Making Fire

[Charles Kaiser]

Hallo Kameraden,
I know that matches are very common in the war, but does anyone know something about soldiers, using the "old" method of firemaking by flint and striker?

[fahtz]

Ah the great making fire debate! It comes up pretty often around here. Here is a flint and steel discussion from '04.
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1104&highlight=starting+fire

As everyone seems to be saying right now... before the crash we had another fire discussion going strong. It seems the current trend to explore other fire options then matches. Flint and steel and burning glasses seem to be the prevalent options to matches, however both have their obvious draw backs. I stick to bumming fire.:D

[tater]

At the Raymond battlefeild I have seen a few tinder boxes dug at both the confederate and the federal camps. As to how common they were, i couldnt tell you, but theres my two cents worth.

[D.W. Scalf]

Just stumbled across this old thread while looking for something else.....But how about using a bow drill? As long as the right type of wood is present, all you need is string of some sort(unless you're good enough to do it by hand). You just have to be taught how to do it properly. I'm sure native Americans were still using this very relieable method, as well as many others, out of necessity. While matches were common, I think the bow drill method would have still been used in situations of necessity.

D.W. Scalf

[fahnenschmied]

Maybe, but the drill method requires a bit of skill here in the humid east. Fire steels were a desired item in the trade amongst the natives here. John Lawson, an early English explorer to North Carolina, described how the natives would make a long "cigar" of stuff to carry a live coal on the march, else carry a live coal in a clamshell with some rotten wood for fuel. From his testimony, fires were not casually rubbed out when needed, rather care was excercised to make sure the glowing ember always had fuel. For these people the fire steel was highly desired.
I never carried a fire steel when I camped or hunted with a flintlock gun - I just put my charcloth in the pan of the gun and snapped the lock on it. Can't do that with a percussion gun...
But yes, in all the boxes of dug, unidentified junk from relick hunters I have never seen a fire steel - not even from the displays of identified junk.

Dave

[Pvt Schnapps]

There's a nice article in the New American Cyclopaedia of 1861 under "match" that may put things in perspective:

http://books.google.com/books?id=HxEoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA281&dq=match+fire+%22flint+and+steel%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1850&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1870&as_brr=1#v=onepage&q=match%20fire%20%22flint%20and%20steel%22&f=false

It refers to rubbing dried wood as the practice of "rude nations," supplanted among the civilized by, first, flint and steel, then primitive phosphorous matches, then the modern safety match, of which the United States produced more than one million boxes per day.

An Encyclopedia of Domestic Economy from 1855 has an interesting chapter on "Expeditious Methods of Procuring Light" that, to me, makes it clear that alternatives to the match proved far less portable, cheap, and effective. See the descriptions starting on page 196:

http://books.google.com/books?id=f5oDAAAAYAAJ&dq=match%20fire%20%22flint%20and%20steel%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1850&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1870&as_brr=1&pg=PA196#v=onepage&q=match%20fire%20%22flint%20and%20steel%22&f=false

That said, one still might dig up a wartime reference to some other fire-starting method, somewhere.

[Spinster]

As my hands have now grown too weak to grip a flint and steel, I'm most fond of the "match syringe" cited in the work just above. Like it's cousin, it remains more reliable in damp weather than the match.

[English Doc]

But yes, in all the boxes of dug, unidentified junk from relick hunters I have never seen a fire steel - not even from the displays of identified junk.

Dave

Perhaps that says more about the value placed on a fire steel over and above anything else......

[Pvt Schnapps]

As my hands have now grown too weak to grip a flint and steel, I'm most fond of the "match syringe" cited in the work just above. Like it's cousin, it remains more reliable in damp weather than the match.

OK, I'll bite -- where on earth did you get the match syringe?

[VIrginia Mescher]

This is Virginia's spouse posting.

When I was in the boy scouts, after I had everything set up I could start a fire with flint and steel in about 20 seconds. But I carried my flint, steel, charred linen, and fine wood shavings in a metal box and kept them bone dry. In the same size box I could have packed several hundred matches and kept them dry. So why take up all the space with alternate firestarting materials when common matches require no more protection and a lot less space?

Several years later I also learned to use a bow and fire drill. There is a certain technique required that, without the proper technique you will only exercise your arm. Also, the wood needs to be completely dry and some species work better than others. I was told root wood is superior to wood from above the ground. But in any case, you can't just pick up any piece of wood and make a fire drill from it. And, like the flint and steel, if you are using all that space to carry a fire drill, why not just carry some matches in a waterproof container?

Just my two cents.

Michael Mescher

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

It appears the reference I posted years ago on a use of flint and steel when the woods were wet, did not survive any of the crashes or reincarnations. IIRC, a reference from an Irish Brigade unit, may be the
116th PA (?).
I can look it up if there is interest enough...

Making a fire bow can be as easy as having a shoe lace, piece of cord, or strip of cloth and knowing what soft and hard wood, and tinder, kindling are needed to be able to turn a handful of pieces into a true fire-making tool.

On the other hand... although far easier with a flintlock (a mobile "flint and steel") than a caplock- anyone with a gun and know-how can (potentially) "make fire."

Perhaps oddly or not so oddly enough, the reference to the rain soaked woods and the use of flint and steel, did not mention the use of guns. Either they did not "know," or their cartridges were as soaked and useless as everything else.

And last but not least... such "arcane" knowleldge of fire-bows may not have been Common Knowledge for city boys and even farm boys of the era.

Curt
Fire Maker Mess

[Spinster]

OK, I'll bite -- where on earth did you get the match syringe?

Giggle. Like most good things of the mid 19th century that nobodys heard of, they come from only slightly earlier in the century, sort of under the same principle that any middle aged woman in 1860 would have known the use of flint and steel, but might not have used it in awhile.

I can't insert links from this Iphone well, so I'll have to walk you through. First go to the semi maybe sometimes reliable Wikapedia for Fire Piston or Fire Syringe to see the workings and the early 19th century patent dates. I've also seen this device referred to as a "parlour match" in some European sources. A google will find several do it yourself instructions some more modern than others as these are in gear with the thru hiker set.

To find one of period construction, just keep stirring with the 18th century/fur trade/mountain man vendors. The one I chose came from a peddlar at the Faire at New Boston, and only requires that I slam it on a hard surface.

[D.W. Scalf]

Ok, maybe we need to narrow this discussion down a bit. No need to compare fire making kits with matches. Nobody would "make" fire when they have matches.

I don't think the skill level needed with a bow drill is as high as some of us might think. All it really takes is having someone show you how to do it once(someone who actually knows what they're doing that is). After you understand the principle, you'll work it out (if you're patient). Almost anywhere you have a variety of trees, you'll be able to find suitable wood. And there's no need to carry a "kit". One can be made up in just minutes once you have found the right wood. I'm sure anyone who spent much time in the woods during the 1800's knew SOME alternate firemaking method.

What I really want to know is if anyone has ever read anything about the use of bow(or hand) drill fire making during the War era. Other than amongst Native Americans.

D.W. Scalf

[Pvt Schnapps]

Giggle. Like most good things of the mid 19th century that nobodys heard of, they come from only slightly earlier in the century, sort of under the same principle that any middle aged woman in 1860 would have known the use of flint and steel, but might not have used it in awhile.

I can't insert links from this Iphone well, so I'll have to walk you through. First go to the semi maybe sometimes reliable Wikapedia for Fire Piston or Fire Syringe to see the workings and the early 19th century patent dates. I've also seen this device referred to as a "parlour match" in some European sources. A google will find several do it yourself instructions some more modern than others as these are in gear with the thru hiker set.

To find one of period construction, just keep stirring with the 18th century/fur trade/mountain man vendors. The one I chose came from a peddlar at the Faire at New Boston, and only requires that I slam it on a hard surface.


New stuff keeps coming up all the time, but this has to be the single most interesting thing I've heard about in the last several months -- thanks!

[D.W. Scalf]

I agree....I got to get me one of them match syringes. I love technology.

D.W. Scalf

[gilham]

Backwoodsman Magizine had an article a few issues back with instructions for making a fire piston.

Here is a ready made one for a reasonable price.


http://matchlessproducts.com/ABOUTFIREPISTONS.aspx

[Pvt Schnapps]

I should add that readers would be well-advised to take a close look at Mrs. Lawson's post, especially the reference to how a match syringe fits with her character. I haven't found anything yet that would indicate that it was in common use during the civil war among the troops. There are contemporary references to flint and steel, and to "savages" using sticks of wood, but most people seem to have used matches.

Here, for example, is a passage on the subject from The Prairie Traveler (1859 -- see pages 156-159: http://books.google.com/books?id=cWkoAAAAYAAJ&dq=the%20prairie%20traveler&pg=PA159#v=onepage&q=&f=false) (BTW, this is something else I believe I can thank Mrs. Lawson for):

It is highly important that travelers should know the different methods that may be resorted to for kindling fires upon a march.

The most simple and most expeditious of these is by using the lucifer matches; but, unless they are kept in well-corked bottles, they are liable to become wet, and will then fail to ignite.

The most of those found in the shops easily imbibe dampness, and are of but little use in the prairies. Those marked "Van Duser, New York," and put up in flat rectangular boxes, are the best I have met with, and were the only ones I saw which were not affected by the humid climate of Mexico. Wax lucifers are better than wooden, as they are impervious to moisture.

I have seen an Indian start a fire with flint and steel after others had failed to do it with matches. This was during a heavy rain, when almost all available fuel had become wet. On such occasions dry fuel may generally be obtained under logs, rocks, or leaning trees.

The inner bark of some dry trees, cedar for instance, is excellent to kindle a fire. The bark is rubbed in the hand until the fibres are made fine and loose, when it takes fire easily; dry grass or leaves are also good. After a sufficient quantity of small kindling fuel has been collected, a moistened rag is rubbed with powder, and a spark struck into it with a flint and steel, which will ignite it; this is then placed in the centre of the loose nest of inflammable material, and whirled around in the air until it bursts out into a flame. When it is raining, the blaze should be laid upon the dryest spot that can be found, a blanket held over it to keep off the water, and it is fed with very small bits of dry wood and shavings until it has gained sufficient strength to burn the larger damp wood. When no dry place can be found, the fire may be started in a kettle or frying-pan, and afterward transferred to the ground.

Should there be no other means of starting a fire, it can always be made with a gun or pistol, by placing upon the ground a rag saturated with damp powder, and a little dry powder sprinkled over it. The gun or pistol is then (uncharged) placed with the cone directly over and near the rag, and a cap exploded, which will invariably ignite it. Another method is by placing about one fourth of a charge of powder into a gun, pushing a rag down loosely upon it, and firing it out with the muzzle down near the ground, which ignites the rag.

The most difficult of all methods of making a fire, but one that is practiced by some of the Western Indians, is by friction between two pieces of wood. I had often heard of this process, but never gave credit to its practicability until I saw the experiment successfully tried. It was done in the following manner: Two dried stalks of the Mexican soap plant, about three fourths of an inch in diameter, were selected, and one of them made flat on one side; near the edge of this flat surface a very small indentation was made to receive the end of the other stick, and a groove cut from this down the side. The other stick is cut with a rounded end, and placed upright upon the first. One man then holds the horizontal piece upon the ground, while another takes the vertical stick between the palms of his hands, and turns it back and forth as rapidly as possible, at the same time pressing forcibly down upon it. The point of the upright stick wears away the indentation into a fine powder, which runs off to the ground in the groove that has been cut; after a time it begins to smoke, and by continued friction it will at length take fire.

[yeoman]

Ma'am and Sir, ti's an interesting thread here be rekindled.
If I may pass on a bit of camp life after a days march from "Two Boys in the Civil War and After" by W.R.Houghton and M.B.Houghton.
"Halted for the night in the rain in the wet woods, one could wonder how he could light a fire. Soon a little glimmer appeared, when some man had obtained a little dried inner bark of a dead tree, ceder twigs or dry leaves or a piece of newspaper, the little flame was carefully fed with pieces of dead twigs until it became a fire, then a hundred hands bore away little torches of twigs to become the parent of other fires".

http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/houghton/houghton.html
pages 62-63