Stuff in Pockets

[Citizen_Soldier]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Greetings,
In portraying a farmer I generally carry a hankerchief, pocket knife, small folding hoof pick (for horses or if portraying someone who has been recently working with horses), and if smoking...a pipe, small tobacco pouch, and matches. Sometime when portraying someone visiting town, in addition I carry a very small pocket diary with a calendar and ledger book included within it's bound contents along with a stub of pencil....it's all dependent upon the scenerio I suppose.

Darrek Orwig

[oldsecesh]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

I'm doing a civilian impression more often. I carry a handkerchief, a small pocket knife, a period wallet and a pocket watch.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

While doing a soldiers impression, I find it easier to have the least amount of "stuff" in my pockets possible.

I'll carry 2 rags in my trouser pockets and one in my coat/jacket pocket, Everything else I can leave in my haversack until I need it. It really depends on what I'm doing at the time to determine what I'll need to carry with me.

For some of you earlier posters, it would be nice to know what pockets do you use to carry your stuff in? How often do you keep it there?

As a soldier, I find it uncomfortable to carry a pipe, tobacco, Cigars, matches, rags, wallet, money and whatnot all at once, like I've seen from previous posters. Sounds like everything but the kitchen sink......

Of course I'm speaking to the military side and not civilian.

[oldsecesh]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Aaron,

I agree about too much in the pockets. My post was as a civilian. In a military impression, I have my handkerchief and pocket knife in my trouser pockets. The less bulk the better, and there's no irritation while marching. The wallet and pocket watch are easier carried in the backpack.

[NoahBriggs]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Agreed. I carry items in my pocket(s) I am certain I will need onhand frequently. Otherwise they go into whatever bags or luggage I am carrying, or, as stipulated, skipped entirely if they do not apply to the impression.

For this upcoming weekend I will be a loudmouthed tavernkeeper. My pockets will hold a pocket knife, wallet, maybe a snot rag, and a corkscrew. I'll also have some envelopes which contain cufflinks that I will try to foist off on the gullible as the very cufflinks John Brown was wearing at the time of his execution. (Thanks, Hank, had to borrow that idea from you!)

[robwall1861]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

For my stuff....I keep my matches, pocket watch and pocket knife in my pants pocket, and soon to be joined by my handkerchief at the very next event. My coat pocket is where I put my wallet and pipe/tobacco if it doesn't fit into my trouser pockets.

Sincerely,

[Matthew Semple]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Bringing up an old thread when searching through the AC tonight. I thought I would share as it adds to the thread.

Prior to relocation and less items from the massive collection on display with the new visitors center at Gettysburg: One of the cases on the main floor of the old visitors center had a small section which showed items recovered from pockets of the dead from both sides. It contained coins, remnants of paper money and other paper materials, an early 19th century pocket watch, bullets, buttons, a pocket knife, and a piece of quartz. The piece of quartz, which I found the most odd, measured about 1/2 inch long and 1/4 wide.

[toptimlrd]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

First of all, at any event the ONLY modern items I have in my pocket are my asthma inhaler as I sort of need it to live at times and there are times I need it very quickly, but I am always as discreet as possible if I need to use it. The only other modern item is a car key and the fob to open the door (never brought out of the pocket until the end of the event).

Now as to period correct items, whether I am a soldier or civilian, I usually have my pocket knife, small match safe, period wallet and a handkerchief.

As a civilian I also will likely have my watch, a small pencil and small notebook (watch is normally in a waistcoat pocket and notebook is usually in either the waistcoat pocket or coat pocket. If portraying a wealthy person I may have a cigar or two in a coat pocket. That's about it. I may be seen carrying a bible if doing a minister's impression. If my impression requires papers of any type, they are in my wallet.

[PogueMahone]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Except for the inventory of the Gettysburg dead, do we have any documentation of what they carried? Or is it all assumption on our part? Typically we don't let threads go this long without someone pointing out that what we do as reenactors is one thing, but what they did historically is the real thing.

[Elaine Kessinger]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Well.. it is easier for me to tell you where I stash my stuff for the two impressions I do most often:

the tailoress from the city who has taken over hubby's clothing emporium:
in the dress pocket: modern emergency medical info card (laminated so it feels different), period money, train ticket and/or stage ticket, civilian pass and loyalty oath when apropriate to do so

in the travel bag (which is something like a market bag or purse, but larger than period reticules): fan, hankie, bit of ribbon, extra hairpins, gloves when I'm not wearing them, card case with calling cards for myself, hubby, and trade cards for the business, letter of reference, letters to my sister detailing my travels, paper, pencil, measuring tape ( I run into too many clients at events to leave it behind), small book to read on the train/stage, and a poke sack of modern stuff including spectacles in a case, contact solution, modern ID card,and car key

for the farmwife
in the dress pocket: modern emergency medical info card (laminated so it feels different), civilian pass and loyalty oath when apropriate to do so, and hankie, bit of ribbon and extra hairpins

in a basket: poke sack of modern stuff including spectacles in a case, contact solution, modern ID card,and car key, fan, sewing kit when apropriate, knitting or crocheting when apropriate, lunch, and a ginger beer bottle of seasonally appropriate bevarege (apple cider in the fall, winter, and spring, lemonade or switchel when the weather's hot).

when the scenario calls for it I can include a basket of plate, silverware, glasses, coffee mug, tea cups, platters, and napkins or a carpet bag of change of underpinnings, nightgown, wrapper (houserobe), nightcap, and morning cap, toilet articles including toothbrush, toothpowder, hairbrush, comb, soap, washrag, towel, hairpins, dresspins, smelling salts, digestive losenges, and headache pills, pen, ink, paper, and envelopes, newspapers, book, and travel guide, and sewing kit, knitting or crochetting when apropriate

I can "kit out" from one of these two models for just about any impression I'm eligable for with a few substitutions.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Except for the inventory of the Gettysburg dead, do we have any documentation of what they carried? Or is it all assumption on our part? Typically we don't let threads go this long without someone pointing out that what we do as reenactors is one thing, but what they did historically is the real thing.

One can find a little info on civilians by looking at reports of bodies found and what was contained in their pockets, though people meeting violent deaths where they can't be identified immediately by friends aren't exactly a random sample.

Here's one example of a book containing several references, more or less complete, of a few pocket contents.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[PogueMahone]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Great link, Hank. It is like an 1859 CSI: New York episode or something. I half expected Sherlock Holmes to begin speaking.

A little pocket change, letters and some jewelry. No matchsafes, watches, pipes, cigars, wallets or handerkerchiefs. Hhhhmmmmm ....

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Here's something similar from after our period: an 1879 San Francisco Coroner's Report of Decedents' Property: http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/cr79.htm

This being San Francisco, the decedents likely have more coin about them than in other parts (during the Civil War all forms of specie became relatively rare, north and south), and represent more urban and mercantile types than otherwise. Still, it struck me as interesting.

[Abrams]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Great advice on nailing down your impression, as different economic levels/professions would change your pocket's contents. I do like to carry a watch, and its as plain looking as I could find.

My all impressions contents are pocket knife, a handkerchief and a matchbox. Period money if issued/brought along.

When a carpenter, I add a few square cut nails, and keep a hammer handy. I normally put my cash in my leather wallet and carry that too.

When a soldier, I might add my pipe and tobacco pouch. cash if paid/issued I also keep in my pocket. A small poke with peanuts or parched corn is good for guard duty.

Not much else. I hate full pockets, but I won't go out without a knife, a way to make fire, and a hanky.

[toptimlrd]

Re: Stuff in Pockets

Joe,

Not picking a fight here but I base my "pocket stuff" on a couple of things. First of all etiquitte would dictate a gentleman would have a handkerchief with him, not to mention it's as useful today as it was in the 19th century. Why would watch fobs and watch pockets be found from the period if not used in the manner in which they were designed. They were referred to as pocket knives during the period which begs the question why use such a name if they were not for carrying in the pocket? As a civilian, I normaly don't carry baggage unless I am travelling so logically where would someone during the period carry small items if they did not have a haversack, knapsack, carpetbag, etc?

I do agree that documentation is lacking but these were things not thought about then nor are they today. 150 years from now will anyone have documentation as to what was PEC for someone in 2010 to have in their pockets? Like today the possibilities are endless, right now I have a set of keys, some loose change, my inhaler, a cell phone, and my wallet. Others may have completely different items. I think what th thread has revealed is that based on one's impression that the items could vary greatly but that there are some items a bit more common than others.