Civilian Pack

[Angel of Mercy]

My boyfriend told me about a civilian pack that a lady(refugee) was carrying at an event a few months back. Does anyone know of a basic pattern for this? or was it just something one made? and of what possible materials? Any information would be great.

[Anna Worden Bauersmith]

Re: Civilian Pack

There are 2 items illustrated on Mrs. Mescher's article "Traveling Tips for Ladies" on page 11. Are either of these what you mean?
Personally, I would like to make the one on the top for the train.

Anna Worden.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Civilian Pack

I would suggest that the lady refugee was making a modern accomodation of a camping need, not portraying a very accurate setting for a refugee... unless her pack was along the lines of a carpet bag, valise, etc--something an average person will have at home, which can be quickly packed on the way off to a nearby relative's or friend's home to "weather the storm" of nearby hostilities.

There was a good thread with refugee situations discussed here recently, and another on a list--it's a careful balance of having the things a person in a modern event situation may need, without carrying gear an actual short-term refugee wouldn't have... which can be a challenge.

From what I've read, there are two basic "styles" of refuge-seeking: short term and long term. Short term is going to mean the immediate removal of self and family from the home, until the immediate dangers may be over. These persons may go down the road, or into town, or to the next town for a visit, waiting out the situation for a few days. They're not likely to carry extensive supplies, tenting, lots of clothing, dishes, lots of food, cooking tools, etc, but might be equipped for a short excursion or visit, with some "travel snacks", a change of underclothes, a wrap or coat, a small "amusement" item.

Long-term refugees are removing themselves and all possessions from the area, intending to re-settle somewhere else entirely... these are likely to have everything they own in a wagon or cart, and be literally moving house, with furniture, bedding, dishes, food stores, possibly even some livestock. This is not one that's done often at events, due to the gear burden (not many folks have a spare wagon and mules sitting around).

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: Civilian Pack

I think it was described as being almost like a soldiers pack on their back. I would imagine it as being a simple bag of heavy sturdy material with straps maybe? I just thought it was interesting. Thank you for your inputs.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Civilian Pack

I'm not aware of anyone other than peddlers using a back-pack arrangement, beyond soldier/pack-hunter life.

Sounds like it was definitely a modern accomodation, and not based in historic record. I'd encourage you to check out Virginia Mescher's article, and go with something that meets your needs for gear movement, as well as the historic record.

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: Civilian Pack

I understand, I haven't seen anything like it in photographs. I wasn't sure if it was something that one or two women made just before the war incase of having to flee. Thank you for your help.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Civilian Pack

Don't want to beat a dead horse... but at the beginning of the war, most folks thought it must be done and over with in a few months. There weren't a whole lot of "just in case we have to flee" preparations done, even into the war, and before the war, most people weren't alarmed about it tremendously--those same sectional tensions and issues had been brewing for over three decades at that point. It was rather a sort of "Cold War" between states... "everyone" said it would come to blows, and "no one" really believed it could, and even if it did, it "must" end quickly.

Sometimes it's difficult to really get into the mindset without studying the whole of the early Republic, or at least the previous decade or so. Not many people were really awfully anxious about the thought of "war." The Mexican war happened far from the homes of most American citizens, and the last widespread "homefront" war was now a generation or two back. In the 1980s, we didn't do atomic bomb drills anymore--not that the threat of atomic bombs was any less than it had been in my Mom's classrooms, but because it was 30 years later, and no was was able to sustain that level of anxiety that long, as nothing major had happened to re-inspire it.

Putting myself in the shoes of a person who finds out troops are coming through the area, and it looks like they may clash in my own fields, I'm going to do what I can to lessen the risk for myself--say, toss a spare change of clothes and some cash and my book into my valise, and take the kids off to Aunt Pauline's for the day, until things have either moved through or settled down. I can't really leave everything lay, as armies will swipe the chickens, commandeer the cows, take the quilts--so I may not want to go very far, or I'll have nothing left, even if no one starts firing off cannon in the cornfield. It's not really a "Japanese Flee From Godzilla" scenario, most of the time.

Now, a good valise will haul an awful lot of stuff... might be just the thing for someone "in transit" at an event.

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: Civilian Pack

Right, that makes sense. I do have a small basket that is a suit-case style that I put my extra underclothes in for events and a personal carry basket for sewing items and money. Thank you very much, everyone, I have a better understanding of "just because it looks interesting doesn't mean it's right".

[Millie Fillmore]

Re: Civilian Pack

Although the discussion here has been mostly about refugees, I'd like to take advantage of the "civilian travelling bag" interchange.

I'm sure some of you have seen the "duffel bag" on Karen Augusta's website:

http://www.antique-lace.com/date2/1555/1555.htm

She dates it between 1860-1880. I love it, and am tempted to make one, but have never seen anything like it before. I have a suspicion and sinking feeling that its purpose was more for trips to watering places or bathing. If that's the case, I wouldn't want to show up to an event with one.

Does anyone have any clue about this type of bag?

Thanks,

Katie Guslick

[Millie Fillmore]

Re: Civilian Pack

OK, I found a reference made to duffel bags on the Atlantic Guard website, with the note that they are underrepresented.

Is the duffel from the link that I just posted of this type? If any of the AGSAS members (or anyone else) could help me out, I'd be so grateful!

Cheers,

Katie Guslick

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: Civilian Pack

Katie,
Hello, the link you had posted above isn't working, or maybe it's my computer, I can try again. I looked at the AGSAS website and found the page where it mentions the duffle bag, I think it'd be great to have at events. Does anyone know of any photos? or measurements on construction? Thank you for replying.

[Millie Fillmore]

Re: Civilian Pack

Hi Krystin,

You're right, the link doesn't work. Ugh. Let me try again:

www.antique-lace.com/date2/1555/1555.htm

I hope this works -- otherwise, maybe try cut & paste.

Thanks,

Katie Guslick

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: Civilian Pack

Katie,
I put in manually,and it came up. Wow, that'd be interesting to make. It does look like something one would take to a watering place. Maybe with a few alterations it could work for an everyday or traveling purpose. Hmm..I maight have to play around with some fabrics to make it look more home-made. Thank you!

[Millie Fillmore]

Re: Civilian Pack

Krystin,

I think any bag that you would make similar to the pictured one would be excellent. I don't believe you would need to tone it down at all to make it appear to be something that a lady made at home. So many period items are embellished extensively with handwork; often, I wish I had a lot more time to spend on extra details on my own clothing. Even items not usually meant to be seen, such as underskirts, often have a great deal of detail (one I've seen has 19 rows of handstiched tucks!). That amount of effort would drive me batty. But they still did it!

The wool thread and trim would probably be available to most women, even those with modest means. Similar featherstitching instructions are presented in The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework by Therese de Dillmont (reprinted about a zillion times -- originally published in 1884, though I consider it to be good for Civil War-era sewing because I believe she went to embroidery school around mid-century).

Back to the duffel -- we have the dimensions, thanks to Karen Augusta. She also doesn't mention it being lined. Let's hope that someone else has seen one of these, and can give us a little more info about them. ;)

Katie Guslick

[Angel of Mercy]

Re: Civilian Pack

Katie,
My mom has bolts of light-weight canvas material in various colors I could use. I know they had a lot of time on their hadns..."idle hands are the devils hands" but, I don't have that much time to do all of the embroidery..and it's not my style...I'm a simple girl.
I think it's interesting that the duffle is cylnder-like. It should be interesting to make. Thank you again!