Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

OK...so I was reading on the AGSAS website in the "Getting Started" section: http://www.agsas.org/standards/gettingstarted.shtml

and came across the following:

Non-Clothing Items You Will Need:

Something to Carry Things In:...Reproduction cloth duffle bags are underrepresented and we'd like to see these reproduced more as a cheaper option to carpet bags...

My question; What is a cloth duffle bag that would be used by civilians like? Would this differ than the "Naval" or "Seamens'" duffle bags in fabrics or construction?

Paul B.

[brown]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

I wanted to post a link to a great thread about "wallets" that was had some time back, but my search and scrolling through my subscribed threads yielded nothing. Mrs Trent and Dabney may have been involved, if memory serves me correctly.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

I wanted to post a link to a great thread about "wallets" that was had some time back, but my search and scrolling through my subscribed threads yielded nothing. Mrs Trent and Dabney may have been involved, if memory serves me correctly.

Lindsey,

I remember this thread well...if memory serves correctly...your'e talking of the "market wallet" which would be a rectangular bag closed on both ends with a slit in the middle. This apparatus would be worn over the shoulder with the bags falling in front of and behind the individual...I too did a search, and came up with nothing (may be lost to the past crashes).

I'm wondering if this is what is meant by the AGSAS guidelines or if it's something more akin to the navel duffels.

Paul B.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

A common pre-war style of carrying items was to take a cloth bag, be it a square bag like a large haversack or a tubular bag like a seabag, attach a large strap to it connected at both ends of the strap to the top of the bag, and then loop the straps around the shoulders in a clove hitch manner, like knapsack straps. Its a little hard to describe, but I've worn a bag like that for Rev War and 1830's civilian activities, and it wears pretty well and is very simple to make.

[brown]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

Paul: exactly! It was a good thread with accounts and descriptions of the construction, etc.

Ross: do you have a picture illustrating your description?

[Emily Burns]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

There is also a period linen bag that I've seen that has a tubular shape. Woven tie straps for carry handles. I'll see if I can find an image.

[BigYankee]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

A common pre-war style of carrying items was to take a cloth bag, be it a square bag like a large haversack or a tubular bag like a seabag, attach a large strap to it connected at both ends of the strap to the top of the bag, and then loop the straps around the shoulders in a clove hitch manner, like knapsack straps. Its a little hard to describe, but I've worn a bag like that for Rev War and 1830's civilian activities, and it wears pretty well and is very simple to make.

This sounds sort of like a snapsack. I've used a snapsack before and they work well for me in the past, though I'm not sure if it would fit in with certain impressions.

[jgr1974]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

I believe it was more of a bag for collecting cotton. I think there was an image of a slave carrying one. Also pics of an original. I believe one of the "Contraband" in the Movie Glory was carrying such a bag when they entered the training camp.

The Mad Mick!

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

This sounds sort of like a snapsack. I've used a snapsack before and they work well for me in the past, though I'm not sure if it would fit in with certain impressions.

Yes, you are correct. I was trying to remember the term earlier when I posted. It has a mostly 18 century provenance, but I've read enough about civilian travelers, particularly poor rural folks continuing to use them into the Victorian era. I made one for a pard a couple of years ago by basically making a CW era navy seabag with a drawcord on the top with handsewn grommets, and he sewed a strap onto the top of the bag to form the shoulder straps.

[sdwinters]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

Hi!

I'm a list newcomer, though I've been reading posts with great interest for months now.

I believe the thread discussing market wallets is titled "Slave Haversack: Past Post." http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...p/t-10285.html . I found it quite useful.

Sometime after I'd made one for myself, I came across a clear 1861 reference to a wallet in "Journal of Wallace Turnage" in A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped To Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation, by David W. Blight. It doesn't describe the construction, but the reference is clear enough: "Then I looked around and I found a wallet and I put sugar in one end and bread in the other" (p. 229).

Sally Gwylan

[Spinster]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

Directions for 18th century market wallets and snapsacks are illustrated in the link below

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm

While applicability for 19th century will vary with impression and location, I do note that in cleaning out an elderly relative's home, deep in the southern highlands about a decade ago, I found a number of sizes of 'market wallets', from 12 inches to bed sized.

[Brian Baird]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

Mrs. Lawson,
I find it interesting that the wallet continued to be used after the war by cowboys. Most were made from a grain sack.
Brian Baird

[John Pellarin]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

Brian,

Do you have a reference for the cowboys using this type of wallet? From "Teddy" Blue's memoirs?

(Cubs vs. Cards weekend series - Cubs 2 out of 3 games - Edmounds got a standing ovation.)

John Pellarin

[Brian Baird]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

John,
I believe they talk about it in the book THE COWBOY CULTURE. It's packed in storage or else I'd look it up.
Brian Baird

[Utley]

Re: Civilian Style Duffel Bag??

Although a bit early, this link gives some good info about the various things being discussed...

http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/18cnel/wallets.htm