Campaigners tips, tricks, and techniches

[bluebellybugleboy]

pards:
this thread is for everyone to post a trick tip or techniqueson campiagning. it can be anywhere from keeping warm , to keeping powder dry. let's keep it reasonable also. no campers or the such.

Mytips: If it get's cold at a reenactment , and you've already used all your blankesand great coat, use your poncho

[paulcalloway]

If it get's cold at a reenactment , and you've already used all your blankesand great coat, use your poncho

I appreciate your post and I think you've got a good concept here... but I'm not sure that this "Trick" you've noted is really much of a trick. It sort of strikes me as something even the most dimwitted amongst us would have figured out years ago.

But I'll play along, here's my trick:

If you ever get your ramrod firmly stuck down your barrel, find someone with a cloth canteen strap... wrap the cloth canteen strap around the threads of the ramrod tightly, have someone hold the stock of the rifle. Grasp the canteen straps between both hands and you should be able to pull the ramrod loose.

[Tom Ezell]

But I'll play along, here's my trick:

If you ever get your ramrod firmly stuck down your barrel, find someone with a cloth canteen strap... wrap the cloth canteen strap around the threads of the ramrod tightly, have someone hold the stock of the rifle. Grasp the canteen straps between both hands and you should be able to pull the ramrod loose.

To amplify on Paul's comment, most rammers get stuck down there because of a dry patch, friction, and not a wholr lot to pull on. Pour a little water down the bore and work the patch back and forth... She'll usually come right on out.

Tom

[hireddutchcutthroat]

My tip for keeping warm is to stand next to a fire.

[TeamsterPhil]

Here's my tip:

If you're driving the supply wagon and you are convinced that the Critters are galloping behind you to steal Dom's food - give your team their heads, yell "get up" real loud and cuss a whole lot. If this is done properly, you won't spill any of the beans that are soaking in the kettle in the bed of the wagon.

A tip for those that may be in front of this wagon: Unless you have an artillery piece, get out of the way - we're bigger than you and we'll run you over.

Phil Campbell
Head Teamster, Crabby's Kids

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

A note on keeping warm by a fire. As anyone who spends alot of time camping or in the outdoors with a campfire probably knows...A good small fire will keep you warmer than the bonfire we might otherwise be inclined to build. "If you start to sweat and have to back way off the campfire, you'll suddenly become very cold."

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04

[markj]

Greetings,

Here are a couple (drawn from actual wartime sources):

On sunny days, light your pipe or cheroot with a "burning lens"--saves matches, you can do it on the march, and there's no "aftertaste" transferred from the ignited match.

Troops frequently kept their rifle-musket cones dry by simply dripping melted candle wax on them.

Also, here is one attempt to make a rudimentary tent heater:

"We have snow to the depth of six ‎inches; and the thermometer indicates the cold to have been almost if not quite at zero. Our tents ‎are made of heavy drilling that will not shed water; (but anything is good enough for a soldier—‎they go to give their lives, anyhow, and it seems that the powers that be, are determined they ‎shall have every opportunity afforded them to accomplish that result,) these tents are heated ‎imperfectly by filling a camp kettle with coals. This is extremely unhealthy. Ten or twelve pairs ‎of lungs and a kettle of coals soon renders the atmosphere of a tent anything but pleasant or ‎healthy. It is to[o] cold to stay long outside, and the soldiers huddle over the coals.‎
(Letter from a soldier of the 26th Indiana to the Rochester IN "Weekly Democratic Sentinel," 25 January 1862)

This practice was rather dangerous due to the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning in tightly enclosed spaces. Kids, don't try this at home.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[PrettyBoyDonovan]

Well, now I don't know how authetic matress ticks are but mine was a godsend. It keeps you off the cold-wet ground, makes it more comfortable to sleep, and best of all if its really cold, just crawl inside and use it as a sleeping bag.

Also, if you have a shelter half, try to get end pieces. It keeps the heat in better. Throw a blanket over the top since hot air rises and i will sort of hover around the top of the tent. My latern gives off a great deal of heat, its like a 19th century space heater.

Andrew - second mention to sign all of your posts with your full name. Also, while your suggestions would be appropriate in scenarios which allow for tents, most that frequent this board usually camp "campaign" style and wouldn't be carrying a tick or lantern. Maybe qualifying your response with something like, "when your are using a tent,....." - Mike Chapman

[hireddutchcutthroat]

When spooning put one pards blanket on the ground and the other blanket over you. Alot of heat escapes through the gound.

Sleep in your shirtsleeves and use your coat as a pillow.

Always wear dry socks before turing in.

Use the sinks before turning in.

Always keep your kit dry, especialy your blanket.

Sleep three to a Dog tent, use the third half to cover up one end.

Use blanket straps to hang your muskets from the ridge pole of your shelter tent.

If you do not set your tent up, use the tent half as a ground sheet and use the gumblanket as a extra blanket.

If you do Fed, carry two issue shirts and use the spare as an overshirt when it is cold.

Dont abuse your gear by trying to artificially age it.

Take care of your pards, they are all that you have got, and you can never be issued new ones.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

These tips are great and here's mine:

Open a book by a Civil War soldier. Read it. Reenact what it says. It's incredible how many reenactors would find this to be a really stunning suggestion.