Carrying a Jug

[23rdIllinoisIrish]

Greetings All,

I am looking for a PEC way to carry a stoneware jug for a citizen soldier impression. I know that Missouri farmers carried water jugs/pails & dippers to the field and often left them at the turnrow, but how would one adapt the jug for carrying? Any sources, directions, or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
For Missouri and the Cause,
Matthew Jas. Shomaker

[23rdIllinoisIrish]

I should also add that I need a way to carry the jug in militia service and not to the field for farming/labor.

Thanks all,
MS

[ElizabethClark]

I'd recommend reading more on how the militia in question handled water availability for the scenario you're working on. Communal water tanks with dippers, "issued" canteens... lots of possible options for group water situations, and it would become important to find out which one was most used for the militia group you're portraying.

A stoneware jug is really not "modifiable" for service use, where it is a practicable thing for field/farm use. Not all period items will be useful in multiple situations.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Hello -
If you need to carry liquids somehow with a citizen-flair, try a ginger beer bottle (junk bottle). They were the 1860's equivalent to a reuseable plastic coke bottle of today- common, cheap, resealable and durable enough to get the job done. Plenty of them have been found at archaeological sites in trash dumps, so they must have been a common sight to your average soldier of both sides based on found evidence.

I have an original one (filled with whiskey) I carry with me to events in my knapsack with a period label I found online. Be forewarned, though, they can be a bit heavy in a knapsack or haversack because they were made that way to reduce breakage during shipment.

My thought on the weight there is the average soldier must have had these items more often in stationary quarters/garrison situations/sutler purchase areas or in their supply wagons rather than on-the-march in their knapsack.

Yes, even a lush such as I has thought NOT to bring my usual "devil whiskey" in my knapsack after feeling the weight of such an item for an extended amount of time. ;)

-Johnny

[Coatsy]

Matthew,

At the Athens events in 2002 and 2005 some of the fellows used bottles and jugs that were sitting in canvas "holders" and slings. Check out the pictures. You can see what the guys did.

Chap on the far right has a jug..

7490

Mike Kupsch has a nice rig on the right of the picture.

7491

[23rdIllinoisIrish]

Herb,
That was the option I had in mind. In fact, one of the reasons I am looking for information is for use at Athens next year. I'm looking for a documented way to carry a common jug as a soldier who was not campaigning but rather one who stepped out of his house and into quick service.

Thanks all,
MS

[Vuhginyuh]

I really need to work up a simple ceramic vessel taxonomy for our research topics. Until then I’ll just have to ask question or two as well. Do you already have one? If so please post a picture.

There is a formula, so to speak, that if your jug outweighs the contents then the jug is to big to carry. That is the problem with carrying a ginger beer and smaller ceramic vessels as a water bottle. As Johnny stated, the beer bottles are turned thick and squat to stand up to the pressure of fermentation and to take advantage of stoneware’s thermal qualities. And they don’t hold much at all. It isn’t a practical personal water container. Speaking for local finds only; I have never seen a period ginger beer found on an actual battle sight, but many have been recovered from trash-pits and privies of long term camps.

If you want a decent size ceramic bottle for individual use I would recommend John Crabbs 23.00 beer bottle. It looks great from here. http://www.ezrabarnhousegoods.com/index.html. Loop a cord or thin strap around the neck and It should serve you well as a temporary water container.

Shoot me a PM if you have additional questions on stoneware bottles and jugs and glaze types. I’ll try to point you in the right direction. I may not be able to tell you what really want but I can certainly tell you what isn't PC.

Mike Kupsch, if you read this can you post the historical notations for that fascinating sling?

[fahtz]

Matthew,
Jugs are all well and good, and do carry a LOTof water (bigger jugs). However a simple fine reproduction wine bottle is probably the simplist and easy way to carrywater for the MSG impression. You see in the pictures that Herb posted that Mike has a sling'd bottle there. I have seen pictures of fellows out in the hunting field carrying bottles int heir game bags. That is another option, putting the bottle in the puch you are carrying things or rounds :( in... Also gourds are an accepted practice for water as well.

[23rdIllinoisIrish]

Thanks all for your suggestions. After filling my jug to capacity with water, rigging up a temporary rope sling, and practicing drill with it I have decided on the lighter-weight method :confused_ and will probably carry a bottle. Mitch, if you have a link or info on the "hunting" images you mentioned it would be great to see them.

Thanks all,
MS