but try it one time. Saddle soap softens leather and makes it more pliable. I like the glycerine variety over the paste, but that's a personal choice. BTW, if your shoes are coated with mold, just use some vinegar to wipe them off. It’s a period solution, too. During the event, put some bacon grease on them, especially in the evening. The salt will do some harm, but only after about 75-80 years.
- Check out the rest of your gear, and maintain the leather in a similar fashion. Neatsfoot oil is meant to be applied sparingly (WW2 cav folks were using a tin soap box lid as a guide for saddle et al), so don't over do it.
- While we are at it, let’s obsess over shoes for a moment. At the usual FMA event or LH, one can have the worst shoes in the world, and it really doesn’t matter, because you don’t go anywhere. Stiff shoes will cause problems, and so will little pressure points like knotted thread on the inside by the tongue (Land), those little screw heads or nails poking up from the heel (Serio), and so on. Look for those things, and correct them. If the heel pad leather needs to be reglued, then this is a good time to do it. Additionally, if the heels are worn down significantly, it will place stress on your knees and other hard working joints, so take them to the local shoe repair fellow this week (just in case he is slow), and get them back next week. He can do a built up leather heel, and if you have drywall screws in your shoes, show him those before he rips everything apart. Most shoe repair places like to work on this old fashioned stuff, and turn around is usually just 1 week.
- If you can choose between a pair of shoes with and without hobnails, go for the pair without them for walking on asphalt. There’s a correlation between hobs and blisters for a lot of folks. For some reason asphalt early in the day is less destructive than later in the day. No idea why, but it is an observation proven out time and time again. Heel plates tend to keep the heels from wearing out after a few miles on hard surface, so there's a trade off.
- Rounded heels need to be repaired. If you can set them on a level surface and roll a soda straw under them, then they need to be repaired, because they are killing your knees. That's right -- knees. Skinny fellers tend to walk on the inside of their heels, and those who push not away from the table have heel wear on the outside. Not 110% true, but you'd be surprised.
- On day five (three days of oiling and one day of soaping), start wearing your period shoes when you walk. They will start building up wear points on your feet, and you’ll begin to feel the difference a couple of weeks ahead of time rather than right out of the box on the first day of the event. Adjust your socks to fit your shoes. Don’t wear out your good wool socks at this point, but use modern socks, and you may need two pair for this.
- Keep walking, and add a piece or two of gear every night to your ensemble to build up muscle memory. Even an empty knapsack has weight, and it gets that shoulder muscle memory started.
- Boots. Yeah, right. Cool can turn into cruel. Feet will swell in boots or shoes, and boot jacks don’t always grow on trees. Prying off a pair of boots that have been on your feet for 2-3 days can take considerable effort. Some folks don’t have this problem, but most folks do, and there’s nothing like having to make five guys bail because one man in the carpool gets a senseless boot-inflicted injury.
- Wash your period socks. Dirty socks contribute to blisters. If you use Woolite, your socks will feel more comfortable. Farb! Lye soap works, too. If your period socks were made with huge knitting needles and bulky yarn, consider buying more appropriate pairs more finely knitted. I’ve seen more feet destroyed by cotton socks than anything else, but if they work for you, then don’t change. If you want to rub your socks down with lye soap for lubrication, that’s good too. Olive oil also works. Look for holes that need to be darned, look for small pieces of trash that will cause blisters. Repair your socks if need be, and learn darning from the several fine darning websites that have nice diagrams and instructions. Hey, it’s a period skill.
- Driving Funk – After a 2 day drive sweating your ass off on the upholstery, you’ve already got a good headstart on crotch rot. Make some arrangement to wash off the funk when you get there. That lye soap and washrag in the knapsack are good for this modern challenge. Damn baby ass wipes are good for this, and good for getting the grunge off just before heading home.
- On a rainy night when you don’t want to walk around the block a few tiems, pull out your gear. Check your drawers for places that may chafe, and fix them. A looser pair of trousers is better than tight. You’ll want your legs to breathe. Dry drawers are a good thing. Linen, Osnaburg, Muslin, and plain cotton cloth drawers tend to hold water, while canton flannel wicks it away. The latter seem to work the best. Some wear drawers that are too long and need to be cut off. The hardkewl fad of plaid drawers hanging out about 4” is nice shamming and glamming on sutler row, but not on a march. There’s a lot to be said for having an extra pair of clean and dry drawers, but a shirt here and drawers there adds up to a lot of weight, and having the right drawers from the right cloth is part of the “system.” Even the old boys had to figure out what they really wanted on a march.
- Right index finger. Nothing can substitute for developing the callous from carrying the musket at shoulder arms. If you haven’t played with the peashooter all winter, then this is a good time to do so. Good time to clean the Hell out of it, and give it a good once over to find those little things that crawl into the barrel over the winter. Carry it around a little bit. Get used to it.
- Eat some bananas, and drink some Gatorade. Add a little salt to your food, and take a few potassium pills to stock up on trace elements before the event. Most of all, drink more water than normal. Some say this does no good, but it works for a lot of people.
- Pre-event applications of Gold Bond, talcum powder, or whatever on your feet, in your shoes, and crotch can make a difference. Make a “dirt bag” if you must, and keep it within another poke bag. Zinc is the biggest element in most of these anti-fungal products, and they will typically make matters worse if one is already galded and bloody. If your thighs already rub together when you walk, try a rubdown of mineral oil or other lubricant. Friction and moisture plus bacteria make your life suck. Lye soap works here, too.
- Medicines and candy. Don’t forget the insulin if you need it. Let folks know you are a diabetic (mild or otherwise) and they’ll understand when you go down with your eyes glazed over. Hopefully, this won't happen. A couple of pieces of hard candy can go a long ways, too. Remember the lemon drop club? Get some. In addition, the average person can use some Ibuprofen when they get back to the wagon park. It’s good to stash some there. It’s also a good idea to carry some in that tiny little personal meds tin in your knapsack if you know you are going to need it. Four at wake up and four at noon can make a big difference. Having a few with you is much better than asking out loud for them.
- Big wad of keys – The only person who really needs keys is the Lord God Kabuki of the Motorized Wagon Park. Otherwise put a copy of the vehicle door key in the bottom of the cartridge box. This is the one place everyone already knows to look should you be passed out on the side of the road, and it is unlikely to get lost. Standard shit here. Some use a poke bag, but it can take time to find it.
- Big fat wallet – Along with the key, a form of ID and an insurance card can be a big help when no one knows your name, and you need to get to the hospital. Sticking them behind that piece of marked pasteboard on the right bottom side of the cart box tin was a great idea for some damn event, who ever came up with it, and far better than folks spending 10-15 minutes searching through pockets, knapsacks, haversacks, hat bands, etc. It never caught on, but it is still a good idea. If you've ever shown up at an emergency room with a fellow with no ID, no money, an no insurance card, you'd understand this. Leave the big fat wallet hidden back in the vehicle, as it is just weight and friction.
- Packing light is important. No need to be a gear bomb with the kitchen sink, and home entertainment center. A march is not a LH where folks need a lot of show and tell items to gawk, fondle, and discuss at length. You should be too busy cooking, cleaning, guarding, and sleeping to worry about a checkers marathon.
- Drag it out the knapsack, mend what needs to be fixed, and maintain the leather parts. Straps that are maintained well tend not to snap and lose their shape, although I have seen some brand new knapsacks do some bizarre things in the field. Wipe the outside with a very light coating of olive oil for waterproofing. A knapsack is a great place to let wet wool socks dry in the sun by inserting them into the straps on the back and letting them wick away the moisture. Good officers will have a knapsack inspection before folks get away from the parking area. Yes, this takes manpower and willpower.
Launder your blanket - for the first time, even. Lose the dirt. You can do this by hand with soap or Woolite. Drywall buckets work well for this. Rinse well, and let it sun dry. Sometimes they have 1- 2 lbs of dirt in them. A clean blanket is also a warmer blanket, and if you have the choice between a one of the thin fed issue blankets, and a 9-pounder, well, you make the call. This is a good time to monogram and mend it, too. Remember Si Klegg?
It would be a company of dumbarses not to be able to clean their weapons or fail to have a screwdriver to get into the ammunition boxes. Have on hand a well fitting wiper, cleaning patches, pocketknife, hemp twine, period pocket trash, matches and match safe. Corporals and above should have a combination screwdriver wrench, and at least one sergeant, preferably the 2nd Sgt., should also have “the you know what.” It’s weight, but when it is needed, it is priceless. It would be like the 3rd Sgt. not having a knife….
On that note, knowing a little something about your messmates, and who carries the can boiler, the hatchet, the plate, skinning knife, and skillet can be helpful. Folks do need to have a few things to work with.
Can’t imagine firing more than 20 cartridges at any event, but 40 in the box is generally a good deal. Following the event guidelines can be good, too.
An extra shirt is a good luxury item, I say that because the federal issue shirts are made the way they are to be self drying, and, no surprise, still warm when soaked. Cotton shirts tend to be soaking wet by the end of the day, and can use a good draping over a bush. That stuff was made that way for a reason.
Vest – Open closet. Remove from hanger. Shake twice. Replace on hanger. Close closet. Smile. In two weeks, note the number of people removing their vests at the first halt.
The jacket sleeve linings typically become soaking wet. Turn it inside out, and drape it over a bush in the warm sunshine. Those wet linings are designed to keep you cooler, and they do.
A sewing kit shouldn’t be big enough to choke a mule. I’ve seen some housewives lately that were almost the size of modern coffee cans covered with painted cloth. A couple of buttons, some thread, and two needles pretty much cover that busted suspender and/or popped fly button. It’s not a dry good store for heaven’s sake.
Belts are easier on your back than suspenders. Add a couple of holes to cinch it up tighter due to water loss.
Toiletry items can be in a poke bag (outer bag) and should at least be periodish. Nothing like a pristine morning moment when someone busts loose with the Aquafresh and a bright pink toothbruth. The boar bristle brushes and toothpowder work just fine for a few days here and there.
Don’t take breaks on the bottom of a hill, and remind your officers of this. Breaks longer than 20 minutes cause the leg muscles to tighten up. The Jackson 50/10 rule still applies. Water should be available approximately every two miles, which some folks scoff at, but there's a good reason.
Hot? Soak your hat at the next water stop. It helps.
Don't go too fast. The real army didn't, except when there was a reason to haul ass. Put an old guy up front in that right general guide position who understands the concept an practice of pace. Pace is important. Reenactors tend to think marches are an end to themselves. For the old boys, it was a way to get to where the workin' started.
A surgeon needs to be an EMT or at least a good first aid man, and he needs some modern supplies like liquid skin, moleskin, pain meds, and such. Some imodium can be helpful, too. A little whiskey is good for sanitizing lances, among other things.
Leave a couple of gatorade quarts in the automobile. Sure, it tastes like warm piss might, but it puts some liquid back into your system before you leave the parking lot.
Sag wagons are a good idea, even if it is a small motor vehicle a half mile behind the column. Sag squads are good, but not the same as having a way to evacuate someone without having the "only officer who knows the route" stuck behind a battalion marching off course. 'Nuf said.
About ten miles is the normal walking distance for reenactors. Somewhere about 12 miles folks have developed enough injuries that they begin to think there is a good reason to have stopped at 10 miles. This, of course, depends on terrain, walking surface, etc.
Skirmishers – Run the young ones around a little bit to get the edge off them early in the morning, then keep an eye on them because they don't/won't drink water.
Sick Lame and lazy squad. (See Sag squad above.) There will be stragglers, elders, and those who need to go a little slower. Let them have a squad on their own with an earlier start, and later finish. When on boy gets hurt, and the other three guys in the carpool have to go home, then 4 turns into 16 in a hurry. People with injuries and in their 70s have made marches due to this consideration.
Commo – Someone needs a cell phone, and one that actually works in the rural areas (PCS sux/Analog rules). The only reason I’m thinking about getting a damn cell phone for myself is because of the need to call home when a horse throws a shoe or has a rider inflicted accident.
Have some pre-assigned “known points” on the ground on the maps. Field and staff, and the boys at the support cell need to have the same "real" map. It is good to label water points as "springs" so folks have KNOWN points were a vehicle can access the line of march.
Watch – Everyone needs to know how to use this as a compass. Look it up.
Knowing the March Route – More than one man should know the march route. Yes, I harp on this. Although some get upset that this is giving out “too much information” at least one recent event was screwed up because only one man in the battalion knew the march route, and when he was back behind the battalion tending to a malingerer (where was the surgeon?), the battalion made a wrong turn, even on a well marked bushogged, limed, ribboned, path through a field.
Lunch – Boil coffee, and eat a cracker at least. Even if you don't feel hungry, eat something. Don't over eat for lunch (dinner) either. There will be plenty of time in the late afternoon for cooking and eating, and breakfast can usually be pre cooked.
Control Cell and Kabuki – No need to expand on this. It needs to exist, and if it doesn't, you'll wish it did.
Asswipe – Harper's or Leslies works fine. A funky arse can lead to all sorts of complications.
These are a few thoughts. Some may be helpful, and some may not be helpful to you at this moment, but they may be in the future. At least do this:
1. Get out and walk.
2. Maintain/rehab your shoes.
3. Lighten your load.
4. Drink water.
Charles Heath
Your feet will eventually break into the shoes.
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