Camp tailor impression at events...

[CJDaley]

Notice to event organizers for the 2008 and 2009 seasons:

A few vendors and I would like to set up a 'camp tailor shop' at a garrison type event. From all accounts, tailors were detailed away from drill and work to just ply their trade. They were required to show up for parades and inspections, but exempt from everything else. There are scores of accounts of company tailors doing this.

I don’t want to come as a sutler and don’t want to make any money, what I want to do is set up my wall tent and put tailors and leather workers together inside the tent to repair and make clothing for the officers and enlisted men of the event.

Here's how it would work: A soldier would come up with a needed repair (lost buttons, blown trowser seat, ripped leather, etc), we'd do the repair at our cost and return a finished product to you. In an immersion scenario, we'd give the receipt to the paymaster and the cost of the repair would be deducted from the monthly pay.

If you've got an event in the 2008-2009 season that you think this sort of thing would fit well into, please let me know.

[jgr1974]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

What an awesome idea!!! That is kind of along the lines I am doing. I hoped to hit the field this year, but do to a string of misfortunes was unable to. I do a few events in 06 and repaired many goods. Felt the best when I repaired a saddle for a guy who broke a strap on saturday, and was able to ride on sunday thanks to my services! (I do some leatherwork.) So I would love to be included ina scenario where another aspect of the war could be portrayed!

THe Mad MIck!!!

[jgr1974]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

Also might I ad, this could include civilians as tradesman since they to were employed by the government.

[Spinster]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

Excellent idea--and a far better set up than what Mrs. Clark has aptly termed my 'drive by mending' operation--normally done when I deem it too hot to do heavier work.

In our circle, in addition to the normal clothing related operations (spinning, weaving, dyeing and knitting) we've also added tradesmen with period lathes and are working with a hatter to locate and acquire some additional equipment to make his operation fully period.

As we all work to acquire typical 19th century trades, manufacturing, and homemaking skills, it certainly upgrades the appearance and functionality of our impressions. Employing these in a garrison setting when appropriate will serve to add a great deal to an event.

[CJDaley]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

Thanks for the encouragement. Just to clarify; this impression isn't a civilian employed contractor impression, these are soldiers who've been detailed to work for the army. I will be posting some accounts of this when I get the chance, but I don't want event organizers getting the feeling that I want to get more civilians into a military camp, that's not the idea. These are soldiers detached for special duty, not civilians.

I've also gotten a few e-mails from people who would like me to do this at campaign events, this should only be done at a Garrison or fixed camp type of event. A fort, a winter quarters, a training camp..that sort of thing. Every place that I've read about this happening was at a place like Harper's Ferry, Ft. Monroe or in Winter Quarters.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

From Kautz's Customs of Service for NCOs & Soldiers:

108. DAILY DUTY. A soldier is on daily duty when he is put upon some continuous duty that excuses him from the ordinary company duty but does not entitle him to additional pay from the government, such as company cooks, tailors, clerks, standing orderlies, &c. These duties may be performed by soldiers selected on account of special capacity or merit, or detailed in turn, as is most convenient and conducive to the interest of the service.
...
112. Company tailors. One or two tailors are usually detailed on daily duty in each company to fit and repair clothing for the men of the company. They are generally excused from such duties as materially interfere with their work, and receive such compensation from the men as will remunerate them for the materials they require and the extra work they may perform, This is usually done under the direction of the commanding officer of the company, under such regulations as he may establish.

"Daily Duty" is distinguished from "Special or Extra Duty":

273. SOLDIERS may be employed on duties not strictly military, when the exigencies of the service require it, for the reason that they are incident to the operations of an army, viz.:— As Mechanics and Laborers, Cooks and Attendants in Hospitals, Regimental Armorers, Clerks, Officers’ Servants, Pioneers, Scouts, Spies, &c. &c.

274. It has been the custom to allow additional pay for such duties. By section 35 of the Act of March 3, 1863, such payments have been discontinued; but by the same section the authority to order such details for special service is limited to the commanding officer of forces in the field.


As a side note for those who noticed that "clerks" show up in both categories, a "company clerk" would be someone on daily duty, just like the tailor. The extra duty clerk would seem to refer to someone detailed to full time office work outside the company, like Elisha Hunt Rhodes when he served on General Keyes' staff.

This is a great idea, Chris, and I hope someone organizing one of the garrison events next year takes you up on it. If there's one impression more grossly under-represented in reenacting than a functioning company clerk, it's almost certainly the tailor. And for most soldiers trying to fit into one of the four standard coat sizes, we can guess which of the two was more important.

[CJDaley]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

Stop Michael, just stop. There is no room for primary source documentation here! :)

This is something I've wanted to do for a while. I used to interpret tailoring at Old Bethpage Village and Harpers Ferry, but want to do it in a military setting. I finally got some fellow vendors to help out to get the idea going and want to run with it.

I do hope someone takes us up on the offer, but it would have to be the right event. You'd need to have the space available and you'd also need to be willing to allow a few of us to skip out of drill and such.

[1stMaine]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

Chris,

Don't sweat the drill part. If I'm there as the Assistant Surgeon, I can get you taken off the duty rolls. Just show up for sick call. I'll take care of the rest

Respects,

[GeraldDuval]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

I do that at my current job, in garrison at Ft. Delaware. The people get a kick out of seeing a man hand sowing or even (gasp) using our hand crank sowing machine. Plus it's extremely useful. After wearing the gear and drilling on the heavy guns every day, people constantly bring stuff to me for repairs all the time...

Good luck, It's a interesting and underrepresented impression.

[Terry Sorchy]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

Chris,
Why dont you do it when Harpers Ferry does their X Mas program. It's military, at Harpers and has a really cool scenario.
Cheers Pard
Terry Sorchy

[CJDaley]

Re: Camp tailor impression at events...

Chris,
Why dont you do it when Harpers Ferry does their X Mas program. It's military, at Harpers and has a really cool scenario.
Cheers Pard
Terry Sorchy

I've worked in the tailor shops in Harpers Ferry at the Christmas Program, but I was doing a civlian impression. The army tailors I've read about at Harpers Ferry were all camped on Maryland Heights...I'd be really lonely and cold up there sewing by myself.