THE WATCHDOG.

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A QUARTERLY REVIEW FOR CIVIL WAR REENACTOnu

A Volume 8, NO. 4 Guarding your interests.. . FALL 2000

Welcome to the ranks! as someone who "knows what he is doing." A newcomer to our community recently wrote the DOG: If you commit to a progressive impression, you'll be tempted to "cheap out" on say an inexpensive shirt with bad buttons, I just finished my first reenactment and loved it! Fortunately terrible pattern material, and machine sewn button holes; or a for me a unit loaned me some equipment. I don't know if I can crimped cup with one of those square handles. After all: it's borrow again, so I need to get some equipment. It all seems so "only a shirt," or it's "only a cup." You may even give into expensive! Do you have any advice for me, or is there any place temptation and purchase the cup, or the shirt, or both. And it'll to buy used equipmentfor less? Ifyou can help me at all, please be OK for a while, but you will see your pards with those nice respond. hot-dipped tin cups that look so great, or that nice, subtle pattern shirt with small period buttons that just looks so.. .right. You'll Like most queries, this one was passed on to all the editors. think: "I'd like to get me one of those cups (or shirts)." So you Mr. Braun's response bears repeating. ask you pard where he got his cup or shirt, and he tells you, and before too long you place an order. Well, sir, that order arrives Bob (not the person's real name) you have already received one day in the mail ...and there it is! A truly great cup or a some advice from Mr. Christen on purchase of quality Civil wonderful shirt that really looks like it stepped out a museum War uniforms and equipage. I echo his words, and add the case! So you bring your new goods out to theqnext event, and following from my own experiences in the hobby: you look and feel great! Except that old junk cup and crummy cheap shirt now takes up room in your closet or war chest, and I learned a long time ago that real quality must be paid for. you realize that you're out the cost of those items, and the cost Unlike items you buy in stores today, where quality is measured of the new, correct goods! See how you could have saved money in terms of life span, quality reproduction American Civil War by buying the good stufffirst? items are based on how closely they approximate the original One warning.. .once you trek down the "progressive" road, item. Some of these original items had, for example, thinner you'll never want to go back. Once you embrace quality, you'll leather, thinner gage of metal, and occasional "mistakes" in unconsciously be unsettled at anything less. You'll be on a sewing that much of today's so-called "quality" reproductions constant quest to learn more about your hobby. You'll check the do not have. If the items are made in the manner of the period, linings of your sport coats, and the soles of your work shoes. quality will be a given.. .with the understanding that there were You'll pick up a cheap tool in the hardware store and wonder items made and issued that, on their face, do not appear to be how anyone could produce and sell such crap and still look the "best." themselves in the mirror in the morning. You'll sweat the details Starting in a hobby where there is a significant expense to at home and at work ...and as a result things that used to fall get in can seem to be a daunting task. Go slow, and buy the best through the cracks just don't anymore. You save your money to you can afford. I promise you purchasing only quality replicas buy the best, and as a result you take care of your possessions will pay off in the long run.. .long after the original price is better. forgotten. Why? Two big reasons. It pays off in personal You will have joined the hundreds of men and women before satisfaction in the seriousness and detail you devote to a quality you who respect their historical ancestors too much than to impression (you are "doing it right") and it provides you with "cheap out" with a bad shirt or a crimped cup. an automatic measure of credibility among fellow reenactors Good luck ... and welcome to the ranks! who don't know you. You will stand out from less than correct Mr. Braun impressions.. .and a practiced eye will pick you out immediately What makes a tin cup authentic?

Over the past few months I have been involved in doing visible on period tinware. Handles examined have either been research on tinware, specifically tin cups. My interest in trying "C" shape or "tear drop" shape (FIG 2). to create a tin cup stemmed from a question I was asked by one The rims of the cups are finished with a wire rolled top, or 1 of our new recruits. We were discussing equipment and sutlers' in one case a folded top that was placed over the rough rim and lists when we came to the subject of tinware. I recommended separately soldered, but this is the only example so far found of 1 two sources for authentically reproduced cups recommended by this type of rim construction. In general, modern reproductions other progressivelhard-core groups. He then asked, "Why? What suffer from being too perfect. In all of the cups I have examined, makes these cups authentic?" told him I had a general idea of solder beads are not uniform and slight hammer strokes around what a cup should look like based on the images I had seen, but the bottom are noticeable (the difference between a handcrafted beyond that I had not really taken the time to investigate. Well, cup and industrially produced cup). after seven months of purchasing original items, researching Specific styles and differences are apparent in comparing books, traveling to several museums and reproducing tin cups two cups commonly carried in the war-the civilian cup, and with the help of my friend and co-researcher Phillip Meadows, what is called amongst collectors, the issue cup. Civilian cups I have come to two conclusions. All authentic civil war tin cu are generally smaller than what many reenactors use. Civilian have some general similarities and it is harder to produce ; cups seem to vary in size from 2'12 inches high by 3lIs inches in accurate tin cup than it looks. diameter to larger 33/~inches high by 3'12 inches in diameter. The one very noticeable difference between a civilian cup and an issue cup is the body seam. The body of the civilian cup is soldered with a simple lap seam (FIG 3) as compared to issue cups and tin cans that have a folded seam (FIG 4) [2]

FIG I. Tin Cups in, Collectio

In my collection I have three authentic tin cups, one tin can and one tin pitcher. I have compared my original tinware with the tinware collections in the Tennessee State Museum, Gettysburg National Battlefield Park, Antietam National Battlefield Park, The Civil War Medical Museum and countless antique shops and books. In general all period tinware has the following key Characteristics. The tin cup or more properly called coffeeor tin "dipper" [I] has a flat bbttom B FIG^).- FIG 3. Lap Seam.

I .* FIG 2. Handle Shapes.

- - The bottom has a '14 to a '1s inch uniformed lip and is soldered directly to the bottom of the cup (no crimped bottom- FIG 4. Folded Seam. like a modern Campbell'sm soup can). The solder bead is readily THE WATCHDOG. 10 - - - As mentioned above, handles come in two styles: the "C" shape and the "tear drop" shape. All of the civilian cups I have examined have their handles soldered directly to the body of the cup over the seam with no wire or tinner's rivets. The solder job here is noticeably sloppy as compared to the other solder seams (FIG 5 and FIG 6).

FIG 7.

On issue cups we find a few different characteristics. Besides the difference of the folded seam, issue cups are generally larger

a in size. The one I have in my collection is 3'18 inches in high by FIG 5. Solder Application. four inches in diameter (FIG 8). [3] Larger sizes were also available and averaged 4'12 inches high by 4'12 inches in diameter to four inches high by four inches in diameter.

FIG 6. Solder Application. FIG 8. Cup in Author's Collection. This seems to have been done because the solder for the handles would have to drop on the handle of the cup to prevent the The larger cups seem to have been produced earlier in the heating of the entire cup that can (and usually does) cause the war, [4] but I have no concrete evidence other than the fact that body seam to separate. Civilian cups use thinner material than the larger cups can still be found in museums and relic stores, issue cups and tin cans. All of the cups examined measured but are noticeably less common (as seen in their purchase price). between 0.012 and 0.016 inches. In modem terminology we Another difference is the gauge of the metal. Issue cups measure would say that this would be the equivalent of 26 to 28-gauge on average 0.025 inch that would be the modern equivalent of tin plate. The best way to test the gauge of the metal is that you 24-gauge tin plate. This makes the issue cup noticeably heaver should be able to squeeze the cup in your hand slightly. It was and more durable. also common practice because of the lighter material to bead (continued on page 19) these cups, which would add to their strength as well as being aesthetically pleasing (FIG 7).

THE WATCHDOG. FALL 2000 - PRODUCT REVIEWS Civil War Stenciling Sets

In my article on the Federal-issue blanket of the Civil War [The Watchdog., WINTER 20001 I noted blankets could be personalized by stenciling names and unit designations on them.

I suggested- - local arts and crafts shops could assist in making such personal stencils. Recently, however, I found Quint Company in Philadelphia still has brass stenciling sets in stock FIG 1. Samples of letters and numerals in a variety of sizes. The firm from which they got the sets no '., -3v.r -" " . .-.. 4- , r- mi- ,l longer makes the sets, so order promptly if you are interested; . a quantities definitely are limited. The sets listed below are for ,,.l,~ n serifed, Roman letters and numbers, very appropriate for the era of the Civil War. A few of each are shown (FIG 1) to show the style of the sets available, as well as 11/2 inch lettering on a County Cloth "1851 Gray" blanket (FIG 2).

Height Letters A-Z Numbers 0-9 92 inch $13.80 $ 6.90 FIG 2. Sample of Lettering on a Blanket. 3/4 inch $14.60 $ 7.36 1 inch Not available $ 8.20 Quint Company takes Visa and Mastercard orders over the 1 lh inch $20.86 $10.56 phone at (215) 533-1988, and is located at 3725 Castor 2 inch Not available Not available Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124. They will add the appropri- 2 Y2 inch $30.86 $15.46 ate amount of postage when you place your order. Fred Gaede Canteen Webbing

Jerry Coates notes in his definitive article on canteens in Military Collector & Historian that canteen webbing was purchased during the Civil War by the Office of Clothing & Equipage at Schuylkill Arsenal. It was used as an alternative to sewn straps only on canteens that came through the Philadelphia Depot from 1862 through the end of the War. Ken and Mary Wagner of Wooded Hamlet Design, who have long specialized in tapes and trimmings of the era, have reproduced a one inch wide webbing found on several extant corrugated canteen examples. This is among the most decorative of the webbing designs known, with five twilled panels separated by several narrow lengths of ribbing. Using 2012 ply, one hundred percent natural cotton yarns, FIG 1. Wooded Hamlet Designs' Philadelphia Depot the reproduced webbing very closely duplicates the look and Webbing Next to the Same Style on the Reviewer's Original feel of originals observed in the National Park Service collection, Corrugated (Bullseye) Canteen. Gettysburg Visitor Center; John Henry Kurtz collection; and the author's collection (FIG I), to note just three. It is not a FredGaede substantial webbing, as one would expect to find on modern camping equipment, but is very faithful to the original in weight and tightness of the weave. It is just the thing if you want something a bit different for your impression. The webbing is item 16FG-1, and is $4.75 per yard. You need just under two yards for a canteen strap. Add fifty cents for postage. Contact Wooded Hamlet Designs at 4044 Coseytown Road, Greencastle, PA 17225 and (717) 597-1782 and [email protected] PRODUCT REVIEW The Finishing Touch

When Mrs. Kalil asked me to do a review of a collar received neckline of a dress. For further information on the use and by The Watchdog, I though it ironic. She knew that I was one characteristics of middle nineteenth-century century collars, I who in the past had fought bitterly not to have to wear a collar. highly recommend this book. How times have changed. Now, it has become a necessary and indispensable element of my nineteenth-century wardrobe. The collars are available from Kathy Rose, 7645 Rice Drive, Mrs. Kathy Rose has created an outstanding reproduction Pinckney, Michigan 48169 and 734-878-9412 and collar. The white cotton collar measures just shy of two inches Bannack333 @aol.com. wide. That includes a one half inch white cotton bias strip that . , Christine Ballard lies quite nicely when stitched onto the piping of a dress. The collar that I received has a machine stitched scalloped edge that meets at the front in a rounded fashion. Mrs. Rose can custom fit her collars to fit any neck size or length a lady might require. She can make the collars absolutely plain or add decorative stitching. I feel certain that this well made collar will stand up to the rigors of mid-century living (as we live it at events and historic sites). With an occasional soakingllaundering, then a dose of starch, this collar will stay white and crisp for several wearings. 1. &, &-- .-C,C& In her book, Wlzo Wore What? (Thomas Publications, &Gd Collar details from CdV Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1995), Juanita Leisch discusses some .x-~ - images (ca 1860-65) common misconceptions about collars. One myth was that in the collections of Mrs. Kalil collars were a decorative device when in reality, they were and Glenna Jo Christen necessary economical measure to prevent soil and wear on the -

PUBLISHER'S NOTES

Expiration. good the bad, the ugly), brief product descriptions and notes. I wanted to explain the code for subscriptions (see the We will work out a process for providing six andlor twelve month back cover page of any issue). The code on the address label has updates for those who purchase the disk. Send your order along two parts "X" and "Y" or "X.Y." The "X" refers to the yearly with a check or money order to our regular address (see back issue number since the start of publication. The DOG is in its cover). eighth year of publication. I took over from the Hughes's in 1999 (sixth year). The "Y" refers to the quarter in which the Time. issue was published: WINTER=l, SPRING=2, SUMMER=3 Despite all good intentions the current issue is about a week and FALL=4. Putting these together you get "X.Y." Hence the late. Two occurrences created the "slows." One reminded me, issue you just received is FALL 2000 or 8.4 (eighth year and like it should all of you, that the "authentic" things in our real fourth quarter). life have a priority of Civil War obsessions. My father died at If your subscription started with the SPRING 1998 and the end of October after a prolonged illness. My father did not expired with the SPRING 2000 issue, your label would have an share my interest in the period, but would always have a Civil "8.2" (eighth year and second quarter) after your name on the War related article that he had cut out of the newspaper ready mailing label. Your subscription expired with the publication for me when I came to visit. Both he and my mother read the of that issue. We are a friendly enterprise. In most cases a DOG from cover to cover and looked forward to its arrival just reminder box checked on first or second issue after expiration you do. The folks at home, the vacant chair.. .then and now. just as effective as a separate renewal notice. I hope this clears The other was my computer's nervous breakdown in the up the confusion. middle of composing this issue. The computer is all rebuilt and I am again aware of my dependence on technology. I wonder if Merchant & Supplier Database Disk. the citizens of the 1860s ever felt anxious when the mail arrived The DOG'S Merchant and Supplier source list (over 400 a week late or the new sewing machine didn't work. I image sources) is available on disk IBM (WINDOWS 95 and 98, they might have; just as we sometimes feel when that EXCEL) and MAC formats. The cost is $5 for subscribers and painstakingly correct item we ordered last year has still not been $10 for nonsubscribers. The list is kept as complete as possible. delivered. Sometimes there is just never enough time.. . It includes contact information for all the sources we know (the Mr. Christen THE WATCHD( FALL 2000 - - MORE PRODUCT REVIEW FOLLOW-UP A Tale of Three Blankets (part 2)

In the SUMMER 2000 issue (Vol. 8, No. 3) we ran an article surviving examples found in the Maryland Historical Society, comparing three recently produced Federal issue blanket the Museum of the Confederacy and the Sam Davis House in reproductions. Two additional blankets have been received for Smyrna, Tennessee. [I] review. Charlie Childs of County Cloth produces these blankets, In comparison with the three previously reviewed Federal which we would like to throw into the fray. The first blanket issue blankets the County Cloth example also mirrors the US we examined is a reproduction of a gray US. Army blanket Army Quartermaster specifications (see chart). The color of this typical of the design adopted by the US Army Quartermaster blanket is actually a light grayish-brown that matches the Department in 1851. The other blanket is a reproduction of a "Danish Exchange" blankets in the Copenhagen Museum. [2] North Carolina Confederate blanket. It is based on three

QM Specifications County Cloth Augie We is s e rt Abe Thomas Woodburn-Mount Length: 84 inches 85 inches 8 1.25 inches 83 inches 8 linches Width: 66 inches 67.5 inches 56.75 inches 64.75 inches 58.5 inches Color: "gray" Light grayish-brown Brown w/ Olive cast Light BroMan Dark Brown Appearance 212 twill Slight indication of weave 212 twill (very prominent) 212 twill (slight) Weight: not greater 5 lbs. 1.4 oz 4hs. 0.2102. 4lbs. 0.0502. 3bs. 0.1302 than 5 pounds Calculated density [A] 0.127 Ibs.1 sq. fi. 0.125 lbs./sq. ft. 0.107 lbs./sq. ft. 0.116 lbs./sq. ft. 0.129 poundslsq. foot

[A] This factor is included for a measure of the "warmth" capacity compared to the QM specification ideal blanket It is realistically subject to the vagaries of the individual use and situation, and also assumes that an original blanket actually had a capacity to sufficiently (from our modem point of view) warm the user.. .we doubt it.

TABLE 1. Comparison of the Reproduction Blankets to the US Army Quartermaster Specifications.

County Cloth also offers a "North Carolina" blanket. Confederate blankets. These characteristics are tabulated in the Blankets are in stock at this time. The sample furnished to the form of the US issue blanket specification comparison. DOG closely matches the attributes of three surviving original

Maryland Historical Museum of the Sam Davis Home County Cloth "NC" Characteristics [B] Society blanket Confederacy blanket Blanket blanket Length 71.75 inches 70 inches 73.5 inches 74.5 inches Width 60 inches 65 inches 67 inches 68 inches Stripe width 3 inches 3 inches 3.5 inches 3 inches Appearance 212 twill 212 twin 212 twill 212 twill Weight 2 lbs. 6 oz N/A N/A 3lbs. 1.402 [B] Taken from the table in Fred Gaede's article in the Military Collector & Historian. [See below]

TABLE 2. Comparison of the Reproduction "NC" Blanket to Originals in Various Collections.

Abraham Thomas Blanket, Quartermaster Woolens, NOTES: 20473 Idaho Ave. Lakeville, MN 55044 and [I] Frederick Gaede, "Three 'NC' Blankets," Military Collector & Historian, the journal of the Company of Military Historians, Washington, DC, Fall 1989, Vol. http://www.members.aol.com/QMWoolens XLI, NO. 3, page 157-158. Woodburn-Mount Blanket, 106 Mountain High Drive, [2] Frederick Gaede, "The 'Danish Exchange' US Army Blankets," Military Antioch, TN 37013 and http://hometown.aol.comlrmwoodburn/ Collector & Historian, the journal of the Company of Military Historians, myhomepage/sale.html Washington, DC, Summer 1984, Vol. XXXVI, No. 2, page 64-66. Federal issue blanket and CS "NC" blanket, County Cloth, 13797-C Georgetown St. NE, Paris, OH 44669 and (330) 862-3301 and [email protected]. Mr. Yingling

THE WATCHDO FALL 2000 MEMORANDA OF INTELLIGENCE

The following items have come across the desk of Mr. Yingling. Their mention here does not automatically constitute a thorough review or endorsement. We welcome your input. Additional comments are those of the other editors.

Pre-rolled Tbbes for Blank Rounds. a single ply of cotton thread, wrapped with a very thin, flat Samples tubes were sent to us by Joe Gilbert. These tubes gilded copper wire. The manufacture then weaves the metal- appear to be serviceable for powder burning. The paper is a covered thread into a pattern. The cost is $4.50 per yard. The medium tan color. It is similar to, but not exactly newsprint. braid is also available from Greg (PO Box 115, Columbus, They are not tied with string, but crimped. He also sells tubes GA 31902) as well as IWP (PO Box 700504, San Antonio, tied off with string for living history displays. His mailing TX 78270-0504 and (210) 495-7275 and [email protected]. If address is 670 Pinoleville Dr., Ukiah, CA 95482. He can also you are in need of fancy uniform or hat trim, this braid is be reached at (707) 468-9865 and [email protected] "A-Number One." and http:ll/Homestead,com/lriskToesCartridgeTubes/club2.html. Mr. Zirkle also sent sample of two "new" types of corps He has been making and selling tubes for several years, and badges. They are made of hand cur sheet brass ($2.50). They claims to have sold over 40,000 tubes. Two merchants, Honest are modeled after some dug samples previously offered by Dale Tom's and D & N Mercantile also carry his tubes. Prices are C. Anderson. He included several samples of wool and beaded $51100 for quantities less than 500, $41100 for quantities between wire hand sewn badges ($5.95) as well. These are also available 501 and 1900, $3.75 for quantities over 1900, and $121100 for at the Regimental Quartermaster (PO Box 553, Hatboro, those with the end tied. JY PA 19040). JY

Still more on rounds... Tim Bender Hats. I made an exhibit on cartridge rolling for a small living A customer has pointed out to me that a posting on your history at the Watertown Arsenal in Watertown, MA last month. web site regarding the winter 2000 edition is in error. The The Watertown Arsenal made 1,000,000 small arms cartridges posting indicates that my hats are wool felt, not fur felt. It a week at the height of their production during the war, so I SHOULD read: "the hats are fur felt not wool felt." The article thought it might be interesting to show people exactly how a in the actual magazine is correct (WINTER 2000, 8.1). Guess rifle-musket cartridge was produced. Referring to period someone got his or her thought waves crossed when posting to manuals I fabricated all the tools I needed and then began to the web site. Could I impose on you to correct that entry... it has make cartridges using the original techniques. I shoot in the caused some confusion with my customers both present and N-SSA so I already had a supply of .58 caliber elongated balls, potential. Tim Bender, T P & H Trading Co. and the only concession to accuracy that I made was to fill the cartridges with cornmeal instead of black-powder. I then Hard Crackers. compared my finished products to the actual examples in Dean On a whim, I followed a reference on the Authentic Thomas' book Round Ball to Rimfire and the specifications for Campaigner web site to the Bent's Cookie Factory. A reviewer size and weight in the 1861 Ordnance Manual. One thing I had given them a strong endorsement for their Civil War hadn't appreciated was how heavy rifle-musket ammunition is. Cracker. What the heck? I placed the minimum order and, in Carrying sixty rounds of ammunition means carrying about less than a week, my package arrived. I was pleasantly surprised 5.5 pounds. In your cartridge box and pockets ...not a trivial by not only the appearance of the crackers, but the consistency amount of weight for a ground-pounder. Making blanks with and their taste. They were not "jaw breaking" hard nor did cotton or paper balls doesn't give you an appreciation for the they taste unpleasant. In fact, they taste pretty good. The color mass of that much lead. Obviously, I don't advocate using lead is a toasted tinge; not stark white. It is most similar to examples balls in cartridges for battle enactments, but I definitely learned I have seen. I would recommend Bent's Cookies to anyone a few things that I wouldn't have if I hadn't used them. Paul attempting to improve their impression. Please obtain a sample Kenworthy of the Bent's Cookie cracker and see what I mean. Ley Watson Mike Watson's Cartridges Unlimited is another source Our editors chime in with.. .I have long had concerns with for blank cartridges and live rounds for a variety of CW weapons. the Mechanical Baking Co. product ...entirely too hard, He also carries labels for cartridge packages. He can be contacted misshapen, and rarely appearing like the originals. I have yet at 4320-A Hartford St., St. Louis, MO 63116 and to see the proof for the salt that they used in the recipe. I endorse (3 14) 664-4332. the G. H. Bent product. RB ...and I've been testing a twenty cracker sample. They are much better than Mechanical Baking New insignia items from IWP Fabricators. Company's baked "Playdohm". ..at least in taste. The problem We received new samples of gold braid for kepis and coats is consistency. Some survive all weekend in the haversack, from B.J. Zirkle at IWP Fabricators. These are made in others crumble. MM England specifically at the direction of Greg Starbuck and The DOG wishes to thank (and offer three cheers and an B.J. It compares quite favorable with the sample of original ARF!) the folks at G.H. Bent for furnishing one thousand hard braid provided with the samples. The braid itself is made from crackers (at or below cost) for distribution to the Federals at the 7 THE WATCHDOG. FALL 2000 recent Rob Hodge preservation march. The DOG furnished a product to review. You can contact Tom at Mattimore Harness horse-drawn cart and teamsters (from the Great Kanawha by calling him in the evening at (307) 745-8460 or Mattimore Freight Company) for hauling water and supplies to the Harness, 504 South 2nd Street, Laramie WY 82070. JY Confederates. JY Enfield Booklet. 1851 Federal Issue Blankets and "NC" Blankets Again While Geoff Walden is on duty with the US Army in Available from County Cloth. Germany, Susan Hughes is very kindly handling the distribution Charles R. Childs and Frederick C. Gaede inform us of his Enfield booklet, "Authenticizing Your Enfield" that the US regulation gray blanket is again in stock and ready (SUMMER 1993). You can send $5 to Susan Hughes, to ship. As in previous lots it is all wool, regulation size PO Box 4582, Frankfort, KY 40604-4582. (84 x 66 inches) and weight (five pounds). The three-line "US" is stitched in the center with black yarn. If you prefer, one of the New Web Sites. other stitched "US" styles (i.e. block, serif, three-line with serif) Check these out: can be worked into the center at no extra charge, but will require Trans-Mississippi Depot CS items at: extra time for delivery. Besides the stitched "US" you can also http://home.earthlink.net/-&smith48951 choose a stenciled "USM". The blankets are $156 postpaid. Also Frazer Brothers at: still available is the bluelgray Confederate blanket with black http:// www.frazerbrothers.com stripes for $99 and with red stitched "NC" $106. County Cloth We also have the new Frazier Brothers catalog is also working on some late eighteenth and early nineteenth (5641 Yale Blvd., Suite 125, Dallas, TX 75206 and century blankets. [See blanket article on page 61 JY (214) 696-1865 and [email protected])in which were offered sack coats manufactured by The Quartermaster Shop Mattimore Harness Bootee Field Test. in Port Huron, Michigan. These coats are made of correct wool In the SPRING 2000 issue (8.2) it was announced that I flannel. A recent discussion with a Quartermaster Shop would be "field testing" a pair of Jefferson Bootees that were representative indicates that these Frazier Brother "lightweight" sent to us by Mattimore Harness. Well, after eight events, coats are not sold in Michigan and Ohio because "they would including the Preservation March, the boots held up remarkably not be warn enough!" We beg to differ. They would be closer to well even without heel plates. There was minimal wear to the the originals (and just as warm) especially if lined (and not so heels, but after the miles that were put on them this is to be hot in warm weather as the standard Quartermaster Shop sack expected. As far as comfort goes the boots were a good fit from coat made with a heavier fabric). We have tried to get a sample the start. I was somewhat worried because I usually wear an for review. We would encourage Mr. O'Donnell to make them extra wide shoe. They were quickly broken in. My thanks to part of his standard line if they compare favorably' with original Mr. Tom Mattimore for providing the DOG with an excellent specifications. JY

FEEDBACK & QUESTIONS FROM FRIENDS AND SUBSCRIBERS

Information from our readers and their questions for which we do not always have answers (perhaps you can):

Subject: Buttons, etc. originally produced by Telon, Weldon & Weil of Paris. Apart I am looking to have a second Confederate officer's frock from Waterbury's copy of Smith & Wright, the "Paki-made" coat reproduced. My tailor is in the process of creating one now; ones and Federal staff buttons, are there any other options? however, I shan't torture him again, as I've done everything Michael Sokoloski humanly possible to supply him with the best quality parts with Subject: Charles Cantrell's Products. which to assemble such. He'll need a rest after this is done! Thanks for the response on the Federal sack coat. I have ...also, I'd like to mention a few sources that may be of help to all but decided to buy from John Wedeward. I know for sure those who want only top quality elements for their own projects: that I am getting a bully museum quality product from someone GOLD BRAID: M. Hand & Co., Ltd., 25 Lexington St., that knows his stuff and has extensively researched his product. London W 1R 3HQ, UK I do have similar questions regarding Charles Cantrell's GOLD BRAID & INSIGNIA: IWP Fabrications, P.O. Box products; specifically his Columbus Depot jackets. A friend in 700504, San Antonio, TX 78270 and [email protected]. my unit came across his web site and asked me if I had ever WOOL (no cadet gray): Abimelech Hainsworth, Spring Valley heard of him. I am not familiar with him or his work. Mills, Stanningley, Pudsey, West Yorkshire LS28 6DW, UK Mike A. Kupsch I dare anyone to name better quality sources. I am, however, Subject: Spencerian Saga. always willing to hear what the experts have to say regarding You may perhaps recall a gentleman who presented a lecture top notch tailors, sources for cadet gray wool, Confederate staff at the 125th Franklin event on Spencerian writing, Mr. Michael buttons and linings. I purchased buttons from Fall Creek Suttlery, Sull. Mr. Sull is one of the few master penmen left in the world. as they are one of the few sources for the French-made buttons Mr. Sull approaches his craft with a passion at least equal to the

. . THE WATC FAL 0 - most fervent living historian. Every year he. teaches a week hair dryer to soften it. I also rub the stock with bee's wax for long seminar at Geneva-On-The-Lake, OH (home of Platt Roger thefinal coat. By the way I re-coat my guns every winter without Spencer) on Spencerian handwriting, Ornamental Penmanship stripping them of coarse. If you need to strip bluing use naval and Engrossing aimed at professional calligraphers and graphic jelly. You will need to clean the metal with steel wool after as it designers, but open to anyone sufficiently interested and leaves the metal with a slightly frosted appearance. accepted. He is available for other seminars and lectures throughout the year. He makes his home in Kansas City. Subject: Confederate Canteens. Mr. Sull carries a line of books, videos and supplies and I would like to know why Mr. McCulloh said (refer to the offers a home study or correspondence course, all of which I WINTER 2000 issue) there are no Gardner pattern canteens in can not recommend highly enough. His web site reenacting. I own one and it has all the same size requirements (http://www.spencerian.corn/) is still under construction as he's of the originals. The canteen that I own is from Fort Branch. I not fond of the medium; however, it does list contact information am with Stanford's Mississippi Battery and we attend event's from which one may order a catalog. His materials are also with the 33rd Alabama. Paul Lampton available from John Neal, bookseller, at CM: The Ft. Branch canteen is a very good canteen. Several http://www.johnnealbooks.com/. Duchess Martin people I know have them, but the ones I have seen have a wooden spout. As you see in the photos from the Alabama History and Subject: Top hats: beaver? Archives, none of the Gardner Type Pattern Canteens viewed I read with interest the article by Joe and Kathy Scherer on have the wooden spout. If you will look in Civil War Canteens the top hats in the Valentine museum collection. They mentioned by Stephen W. Sylvia and Michael J. O'Donnel (Moss that the hats from around the 1860s in the collection are beaver. Publications 1983) you will find several examples of the Fort From what I have read, beaver was out of fashion by that point Branch Canteen and looking further you will find many in time. From about 1840 1850, silk had supposedly replaced examples of the ADHA type without the spout. As yet I have beaver for top hats. seen no specific reproduction of this particular type and I believe Silk and beaver can be a little difficult to tell apart since that this type has reproduction value also. In no way did I mean silk plush was made to replicate the look of beaver. From what that other reproductions are incorrect and in the article I I understand, silk hats will have diagonal seams along one side compare no product by name. That's the good thing about of the crown whereas beaver will not. Can you ask them if the research ...it allows you to ask the right questions. Keep hats they examined have these seams? researching and asking questions, that's what will keep I am very interested in finding out if those hats are really reenacting moving forward. beaver. I currently re-enact as a soldier, but am looking to do a civilian impression. It would be nice if those hats are beaver Subject: Up-to-date price list for Civil War Seamstress, since reproduction beaver hats are less expensive than silk ones. assembler of County Cloth kits (SUMMER 2000) By the way, I purchased a silk top hat from John Wm. Eileen Herr (7202 Larkshall Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250, McMicking (L & H Hats, 179 Melville St., Dundas, Ontario (317) 594-9788 and [email protected]) informs us that L9H 2A9, Canada and (905) 627-7492), on your she has a new price list for the assembly of County Cloth kits. recommendation of him as a top-notch hat maker a couple of Shirts are $65. Trowsers are $85 (CS), $90, (CS Richmond years ago. I am very impressed with the incredible exactness of Depot), $100 US Schuykill Arsenal and $130 (US mounted). detail. He made the hat to fit my head and replicated perfectly CS shell jackets range from $115 to $150 (Richmond Depot), the hat in a copy of a period photo that I sent. Lee Canaday $120-130 (Columbus Depot), $100 (North Carolina) and $155 ("Mystery" jacket). CS frock coats are $275 (single-breasted) Subject: Removing coating on rifles and $300 (double-breasted). Made-to-order goods such as Rob Hodge refers in the guidelines to P2000 to your drawers are $40 (knee length) and $55 (ankle length), and SUMMER 93 issue for removing the plastic coating on repro Childs' pattern "Holiday" style shirts are $75. Prices for camp firearms. I looked at your back issue index, but could not find caps, vests and shirts vary by design and material. anything that specifically referred to that topic. Bill Cross BC: He was either referring to removing bluing (Geoff Walden's Subject: Sources for Navy impressions (SUMMER 2000) article on Enfields) or redoing the stockfinish (using varnish Some beginning sources for naval uniforms are: A Year on remover and boiled linseed oil) in George Wunderlich's article a Monitor and the Destruction of Ft. Sumter, Alvah F. Hunter; on Springfields. Both are in tlze SUMMER 1993 issue. Capital Navy: The Men, Ships, & Operations of the James River RS: Use stripper on the stock. If you have any wood chips or Squadron, John M. Coski; and Life in MELincoln's Navy, Dennis saw dust, rub this on the wood to remove the stripper. This J. Ringle. For general sites (both historical and Navy enacting): works great and cuts down on the mess. Wash the wood with Navy & Marine Living History Association mineral spirits and rub with fine steel wool. Apply linseed oil (http://members.aol.com/isnmr), Texas Marine Department with your hand and rub in well. Keep applying coats every day (http://members.aol.comlisnmr/galcsn.htm) Navy & Marine until it stops soaking in. Now rub with a cloth and take offall Forum (http:Nwww.insidetheweb.corn/messageboard and the thefinish lying on top of the wood. It is hard work but the more Port Columbus Civil War Naval Center, and (706) 324-7334 you heat it up by friction the easier it gets. You can also use a (http://www.portcolumbus.org). Jim Lawhon - mTT7'7 TX '*"GHH)( FAr ' "WO - PRODUCT REVIEW Hand Knit Sock Source

As I progressed on that never ending journey to "upgrade7' Diligent searching will pay off in the end. I have purchased my kit, I was constantly on the lookout for documented sources. several pair of braces (GrahamISekela) and, with the There were a couple of items that always seemed to require a bit documentation my pards researched, have put together a few more diligent searching and researching to obtain. These are pair myself. Socks, on the other hand, proved a mystery. With socks and braces. Even in my neophyte state of "fresh fishdom," my short fat fingers, which incidentally are sometimes mistaken I was cognizant that the day-glow red, stainless steel buckled, for Vienna sausages, I imagined the intricacies of knitting would artillery class Yosemite Sam suspenders were perhaps a bit be beyond my capabilities. I proved right. I had to rely on the inauthentic. I harbored the same misgivings about the ribbed, "kindness of strangers." Finding a source for good knit socks is rag wool hunting socks sported by the majority of reenactors I a very good thing. When I found out that one of my friends, saw at events. I soon began some research. Of the museum Kim Caudell, made excellent hand knit socks, I quickly ordered curators I talked with, there seemed to be a single opinion. If an several pair. My pards and I have several pair apiece and are item such as a shirt, braces or pair of socks survived the war thoroughly satisfied with their durability and fit. These sock intact, it is almost impossible to be assured of the provenance compare very well with the few pair of period examples I have unless there is specific documentation attached to the item. Even been fortunate enough to examine. I asked Kim to supply me family folklore is suspect. These personal items are not generally with her documentation and construction methods. I am military issue and therefore are harder to pin down to source enclosing these below with several photos of the interior that and time. So you begin to look at period construction techniques point out specifics of her construction. for time frames. There will be certain characteristics of goods made during a specific time frame that should help you date an Hand knit socks from Kim Caudell, 2750 Old Smith Springs, object or make a reproduction. Nashville, TN 37217 and [email protected] Mr. McCulloh

How I Make Socks

Materials. to knit socks with natural colored tops and toes, as it was believed I use NatureSpunTM sport-weight almost exclusively. This that the natural wool retained more lanolin (is it was not is one hundred percent wool yam that comes in a variety of subjected to the dye pot) and provided more durable wear. colors. I will use cotton if requested, but absolutely detest Knitters might use different colors for decoration, but also to working with it. I normally knit on Size 2 needles, which give stretch yarn if there was not enough of one color to make an about seven to eight stitches per inch. entire pair of socks. Especially in the blockaded South, knitters would use whatever was at hand. My most popular colors are Price. brown, natural, burgundy, blue and gray and I have done stripes I start at twenty-five dollars for a basic pair of socks with too. [One might want to stick with colors produced with the NatureSpunTM. Prices increase from there if the customer wants natural dyes of the period. BC] a special yam, like merino, or monogramming, etc. Knitting was a worldwide, centuries-old craft by the time of the Civil War, and as such, knitting traditions and techniques Waiting List. could vary widely, depending on the individual knitter's country Sock delivery is four months at the time of this writing. (If of origin or the "way Grandma did it." While the back seam I could just quit the day job!) and shaped common heel are the most usual features of period hand knit hosiery, I have seen socks/stockings that did not have Construction. these features. Whether the items were incorrectly dated, The formula I use is based on different period patterns and machine-knitted or these are eccentricities of individual knitters, my own trial and error in knitting. I start with about two to I do not know for certain. I would be incorrect to assume that three inches of ribbing at the top (FIG I), knit the leg anywhere everyone, everywhere, knit his or her own hosiery in exactly from seven to ten inches, depending on the height of the wearer. the same way. Machine knitting was an established industry at I use a plain shaped common heel OR a slip-stitched turned this time and it is fully possible that some items thought to be heel (FIG 2) and a wedge toe (FIG 3). Socks of the period usually hand-knitted may, in fact, be machine-knitted. I regret that at have a knitted-in seam up the back which is formed by an odd present, I do not know enough about nineteenth century machine stitch that helps mark the beginning of the round (FIG 4). knitting to expound any further. Yarn, like fabric, was available in a variety of colors. Socks In viewing nineteenth century socks and stockings at the may be all of one color or have different color tops, heels and Atlanta History Center I saw a variety of heel and toe treatments. toes. In Folk Socks, Nancy Bush states that it was a Welsh custom The book Rural Pennsylvania Clothing, which focuses on late . - FAL 10 I eighteenth and early nineteenth-century clothing, shows stockings and fully turned slipstitch heels. Slip-stitch heels have a ribbed appearance and are thicker than plain-knit heels, thus reducing wear in a spot that normally wears very quickly. Wedge toes and round toes seem to be the most common, although I have seen others. I prefer to make the wedge toe as it fits the shape of the foot better than the round toe. The wedge toe is made by decreasing on each side of the foot, making a wedge shape. The round toe is made by decreasing at four points around ,-.. . <. the foot, producing a more rounded shape. ., ...-, It is commonly thought that knitters of the nineteenth century used microscopically thin needles on a regular basis. If I ; we go by the Walker's Bell Gauge (yes, I do personally own one), which is referenced in period patterns, a Size 17 corresponds to a modem Size 2, which is what I normally use. Patterns in Heidi Marsh's book call for Sizes 14-18. However, dress items may have been of a finer knit than utilitarian ones. Most of the socks I viewed at the Atlanta History Center bear this out. Very, very fine knitting, however, is usually, but not always, machine-made. Kim Caudell

SOURCES: Atlanta History Center Textile Collection Nancy Bush, FolkSocks Ellen J. Gehret, Rural Pennsylvania Clothing, George Shumway, York, Pennsylvania, 1976 Richard Rutt, History of Hand Knitting Heidi Marsh (compiled by), Knit, Net, Crochet and More of the Era of the Hoop Time-Life Books, Echoes of Glory The Workwoman's Guide The Citizen's Companion "Socks for the Army," White, Nelson & Thomas, AuglSeptl996 *

THE WATCHDb FALL 201 VIGILANT CITIZEN AND SOLDIER

Editor's Note: During last summer the DOG visited an event in Oregon for the purpose of seeing friends and subscribers. We also wanted to get a sense check of the enacting community in other parts of the country. I observed subscriber, Lee Rainey, a staunch supporter of progressive values in the Northwest, as he talked with spectators and participants under his quartermaster shebang. His array of correct camp items was impressive, as well as his knowledge of their use. He is also interested in the impression of a Texan in Hood's Brigade.. .the unit's social culture as well as its material culture. One of our favorite sayings is "If peace only had the music and pageantry of war, there'd be no more wars." ARF! Since music is a big part of social culture and a favorite subject of the DOG, we present: Songs of Hood's Texas Brigade

A visit to a Civil War reenactment almost always provides Only slightly less certain are postwar accounts of songs a great opportunity to hear some excellent vocal and instrumental that place them in general settings. For example, John Stevens music. From time to time, such a visit also provides a chance to wrote after the war of a song known as "McClellan's Retreat", hear the music that would have been common in camp or on which he reports was popular in the army after the Peninsula the march during the war. Campaign. [5] Though the setting is not as specific as the Stuart The prevalence of non-authentic songs-from the haunting incident cited earlier, it seems probable that this song was in but modem "Ashokan Farewell" to the venerable but equally fact sung in the brigade at that time. anachronistic "I'm a Good Old Rebelv-has been noted Least substantiated are songs known only from comments elsewhere. Frequent attempts have been made to identify such as Giles' reference to "Rock Me to Sleep, Mother." He authentic songs, but these have generally been based on a study wrote in his postwar memoirs, "We never hear those old songs of copyright dates. What has been missing from such analyses now." Such references at best substantiate that the song was is the recognition that the existence of the song at a certain date associated in the writer's mind with the war period, but do not is not a proof that it was known to Civil War soldiers, no matter establish that it was known and sung in camp or on the march how attractive it may be to modern reenactors. [I] during the war. [6] In recent years many "re-eanactorisms" that have crept into While the Texas Brigade offers a fruitful field for applying our drill have been identified and corrected by a return to the this methodology, one source poses a problem. Students of the original sources. Surprisingly, this same method has rarely been Texas Brigade have long debated the nature of one document, applied to the music of the period. J. B. Polley's A Soldier S Letters to Charming Nellie. Purporting This study seeks to profile the music that was common in to be a compilation of wartime letters, this material was one Confederate unit by such an analysis of primary sources. published first in Confederate Veteran and later in book form. The unit chosen was the Texas Brigade of the Army of Northern Scholars are divided on whether these are actual wartime letters, Virginia, which is notable not only for its wartime fighting record or a postwar memoir based on wartime source's. This article but also for the number of postwar primary accounts it generated. avoids a decision on the provenance by reporting the references Thus, the data come from an analysis of twelve such items, in Nellie separately, mid-way in certainty between the including published diaries, memoirs, collections of letters, and contemporary accounts and the memoirs mentioned above. [7] histories written by persons who served in the brigade or who A close reading of the sources cited produced apparent observed it firsthand. [2] references to fifty-two songs, though this count may be slightly This methodology can provide varying degrees of certainty. in error, given the tendency of the authors to also cite snatches Most helpful is the small number of songs noted in documents of poetry in their text. Seven of the songs are identified in the written during the war. For example, Captain Samuel Foster sources as being sung by Yankees only [s]and another, a soldier's wrote in his diary on May 6, 1863: "...the 4th and 5th Texas song beginning "Come all you wagon dogs", was excluded Inf. are coming along.. .We can hear their band playing 'Old because it was associated specifically with the 8th Texas Cavalry John Brown come tearing out the Wilderness."' He left us little of the Tennessee army. [9] The analysis that follows relates to doubt that this tune was known to members of the brigade. the forty-four songs with Confederate origins that appear to However, we may be permitted some uncertainty as to which have been familiar to writers associated with the Army of parody of that pre-war minstrel ballad was actually in the minds Northern Virginia. of the musicians. [3] The forty-four songs were mentioned a total of sixty-one It is more difficult to evaluate songs mentioned in postwar times in the sources. Those mentioned three times each included accounts. Such mentions can be divided into three categories. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny," "Dixie," "The Girl I Left Where a song is referenced in the context of an important, Behind Me," "Home Sweet Home" and "Maryland My memorable event, it seems most likely to be an accurate Maryland." Songs mentioned twice included "The Bonnie Blue remembrance. For example, when Val Giles recalled in his Flag," "Evangeline," "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia," "Listen postwar memoir that the first time he saw the great Jeb Stuart, to the Mocking Bird" and "Lorena". [lo] the cavalryman was singing the romantic song, "Bonnie Jean," Six of the songs mentioned featured patriotic themes. there appears to be a high likelihood that the song was actually Among these.were familiar tunes such as "The Bonnie Blue part of the wartime incident and therefore known at the time to Flag," "Dixie," "Maryland, My Maryland" and some the Texan author. [4] (presumably Confederate) version of "Yankee Doodle." Less familiar songs in this category included "The Southern evening of April 8, 1865: Marseillaise," which proclaims: The race is not to them that's got Sons of the South awake to glory The longest legs to run, A thousand voices bid you rise, Nor the battle to that people Your children, wives and grandsires hoary; That shoots the biggest gun. [18] Gaze on you now with trusting eyes []I] In addition to patriotic and soldier songs, the Texas Brigade Also in this category was "There Is Life in the Old Land Yet," a sources appear to mention two hymns. One clearly is "Rock of Maryland-related song which declares, Ages." By blue Patapsco's billowy dash, Rock of Ages, shelter me! The tyrant's war-shout comes, Let me hide myself in thee! Along the cymbal's fitful clash, Let the water and the blood, And the roll of his sullen drums. [12] From they wounded side which flowed Songs about army life and military events, which will be Be of sin the double cure; described here generically as "soldier songs," accounted for six Cleanse me from its guilt and power. [19] of the mentions. Several lesser-known songs were found in this A second apparent hymn reference involves the single phrase category in addition to today's widely sung "Here's Your Mule". "White-Winged Peace." If this is indeed a hymn, the text and Dating from 1862 was "McClellan's Retreat", quoted in tune have not been identified. [20] full by Stevens. A typical stanza shows its affinity to the slightly Twelve romantic songs formed the largest category of music better known "Abner's Shoes" or "Richmond Hill": in the Texas Brigade sources. "Lorena," "Kitty Wells," "The Longstreet's in your center; Girl I Left Behind Me" and "Sweet Evelina" appear in modem Jackson's in your rear; collections of Civil War music. The remainder comprises a On the right and left, consistently dismal recounting of lost loves. "Annie Laurie", Those fighting Hills appear. [13] written by a Scottish noblewoman, typifies this genre. Another song resulting from a Union defeat was "Says Maxwelton 's braes are bonnie, Fighting Joe Hooker," portraying the Union commander's Where early falls the dew, attitude after Chancellorsville: And 'twas there that Annie Laurie Says Fighting Joe Hooker; Gave me her promise true. [21] "I'd like to pitch in; Similarly nostalgic was the song that celebrated the dead "Annie But I'm afraid them rebels Lisle." Will wallop me again" [14] Down where the waving willows One soldier song associated with the Texas Brigade 'Neath the sunbeams smile, originated in an 1858 minstrel tune that ran, Shadow'd o'er the murm'ring waters, Old gray horse come tearin' out o' the wilderness, Dwelt sweet Annie Lisle. [22] Tearin' out o' the wilderness, tearing 'out o' the By contrast, "Bonnie Jean" marked the rare appearance of a wilderness, live heroine: Old gray horse come tearin' out o' the wilderness Where the bright hedge rose is blooming, Down in Alabam. [IS] In that fairy scene, According to the brigade's most famous commander, John There I love to wander with my heart's true queen, Hood, an 1862 incident involving a pack animal led to the Bonnie, bonnie Jean. [23] development of a parody entitled "The Old Grey Mare Came Also lamented in the Brigade, if we can trust the period sources, Tearing Out of the Wilderness." Hood states this parody was a Kentucky lass, "Darling Nelly Gray." Her sad story began: subsequently became the brigade song. However, no words for There 's a low green valley by the old Kentucky slzore, this version appear in primary sources, and in fact, the 1858 There I've whiled many happy hours away. tune and words were used as the basis for a number of wartime A-sitting and a-singing by the little cottage door; songs. It seems at this point impossible to determine just which Where lived my darling Nelly Gray. [24] set or sets of words were sung in the brigade. [16] Members of the Brigade also apparently knew of a lost Acadian A soldier of the 4th Texas was the apparent author of "Way maiden, "Evangeline." Out in Texas", which celebrated the war work of the home folks: Sweet Evangeline, my lost Evangeline, Ee way out in Texas, A thousand miles from here, We have lived and loved, each other fond and true, I've got a little sweetheart, Ee little mountain deer. Ever true to thee, tho'far away I've been, She 's er settin ' and er singin ' An' er making Rebel My heart has ever dwelt with you [25] clothes Equally heart-rending was "Lilly Dale," distinguished for the While I'm er shootin' Yankees where the Rappahannock almost country-western predictability of its rhyme: flows. [I71 'Twas a calm still night and the moon's pale light, The final soldier song identified, which begins "The race Shone soft o'er hill and dale. is not to them," is mentioned by a member of Robert E. Lee's When friends mute with grief stood around the death staff as being sung in the Texas camp near Appomattox on the bed

THE WATCHD( FALL 208Q - Of my poor lost Lilly Dale. [26] From doggeree to doggeri. [33] It is worth noting that while some tunes and titles may have Totally forgotten today is another song mentioned in the survived down to modern times, the original words of the war brigade sources, "Paddle Your Own Canoe." Celebrating the period may differ considerably from the current version. This is quality of self-reliance, it stated: the case with another romantic song mentioned in the Texas I've traveled about a bit in my time sources, "Listen to the Mocking Bird", which during the war And of troubles I've seen a few. began: But I found it better in every clime I'm dreaming now of Hallie, To paddle my own canoe. [34] Sweet Hallie, sweet Hallie, No doubt especially appealing to homesick younger men, I'm dreaming now of Hallie, "Rock Me to Sleep Mother" also makes an appearance in the For the thought of her is one that never dies; [27] Texas memoirs. It ran: If none of the named maidens-and their sad fates--quite filled Backward, turn backward, 0 Eme, in yourflight, the soldier's sentimental requirements, the brigade sources Make me a child again just for tonight! provide a final romantic tune, "Ever of Thee I'm Fondly Mothel; come back from the echoless shore, Dreaming." Take me again to your heart as of yore. [35] Ever if thee I'm fondly dreaming, Finally, we must note the most unexpected tune of all: Thy gentle voice my spirit can cheer; "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." John West of the 4th Texas Thou art the star that, mildly beaming, mentioned it in a letter home, noting that "I often look from my Shone o'er my path when all was dark and drear [28] blanket to the stars and think of the children's favorite, 'Twinkle, The Texas sources yielded ten popular songs apparently twinkle, little star."' This is a useful reminder that all Civil known during the war that lack a specifically romantic theme. War soldiers were once civilians with the experiences associated Heard today in collections of Civil War music are "Gay and with boyhood. [36] Happy" and "Home Sweet Home." The remainder are now much The Texas Brigade contained numerous fiddlers, including less familiar. Val Giles himself. Thus it is not surprising that we find many The "Arkansas Traveler" was a fiddle tune, interspersed traditional fiddle tunes in the brigade sources. [37] These with humorous dialogue about a conversation between a settler, included "Billy in the Low Ground," "Hog Eye" and "Molly his wife and a passing traveler. A typical sequence has the Put the Kettle On," all described by Giles as "hoe-downs" and traveler asking, "Can I ford the river?'and the settler replying "The Devil's Dream," an Irish reel. [38] "It looks reasonable; the geese been fordin' it all mornin'." "Grey Eagle," mentioned by Polley as the centerpiece of a Sometimes additional words accompanied the tune itself. The fiddling session while the brigade was in East Tennessee, account by Joe Polley of the 4th Texas refers specifically to the apparently resembled the modern fox chase fiddie genre. Polley dialogue and mentions the rendition of the various voices. [29] writes that the fiddler, a fellow Texan, as he played, "...called Also mentioned by Polley is the original version of "Carry all the turns of start, backstrktch, homestretch and finish of the Me Back to Old Virginia's Shore." Bearing little resemblance grand Kentucky race that was the inspiration of the author in to today's postwar version, it began: composing the music.. ." Unfortunately it has not been possible The floating scow of Old Virginny, I work'd in from to identify the author. [39] day to day, Giles mentions fiddling a hoe-down he called "Rack Back A-fishing 'mongst the oyster beds, To me it was but Davy." This is almost certainly a variation of the very old song play; "Black Jack Davy," in which a runaway wife sings: But now I'm growing very old, I cannot work any more, Last night I lay in my own feather bed, So carry me back to Old Virginny, to Old Virginny's By the side of my little baby; shore. [30] Tonight I'll lay in the mud and the rain, "I Had an Old Hat," mentioned by Val Giles as a tune By the side of the Gypsy Davy. dating from approximately 1850, appears to stem from a popular The name in the last line cited is sometimes rendered as "Black source. However, no composer or date has been identified. It Jack Davy." It is not clear whether Giles knew words to this ran: tune. [40] I had an old hat, and it had no brim. "Old Mother Flanagan" mentioned by Polley, clearly had And it looked like a crow's next words in the Texas camp. Today it is an instrumental, and no A-hanging on a limb. [31] words have been located. Also cited in the Texas sources is Giles also refers in his memoir to a comrade who played a today's instrumental, "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia." This tune popular piano tune named "Old Gray Hoss." No song of this also once had words, but the Texas citations do not indicate title has been located, and it may in fact be another reference to whether these were known the Brigade's singers. [41] the family of "Tearing Out of the Wilderness" variants. [32] He There is a strong suggestion in the Texas Brigade sources is also the source for an unidentified song that seems to have that the nature of camp songs changed during the war. In most been professionally composed. Referred to here as "On Wings cases, the sources allow us to determine the date of the first of Love I Fly", it ran: reported incident where the song appears. Of the songs On wings of love IfZy, mentioned first in connection with 1861-62, nine were patriotic

mrrn WATChBB)& - LL 20 or soldier songs and eight were romantic, popular, religious or "Tearing Out of the Wilderness." Eight songs were of traditional traditional songs. Of the songs first mentioned in an 1863-65 origin, and seven appear to be authored songs for which the context, only three were patriotic or soldier songs and twenty author is unknown. were of the romantic, popular, religious and traditional There are a number of surprises in the canon of songs categories. compiled by this method, especially in what is not included. It was noted earlier that the methodology of this study The list omits "Yellow Rose of Texas" despite the fact that today provides varying degrees of certainty that a particular song was it seems so "right" for a Texas impression. There are no sea known during the war. To recap, two songs can be directly shanties, or indeed occupational songs of any kind, no pre-war documented in wartime writings: some version of "Tearing political songs, no songs of the westward movement or Texas Out of the Wilderness" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Four history and no songs that can be traced to Stephen Foster. While songs, "The Arkansas Traveler," "Grey Eagle," "Old Mother the methods used here cannot prove that such songs were absent Flanagan" and "The Devil's Dream," appear in the Charming from the Texas camp, it does seem likely that the heavy Nellie letters, and thus may be well grounded in the war years, preponderance of romantic, popular and traditional fiddle songs depending on the credence we give that source. reflects the dominant repertoire of the Texas Brigade musicians. Songs linked in the postwar writings to specific events How well does this body of music represent everything include "Annie Lisle," "Billy in the Low Ground," "Bonnie known to the Confederates serving in Virginia? To answer this Jean," "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia's Shore," "Dixie," question, it would be necessary to repeat the study for a variety "Evangeline," "Ever of Thee I'm Fondly Dreaming," "Gay and of other units. This task must be left to others, but some hint of Happy," "The Girl I Left Behind Me," "Hell Broke Loose in the probable results can be found in comparing a published Georgia," "Hog Eye," "Lorena," "Maryland My Maryland," summary of songs popular in the 12th Alabama, which also "Molly Put the Kettle On," "Old Gray Hoss," "Race Is Not To served in the Army of Northern Virginia. Of the fifteen songs Them," "Rack Back Davy," "Rock of Ages" and some version mentioned by a veteran of the Alabama unit, nine appear in the of "Yankee Doodle." It is believed that these are reliable Texas memoirs. The common songs include two patriotic songs, recollections of songs known during the war. "Dixie" and some version of the "Marseillaise," and two The Texas memoirs associate a number of songs with romantic songs, "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and "Lorena." various periods of the war in a more general sense. These include Also included are three popular tunes, "Arkansas Traveler," "Annie Laurie," "The Bonnie Blue Flag," "Darling Nellie Gray," "Home Sweet Home" and "Rock Me to Sleep Mother," as well "Here's Your Mule," "Home Sweet Home," "Kitty Wells," "Lilly as two fiddle tunes, "Billy in the Low Ground" and "Hell Broke Dale," "Listen to the Mocking Bird," "McClellan's Retreat," Loose in Georgia." [43] "On Wings Of Love I Fly," "Paddle Your Own Canoe," "Says In summary, it has been shown in this article that a return Fighting Joe Hooker," "The Southern Marseillaise," "There Is to the primary sources can shed significant light on the nature Life in the Old Land Yet" and "Way Out in Texas." of the songs known to Civil War soldiers. Though the results Although several additional songs are mentioned in the here are limited to a single brigade, they suggest that it is memoirs, the lack of setting makes it uncertain that they were necessary to broaden reenactment music in a number of actually sung during the war. These include "I Had an Old Hat," directions to more accurately represent the sound of a "Rock Me to Sleep Mother," "Sweet Evalina" and "White Confederate camp. Winged Peace" if the latter is indeed a hymn tune. Lee Rainey The survey may be concluded by noting the origins of the songs. One dated from the 1820s, two from the 1830s, eight NOTES: from the 1850s and two from 1860. Two more are known to be [I] John Braden, Camp Chase Gazette, "No Farb Songs!" July 1994, pp. 34-36. prewar, though the exact composition date is unknown. Three [2] The following writers associated with the Texas Brigade yielded mentions of one of more songs: Nicholas A. Davis, in Donald E. Everett, ed., Chaplain Davis songs stem from 1861, four from 1862 and two from 1863. Two and Hood's Texas Brigade (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1999, are obviously wartime compositions, though of unknown date. originally published 1863); William A. Fletcher, Rebel Prhjate Front and Rea,: Nine are believed to be traditional tunes (in the case of "Gypsy (Austin: University of Texas, 1954, originally published 1908); Norman D. Brown, Davy", apparently dating to the 1600s), and in nine cases the One of Clebumek Command: The Cillil War Reminiscences and Diary of Capt. Samuel ?: Foster; GranburyS Texas Brigade, CSA. (Austin: University of Texas dates of composition could not be determined. [42] Press, 1980); Mary Lasswell, ed., Rags and Hope: The Memoirs of Val C. Giles. Three composers, H. S. Thompson, George Linley and (New York: Coward-McCann, 1961); John B. Hood, Advance and Retreat. James Ryder Randall, each contributed two songs. Others (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1959, originally published 1880); contributing a single song included C. E. Atherton, Charles Marshall, "Incidents of the Surrender of Gen. Lee," Southern Historical Society Papers, XXI (1893), 353-360; John B. Polley, A Soldier's Letters to C. D. Benson, Armand Blackmar, H. Clifton, Daniel Emmett, Charming Nellie (Gaithersburg, MD: Butternut Press, 1984, originally published B. R. Hanby, T. Hastings, W. S. Hays, H. R. McCarthy, 1908);John B. Polley, Hood's Texas Brigade (Dayton, OH: MorningsideBookshop, J. H. Payne, the team of F. Percy and E. Leslie, Lady John 1976, originally published 1910); Gregory A. Coco, Recollections of a Texas Douglas Scott (nee Alicia A. Spottiswood), H. D. L.Webster, Colonel [Robert M. Powell] at Gettysburg. (Gettysburg: Thomas Pubs., 1990); Jno. W. Stevens, Reminiscences of the Civil War (Hillsboro: Hillsboro Mirror, C. T. White, Septimus Winner and Louis Winters. "Sweet 1902); John C. West, A Texan in Search of a Fight (Waco: Texian Press, 1969, Evelina" is ascribed to "M and T." The authorship of "Arkansas originally published 1901) and A. V. Winkler, The Confederate Capital andHoodk Traveler" is disputed. Five of the songs were apparently written Texas Brigade. (Baltimore: Butternut and Blue, 1991, originally published 1894.) bv unnamed soldiers, in one case as a varodv on J. Warner's [3] Foster, p. 40. FALL 2000 1 [4] Lasswell, pp. 78-79. [24] Dailey Paskman and Sigmund Spaeth, "Gentlemen, Be Seated!" A Parade [5] Stevens,pp. 31-33. of the Old-Time Minrtrels (Garden City, NY Doubleday, Doan & Co. 1928), p. 1 18. [6] Giles, p. 79. For a midi file, see: http://www.contemplator.com/folk5/nelgray.html. [7] Polley, Charming Nellie, pp. xv-xviii. [25] For the words, see http://ww.pdmusic.org/hays/wsh62evangeline.txt. A midi [8] The songs mentioned by the Texans that are attributed only to Yankees are file of the tune appears at: http://www.pdmusic.org/hays.html. "Hail Columbia," 'The Star Spangled Banner," a version of "Yankee Doodle," [26] Briggs, p. 38. For a midi fde, see: http://www.contemplator.com/foWAdale.htm "Give Us Back Our Old Commander," "Just Before the Battle, Mother," "When [27] Songs That Never Grow Old (New York: Syndicate Pub. Co. 1909); Wier, This Cruel War Is Over" and "You Folks That Live in Richmond." p. 41. For a midi file, see: http://pdmusic.org/winner.html. [9] Stevens, p. 82. [28] Songs That Never Grow Old, p. 164. [lo] Of the total mentions of songs known to eastern Confederates, one is found in [29] Polley, Charming Nellie, pp. 187-8. Cf. John H. Cox, Folk-Songs of the Foster, thirty-two in Giles, one in Hood, one in Marshall, five in Polley, Charming Sorrth (New York: Dover Pubs. 1967), pp. 503. For a midi file, Nellie, five in Polley, Hood's Brigade, eight in Stevens, one in West and seven in see: http://www.contemplator.com/america~arkansas.htm. Winkler. [30] Wier, p. 231. The original tune is in Briggs, p. 16. Note that Polley clearly [I I] Songs are presumed to be familiar or at least accessible to modern readers if quotes this original version of the song in Cliarming Nellie, p. 182. they appear on the Bobby Horton tapes of CS music. Representative segments of [31] Lasswell, p. 225. other songs are provided for identification, though in some cases these are drawn [32] Lasswell, p. 261. The 1858 song was sometimes referred to in the postwar from secondary sources. E. Lawrence Abel, Singing the New Nation south as "Old Grey Horse". Cf. Randolph, 11, p. 350. (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2000), p. 77-78. [33] Lasswell, p. 122. [12] Emily V. Mason, Southern Songs of the War (Baltimore: Murphy & Co., [34] Henry M. Belden, and Arthur P. Hudson, Folk Songs from North Carolir~a. 1867), p. 97. (Durham, NC: Duke U. Press. 1952), vol. 111, p. 87. For a midi file, [13] Stevens, p. 32. see: www.mudcat.org/titles-p.cfm. [I41 Stevens, p. 102. [35] Songs That Never Grow Old, p. 34. A midi file of the tune appears at: [15] Vance Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, (Columbia, MO: State Historical Society hnp://www.pdmusic.org/hewin.html. of Missouri, 1948), vol. 11, p. 350. A midi file appears at: [36] West, p. 129. http://ww.pdmusic.org/18OOs.htrnl. [37] Polley, Charming Nellie, pp. 186- 187; Lasswell, pp. 17 1,247. [I61 Hood, pp. 32-33; Foster, p. 40; hinSilber, Soldier Songs and Homefront [38] Lasswell, p. 247. Modem renditions of these tunes in appear in David Brody, Ballads of the Civil War (New York: Oak Publications, 1964). p. 17. The original The Fidcller k Fake Book (New York: Oak Publications. 1983). p. 42.85.136.194. tune differed slightly from today's "Old Grey Mare." For the original tune, see the [39] Polley, Charming Nellie, p. 188. For the tune, see Brody, p. 127. midi file at http://www.pdmusic.org/1800s/40jgyhcd.mid. [40] For this stanza, and other versions dated to the 1880s or earlier, see Cox, [I71 Lasswell, p. 172. pp. 130-33. Compare William A. Owens, Texas Folk Songs (Austin: The Texas [I81 Marshall, p. 355. Folklore Society, 1950), pp. 48- 49 and Lasswell, p. 247. [19] William Walker, Tlze Southern Harmony and Musical Companion 1411 Polley refers to a soldier ". ..singing the first stanza of an old song known as (Lexington, KY U. Press of Kentucky, 1987, facsimile of 1854 edition), p. 275. "Old Mother Flannagan [sic] ...," Charming Nellie, p 19. The tune appears in [20] The identification of this as a pre-war hymn title is very tentative. The phrase Brody, p. 208. Words for "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia" appear in Belden and seems to have been familiar in the postwar south. For example, D. H. Hill mentions Hudson, 111, p. 496, where they are ascribed to an informant who learned them in in an 1887 address, "When independence and white-winged peace came to the the late nineteenth century. They consist of repeating a series of nonsense phrases colonies ..." See "The Old South", Southern Historical Society Papers, four times. The first phrase is the ironic "Ain't no hell in Georgie." XVI (1888). p. 432. [42] For composers and dates of composition, in addition to the sources cited above, [21] Thomas F. Briggs, Briggs' Banjo Instructor (Bremo Bluff, VA: 1992, facsimile see Sigmund Spae1h.A History of Popular Music in America (New York: Random of 1855 edition), p. 31. For the tune, see the midi file at: House, 1948). pp. 13,30,68,81, 125, 134, 143, 152 and 158; Abel, pp. 27-49, http://www.pdmusic.org/1800s.htm1. 63,73-4,77,107,208,210,213-4,329,339and 341; Paul Glass, Singing Soldiers [22] Albert E. Wier, Songs of the Sunny South (New York: D. Appleton & Co. (New York: De Capo Press, 1968). pp. 6 and 160. 1929), p. 201. [43] Robert E. Park. "The melfth Alabama Infantry, Confederate States Army." [23] Lasswell, p. 79; cf. Abel, p. 216. Sotithem HistoricalSociery Papers, XXXIII. (1905). pp. 29 1-2.

LATE ADDITIONS

Cookbook: Repasts from the Past. Federal Canteen from a New Merchant. This cookbook is published by CW-Reenactors (an Internet We just received a Federal issue canteen from Orchard Hill discussion group and real-life 501(c)3 non-profit organization Sutlery. It appears to be an excellent reproduction and we will of enactors across the country). It contains modern favorites get a detailed report into the next issue. Our sample was the and hundreds of period receipts that come with historical smoothside version with a cloth strap and chain for the cork (a background. It is part of CW-Reenactors' on-going efforts to jute cord is an option). A bullseye pattern canteen is also raise funds for preservation and raise awareness for preserving available. It is made from tin with lead free solder, has a brown the history, skills and crafts mid- Victorian era America. Food jean cloth cover, a linen sling stamped with a contractor's mark. is a natural for Betty Barfield who is the guiding force behind Metal sling loops with a hole for the chain (or without for the the organization. Many of us have visited her "cookhouse" at cord version) and a cast spout. The price is $65. The are available events over the past ten years. Repasts from the Past was from, Daniel Houde, Orchard Hill Sutlery, PO Box 207, compiled and edited by Vickie Rumble with help from a number Bridgeport, NY 13030 and (3 15) 656-9 153 and of CW-Reenactors members. The cost is $15 (includes shipping info@orchardhillsutlery and http:l/www.orchardhillsutlery.com. and handling). It may be ordered by mail from CW-Reenactors, Mr. Christen Inc., 9534 Fern Hollow Way, Montgomery Village, MD 20886- 3714 or online at http://www.cw-reenactors.com/ PRESERVATION Make It Happen

Putting Together the Bentonville 2000 Federal Preservation March, Part I1

"If not us, who? And if not now, when?'Those words of also set up a March web site and linked it to the Bentonville Rob Hodge's in the Camp Chase Gazette charged our "hobby" Battlefield State Historic Site (BBSHS) web site. as a whole to take an active part in the preservation of our rapidly The March's web site was the venue for all March disappearing historic viewsheds and significant places- information. General information, registration form, uniform especially our Civil War battlefields. guidelines, fund-raising information, receipt forms, regimental This is the second of a two-part article about one grass history, links to several online diaries, directions and maps were roots preservation effort, the Bentonville 2000 Preservation all disseminated through the web site. March, which was held in conjunction with the The strong support of the BBHA and the BBSHS enabled 135th Anniversary of the Battle of Bentonville [I] reenactment us to use a "pass through" registration system. Marchers sent (March 17-19,2000). Part I covered the genesis of the idea, the their March registration and event registration to me, with development of the route, sponsorship problems and land use separate checks for the March and event registrations. I coordination with both landowners and the authorities. Part I1 forwarded their event registrations to the BBHA and then covers registration, the logistics of the march itself and fund- notified them that they were registered by e-mail. By registering raising. with the event, even those marchers that were not going to participate in the event were covered by the event's insurance. Registration. We then began to build a battalion structure. The field and This section's title is really a misnomer. Early in the staff were invitedlappointed by Dom based on input from the development of the Bentonville 2000 Federal Preservation Committee. Company commanders were chosen from registrants March it became clear to the Committee that we needed to known to have an excellent officer's impression who were aggressively develop the battalion and to have a simple willing to accept the post. We kept unit integrity as groups registration process. registered and then assigned individuals to companies based on It seems that many event organizers think all it takes to strengths and personal preferences (in that order). The final have a good turn out is to just have the event. You might call organizational roster of the 86th Illinois was in participant's this the "Field of Dreams" philosophy. Well, living historians hands weeks before the event--complete with e-mail address [2] don't just come because you build it. Add in the location (as andlor phone numbers. I cannot overemphasize the importance in "not in my back yard" or even "not in Virginia"), the time of of this. By having fully organized the battalion weeks before the year (March!) and things begin to get complicated. the event, we were able to make sure that we could kick the In the East, distance plays an often overwhelming part. March off promptly at first light on the 18th of March. I know Many progressive, campaign or authentic Federals in the that many of us are familiar with more "off-the-cuff" event unit Northeast were daunted by the prospect of a long drive down I- organization. Heck, sometimes we don't even do it until Friday 95 in a month where they are still shoveling snow. Likewise, night, but I believe that such detailed preparation is the many of the same pards in the "Deep" South or the Midwest cornerstone of a successful effort. saw Bentonville as an "Eastern Theater" event. This was a Our close rapport with the event allowed us to keep challenge for the Bentonville Battlefield Historical Association registration open right up until March 3. By that date we had (BBHA) for the overall event, just as it was for the March 215 registered, of which 209 showed up. committee. I made a calculated decision to ask Dom Dal Bello to Logistics. command the March battalion. First, Dom is an experienced It is a military truism that "amateurs talk tactics, campaign commander who is used to welding disparate groups professionals talk logistics." And it's also true of living into a cohesive operational unit in double-quick time. Secondly, historians. A "kewl scenario' rapidly begins to break down when Dom draws living historians like a flame draws moths. He is there isn't any water, or an inclement (i.e., dangerous) weather well known and highly regarded. Dom's agreement to do so plan, etc. We knew we needed several key items: water, portalets, provided me with a significant "carrot." wood and a support vehicle. The BBSHS came through with The next step was to announce and then promote the March. the first three items as part of the overall event support. We had We took a gamble and decided to use the Internet exclusively. a 400+ gallon water truck, a portalet (which was in place on The Committee placed announcements on Bob Szabo's Civil Friday morning and serviced Friday and Saturday!) and a small War Reenactors Forum; Lee White's Authentic Forum and other quantity of well-seasoned firewood. The single portalet was venues. We made heavy use of the Progressive POC [3] list sufficient as the troops could use a designated "sink" for (initially developed by Erik Auger and now maintained by Paul urinating over the eighteen hours or so we assembled at the Calloway on his web site) to contact prospective marchers. We "Tart farm" and the frequent servicing was more than sufficient .. THE ILL 2000 for the refugee ladies in the Tart farm house. The water Active preservation fund-raisers realize several key points truck supported the column during the march. Our fallback plan very quickly. The first is that most people, reenactors included, would have been to cache containers of drinking water at halt aren't really eager to contribute to the preservation of battlefields. sites or ask homeowners if we could use their hoses. The general public seems to think it's the government's job- The wood was another story. Through a miscommunication, whether it is state or Federal. And to many reenactors, the BBSHS delivered one truckload of firewood (the site had/ preservation is not the core motivation for their participation. has an abundant firewood store thanks to several hurricanes). Other fund raising associated issues, like cancer or AIDS There was enough dead fall on the property to make up part of research, have wide appeal because they have a human impact the difference, but the 86th Illinois endured a chilly camp on or juggernaut fund-raising organizations that use Hollywood the night of March 17th. In retrospect, the Committee should stars to get out the bucks. I'd love to see a preservation group have used volunteer pickup drivers from among the participants hire a master fund-raiser like Bill Clinton to raise money by to shuttle wood to the site, but that has some liability drawbacks. twisting guys like Bill Gates' arms.. .compared to them, we're These three basic items- water, wood and sanitation- pikers. are critical. Without them no event will be successful no matter Fund-raising takes just one thing: determination. You have how brilliant the scenarios are. to ask people for money and not get disappointed. First you Rations were also handled by the Committee-an area that have to determine whom you are going to ask for money, so that blurred into the 86th Illinois' operations. The Committee bought you can come up with a simple approach that will appeal to bacon, coffee, sugar, cornmeal, hams, sweet potatoes, rice and them. Rex Pilkington, the high fund-raiser for the march, raised onions sufficient to make a full day's ration issue to each almost $800 by making face-to-face appeals to everyone that he marcher. Hard bread was purchased through the Army of the did business with, or that his family did business with for Pacific's commissary at cost after Dom inquired if we were going donations of less than $20. I sent out twenty-three letters to to issue hard bread. [4] "Army" rations (slab bacon, coffee, hard targeted professionals in the Fayetteville NC area and got just bread and sugar) were issued Friday, as well as an onion. [5] one response, but that was a check for $300! If your approach Two proper size hard bread boxes were built for the hard bread. strikes a chord, people will respond. It is up to you to develop Sacks sufficed for the rest. The plan was to issue "foraged" your approach. rations (hams, sweet potatoes, rice and cornmeal) on Saturday. Some people, especially younger ones, found it nearly We did, but unfortunately did not count on the number of impossible to ask for money or to develop any fund-raising participants that would melt away after Saturday's less than approach. Well, it's like getting in the pool. Jump in and try. I stellar sham battle that followed the March. [6]Remaining ration was disappointed that the Fayetteville Observer failed to run items were donated to the Salvation Army's kitchen in my editorial. It appealed to the people of Cumbqrland, Harnett Fayetteville North Carolina. and Johnston counties to donate money for the Bentonville and A comment here on amounts. Organizers and living Averasboro battlefields The editorial staff has now begun to historians may consider issuing only half or three-quarters actively support efforts to preserve the Averasboro battlefield, marching rations instead of the daily ration. Folks just won't so no effort is lost. Now if they had just sent me a check! eat it all and its not like they are going to starve. Additionally, Grass roots efforts, not governments, are going to save what I strongly suggest issuing only the marching ration-meat, hard we save. Every reenactor, every living historian, every bread, coffee and sugar (or the appropriate CS substitutes), unless "buff". . .we could all skip a few sodas from the machine or make foraging fits into the scenario. Always research the time period some other small sacrifice and put a few hundred dollars into to determine what the troops were actually eating. preservation every year [a] instead of waiting for "the other And I would be totally remiss if I failed to point out that it guy". ..What a difference that would make! does absolutely no good to issue period rations if they are not placed in a period container! ! ! I have seen all sorts of mistakes Civilian Involvement. made in this area that really detracted from events/scenarios. I don't want to leave the impression that the Bentonville Beyond the obvious importance or removing foodstuffs from 2000 Federal Preservation March was a totally military event. twentieth-century packaging, a little bit of research into period Mia Graham and Joyce Demattias pulled together a super group boxes and cans goes a long way. Likewise, it's important to of progressive and authentic civilians who were a true joy to research the foodstuffs themselves, but that goes far beyond the participate with. The Tart farmhouse gave them an opportunity point of this article. Suffice to say that a chunk of fatty, wet, to live in a real period structure, complete with appropriate modern salt pork doesn't really enhance a scenario or create a furnishing. The Federal occupation of the "farm" enabled some "magic moment" tremendous period interaction, but it is not my place to tell that tale, which was a truly remarkable experience. Fund-raising. Early on the Committee set a "goal" for each marcher of a Conclusion. $100 donation. As we raised slightly less than $9,000 with 209 The Bentonville 2000 Federal Preservation March was marching participants its very obvious that most did not bring designed to graft a quality living history experience and a $100 in donations. We realized that fund-raising can be daunting preservation fund-raising event onto a well-respected to some, so we used the term "goal" and set no minimum. [7] mainstream preservation fund-raising reenactment. It succeeded THE WATCHDOG. 10 because of detailed planning and the enthusiastic support of the Sherman could bring up his Right Wing to reinforce. Despite some initial success, mainstream event organizers-the Bentonville Battlefield Johnston failed. Averasboro (March 15-16) and Bentonville are the two major land actions of the Campaign of the Carolinas. Historical Association and the Bentonville Battlefield State [2] I'll use this term to denote progressives, campaigners and authentics. Historic Site. Where it failed was in overall fund-raising. We [3] POC =point of contact should have contributed at least $20,000 instead of just less [4] Research in the Oficial Records of the Wor of Rebellion indicated that while than $9,000. This was split between the Bentonville and Sherman used the mills in Fayetteville to grind corn meal for the Army, the commissary wagons were still canying hard bread, coffee and sugar drawn in Averasboro, North Carolina battlefields and McDowel17s Savannah prior to commencing the March Through The Carolinas. Highland Historical Society (for the McDowell battlefield). [5] Onions bought in bulk tend to be big onions. Mr. Murley [6] Which was understandable,but unfortunate+specially as Sunday's sham battle was little short of spectacular! [7] In retrospect I think we should have set a minimum required donation of some NOTES: amount between $50 and $100. Mr. Hodge set a required minimum of $100 for the [1] The battle of Bentonville, NC March 19-21 1865 was the last major land action October 2000 Preservation March and there was no serious grumbling. of the Civil War. CS General Joseph E. Johnston attempted to defeat the Left Wing [8] $10 a week becomes $520 a year. Think about it. (14th and 20th Army Corps) of US General William T. Sherman's army before Tin CUPS(continued from page 3)

Handles are also attached differently to the body. I have NOTES: seen two different styles: top attached by wire and the bottom [I] John D. Billings, Hardtack artd Coffee: The Unwritten Story of Army Life, (London: University of Nebraska Press, reprinted 1993) p. 137. riveted and or by the use of three tinner's rivets, which would [2] Edwin T. Hamilton, En-Can-Craft, (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, then also be soldered. Issue cups have a cleaner solder job used 1935). pp. 16-17 on the handles due to the fact that separating the body seam is [3] Please ignore the green color. I purchased this original cup from a misguided not usually a concern because of the folded seam. No beading owner who thought he was protecting the cup by painting it. If you come across cups painted like this, and there are many, don't discount its authenticity. You might has been seen on any issue cup. These cups are overall stronger just get a really good deal. and would be more difficult to bend in the hand. They definitely [4] Robert A. Braun, Mess Furniture, (http:Nwww.amtma.com/33articles/ show some forethought in trying to produce a cup that could messfum.html, 1993), 2, and "Dippers and Boilers." (The Watchrlog.,FALL 1998, withstand the rigors of campaign. Volume 6, No. 4) p. 2. If you would like more information or would like to see George Pimentel has been reenacting since 1994. He is currently Sergeant of more pictures of original tinware, please contact me via my Company C, 15th US Regulars. He is an adjunct assistant professor of history and web site at http://www.gpmerc.com. assistant to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Middle Tennessee State George Pimentel Uriiversity, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

THE DOGCATCHER

Merchant and supplier communication... sometimes we poke bought by someone already connected to the reenactment our nose in and come out with a bone (a solution to a community. In conversation with the owner he informed me problem), or sometimes we just need to let you know where the price is $5,000 which includes everything needed except not to step. the oven. For more information please contact John Larkin at [email protected] . Ken Staley provided this information. Queries. Is Bob Lyons of Florida still in business? No negative energy No Longer in Business. here.. .we just want to know and, if so, what is his contact info? Tom Czekanski has informed us that he will no longer be Is Pat Cunningham of Kentucky or Indiana still making tin producing leather goods. He will complete all orders on hand goods? We want to know and, if so, what is his contact info? before closing up shop and goes on to other endeavors.. .museum Is Mark Mason still in business? We want to know and, if so, work, we think. We do want to give him three cheers and an what is his contact info? ARF for a bully job in making some of the best leather goods! Looking for an address for an outfit called Red Willow. They used to make a decent common tent (plain canvas, stake loops The Dogcatcher's List: of rope) that while not conforming to the QM Manual, was Ole Church Emporium (Mr. Todd, Knoxville, TN) representative of wartime tents ...more so than those makers The Widow Elburn (Debra Elburn, Glen Burnie, MD) using the "danged" metal grommets. In [or "out of'] Touch With History (northwestern US) "The Color Guard" or Frontier Flag (David G. Wallace- A Card: Hardtack Bakery for Sale. Menard of Wyoming or South Dakota). We have been advised This is to inform anyone who might be interested know that the that mail fraud complaints are being pursued by the USPS in Mechanical Baking Company is for sale. I am not the owner of regard to flag orders not being filled and the loss of customer the business and am in no way connected with the business funds in amounts over $1,000. other than as an occasional customer, but would like it to be Mr. Christen

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SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

The Watchdog. (ISSN 1067-2729) is published quarterly by The Watchdog Quarterly, Inc., a nonprofit corporation in the State of Michigan. Subscriptions (US and Canadian) are $15 annually, with $13 added for each additional year. Foreign subscriptions are $20 (US) per year. Back issues are $2 (before 1999) and $4 (1999 and beyond). An index is available upon request. Send subscription requests, inquiries and submissions to the address above.

7 ', The Watchdog. accepts no advertising. Contributors and writers receive no compensation for their articles other than a free copy of the issue with their article. All profits are donated annually to battlefield preservation organizations. FALL 2000 [r "' Contributors are solely responsible for the accuracy of the research and for the opinions expressed in their articles. IN THIS ISSUl Bill Christen, Publisher & Editor Lynn Kalil, Associate Editor our tin cup acdurilte? Bob Braun, Associate Editor Rick Simmons, Associate Editor stencil sets Mike Murley, Associate Editor canteen webbing John Yingling, Associate Editor Charlie McCulloh, Associate Editor adies' collar source more on blankets HAS YOUR SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRED? lots of updates and feedbacl There is a number after your name on your address label that looks like hand knit sock source X.Y (X = volume , Y = issue, for example: the FALL 2000 issue is 8.4). The number on the label indicates your final issue.. .unless you songs of Hood's Texas Brigade renew your subscription to The Watchdog. If the box on the left is ltonville preservation march, part I1 checked, your subscription expires with this issue. CONTACT BY TELEGRAPH e-mail: [email protected] web site URL: http://www.rustnet/-watchdog Expertly printed by John Chmelko of Eastown Printing Service, Centerline, Michigan Copyright O 2000 All rights reserved

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