Staying warm

[Bill]

A good number of years ago I attended a campaign event at Cedar Creek. It was very cold and no fires were allowed . I found a spot where dry leaves had piled up along side of a road. I crawled into that pile of leaves and was quite comfortable all night. It was both a soft and warm sleeping place.

[Pharr]

Re: Staying warm

The problem with using a quilt is that they'll absorb any moisture, even from a light dew, and really add to you weight load where as a good wool blanket will shed that moisture. Once that quilt gets damp it will likely be damp when you roll it out the next night.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Staying warm

Happy campers,

Danger, danger, I'm going to get slightly off topic for a moment.

Back in the late 1960s to mid 1970s, we kids enjoyed primitive camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Piedmont of Virginia and North Carolina. Spent a lot of time in the woods in all sorts of good, bad, and ugly weather. One can learn less is more when one totes it all on his back. Some of those lessons still apply, although the equipment used was different than that of the CW era. Sleeping outside is still sleeping outside. It's not that big of a deal.

One of the numerous lost articles I wish I could find was a light hearted piece Ed Kirsch, Dave Born, and I worked on back in the early summer of 1998. It started out as a conversation about reproduction Boy Scout Manuals. Between the three of us, we took the older BSA books, Capt. Marcy's fine opus, and a couple of 19th century and early 20th century camping guides, CW letters and journals, and had some fun with tips, tricks, and what "was" conventional wisdom. The job was to trace back It's funny, but between HT&C and Si Klegg, a heck of a lot of campaigning knacks are covered. I'm pretty sure that's when hip holes came back in style, but period writings do mention digging out for the hips. The article made the rounds and is long gone. While we won't be reconstructing that article in my lifetime, it's useful to point out a number of campers and pioneer type writers did leave behind a trail of useful hints as to how to sleep. Marcy's Prairie Traveler is online, and a fun read. Part of the fun in the hobby is going back to read about that "new idea" only to learn it was something old, tried, and true, well before the war.

I notice the young fellow mentioned his group sleeps on cots in tents. One of the best ways to stay miserably cold at night is to sleep on a cot in a tent or unheated building. Ever notice how a number of old rope beds had a skirt around them in the winter to keep the breeze from blowing under the occupant? Cots work the same way. Skip the cot, and sleep on the ground or floor using that ground cloth as a vapor barrier in damp weather.

Part of the problem is the expectation of a comfy night's sleep in a nice warm bed. Some folks like a house that is hot in the winter. The expectatations for sleeping outside should be different. Expect to be cooler, more damp, and hear more things going bump in the night, unless you are at an event with Frank Aufmuth, and then expect it to be so hot during the night that the chickens practially cook themselves. Shivering, BTW, is normal, especially if you go to bed soaking wet from sweat. It's your body warming up via friction, and not a big deal. If you put your mind to it, you can sleep in a variety of crazy places. Once you've slept soundly in a mudhole or a ditch or in the pouring rain, you can do it again and again. The boys enjoying a nice thunderstorm Saturday night at the Antietam LH in 2003 shared about the same conditions as the lads in the copse of trees on the knoll at Perryville with the 105th Ohio on a rainy Friday night in 2001. Ever notice one of the first few things people do when the army stops for the day in late afternoon is to peel off clothing and turn wet garments inside out to dry in the sun?

Keep your head covered, and off the ground. A wool scarf and a cartridge box work find for this. Spoon if you can. Not only does the body heat add up, but so do the shared layers of blankets. It works. Just do it.

Bill,

"I did that at Averasboro and woke up to find Charles Heath stamping out a flaming shelter half on my greatcoat."

That was Tiny Grimes was the convenient berm on which to beat out the flames. You were on the other side of a tree in the shelter tent, to set a fish tale straight. Tim Kindred was on fire watch when that "Bouncing Betty" yellow pine knot burst above the shelter half being used as dew cover, and I'm glad he was there sitting by the fire about half awake. The funny part is that was the second time that mildewed blue-line shelter half caught on fire, the first being at a picket post event, so I sold it figuring it was jinxed. It may still be in use, although I haven't heard of the current owner catching fire. What kept me from burning was the old fed issue wool blanket. A wool blanket, as Curt pointed out, wool scorches far wider than it burns (why safety catalogs still feature wool fire blankets), so it has two or three small patches from a similar blanket run. Repaired items can yield the nice interpretive effect of a passage of time in a sea of just-off-the-shelf goods.

Anyway, a good number of these lessons are learned and relearned at campaign events and not necessarily at campaign style events. I sure wouldn't want to tote three blankets.

Charles Heath
ZZZzzzzzzz

Re: Staying warm

[QUOTE=GaReb]My main problem when in the field is staying warm. I have 2 Keagy-Noble U.S. blankets, and an Anderson Dry Goods quilt and even if I put all of them on I still can't stay warm! I don't know what my problem is, so do any of y'all know a way to stay warm when campaigning?


Try sleeping on more insulation such as pine boughs or pine needles made into a "matress" of sorts......or steal hay from the cavalry!

Andrew P. Lawrence

Re: Staying warm

Many years of campaigning I would say Charles summed it up to a tee! I would say that If your worried about spooning, you won't be if it get's down to the 20's! Bully, Cpl Dan Morgan 10thVA(IVR)

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Staying warm

Does anyone know how often ponchos and gum blankets were used by Confederate soldiers in the AOT? Many of you have mentioned using them while sleeping but I have been reluctant to do so in the past because I don't know of Confederate use of them. Information would be much obliged. Thanks.

Pvt. Chris Anderson
5th Geo. Infantry

I believe the AoT had orders for men to pair up and one man to carry a blanket and one man to carry a ground cloth (rubber painted cloth etc.)


Unfortunatly my ORs, are 500 miles away so I cannot give an exact quote or time frame for this practice. :cry_smile

Re: Staying warm

Does anyone know how often ponchos and gum blankets were used by Confederate soldiers in the AOT? Many of you have mentioned using them while sleeping but I have been reluctant to do so in the past because I don't know of Confederate use of them. Information would be much obliged. Thanks.

Pvt. Chris Anderson
5th Geo. Infantry

[tomarch]

Re: Staying warm

One other thing.... The size of the stone is important, as a too small one will cool off before you have to get up.. and one thats too big is just... well, too d**** big :wink_smil

[Bill Cross]

Re: Staying warm

... take a good sized stone (about the size of a loaf of bread) and get it warm enough by the fire so that it's barely holdable.When you're ready for bed, place the stone inside your blankets so that your feet are touching the hot stone.

This was, in fact, done during the period when unheated or barely-heated rooms were the norm. Have read accounts of this often in 18th and 19th Century novels.

Re: Staying warm

Yeah I'm definitely sticking with the quilt. It looks damn good as all the visible seams are handstitched and it has been my warmest article. Anyway, I have another question. How common would it be for an AOT Confederate to have a gum blanket or poncho. I have one, but have been reluctant to carry it because I'm not sure of its use in the Confederate Army.

Pvt.Chris Anderson
5th Geo. Infantry

[tomarch]

Re: Staying warm

Instead of competing w/ others to lay by the fire, take a good sized stone (about the size of a loaf of bread) and get it warm enough by the fire so that it's barely holdable.When you're ready for bed, place the stone inside your blankets so that your feet are touching the hot stone.I,ve used this method along with a ground sheet, blanket and rubber poncho and have managed to sleep in 17 degree conditions (also cover yer head as well....) :)

Re: Staying warm

In the summer, a good blanket, a good night cap "I have a heavy cotton one and it works very well" a clean shirt, and a gum blanket under me with some stuff. "I.E. Straw, pine needles, and just anything soft." Also with the fall and winter just add tent and greatcoat.

[PrettyBoyDonovan]

Re: Staying warm

I don't understand the resentment of the 'peculiar institution' of spooning by many of my fellow reenactors. I'm a young ignorent punk that dosen't like new things, is scared by things he dosen't understand, and is self-conscious, but I've gotten over myself and come to understand that spooning was part of the soliders life, and if we are trying to expirence thier lives, we should do everything they did.

What are you afraid off? That you won't be good at it? That someone's going to sneak up and take a daguerreotype of you curled up next to the corporal? Leave your modern day fears in the parking lot, and get it the 1860's midset. You have to realize the spooning is both effective and an authentic representation of the soliders lives. Hopefully you won't be the only one in your unit that thinks so, otherwise, you'll be spooning with a rock, and I've done that. It hurts :tounge_sm

PS- Keeping along these lines, if anyone can PM with thier expierience with one of Mr. Daley's overcoats it'd be much appriciated.

Re: Staying warm

Mr. Heath that laundry list of ideas is outstanding!! I am going to be trying out almost all of your ideas for the Franklin event at the beginning of Oct 04. Thankyou
Billy Hiatt
K Co., 13th Iowa grandchild

How in heaven's name do you carry three blankets? Since I haven't seen it, here's the article by Mr. Charles Heath on sleeping warm:



Sleeping Campaign by Yourself
by Charles Heath

Copyright 1995, 2004

This works down to about 15 degrees. I realize "those people" have much colder weather up yonder, but the "teens" mean cold weather down here. Let's put the fresh fish to bed. If his feet are warm, you have won half the battle. If both his head and feet are warm, you've done well. Just burp him as needed

Bayonet & Pocketknife - Grub any roots, stems and rocks from your pallet footprint. Use the bayonet to loosen the soil, and level it if need be. Clear away pine cones, sticks, gum balls, galls, and other debris. The ground is your insulation, so you want to form a good weld between your ground cloth and the soil. You and improve this a bit by making a cushion of pine needles, grass, or leaves between to small saplings or fence rails as if a feather bed. Yes, that mattress goes under the ground cloth.

Canteen - In the winter, make sure it is only half full. A full canteen will split when it freezes solid. Place the canteen to the left of your head, so you may find it in the dark. (Right side if you are a lefty.) Remember to develop a placement pattern for your uniform and equipment items. This will serve you well in the future when you should have been sleeping on your arms, but a lax commander let you fling your equipment everywhere.

Shoes - Take your shoes off, and put your hat over them. The hat keeps out light rain and dew. They will ventilate normally with the hat covering. If it is pouring down rain, just leave your shoes on for the night, and change your socks in the morning. Shoes can be made more water resistant with applications of bacon grease or other animal fat left over from ration issue.

Feet - Massage your feet thoroughly. Improving circulation leads to increased warmth, and it may get a few kinks out of your back. You can use your jacket as a feet wrapper on cold nights, or as a pillow wrapped around a cartridge box.

Socks - If you have a dry pair of socks, and you'd better, put them on just before retiring for the night. Take the old pair of socks and turn 'em inside out. Place these socks over your nice dry socks. They will wick away the sweat, and become your dry pair for the next night. Your feet will also have 2 layers of socks plus the jacket as protection.

Suspenders - Loosen the suspenders, so you won't pop a button in the night. You can do the toilet tuck, if you wish. What’s that you say? Just undo the suspenders from the rear buttons and shove them into your pocket as if you were taking a dump in the woods.

Knapsack - This is a better pillow, if you have one. Fluff it up a little, and enjoy. If no knapsack, then use the handy cartridge box. It is small, but it works.

Ground cloth / gum blanket / poncho - Use this as the first layer in the foldover sandwich. Lay the gum blanket / poncho rubber side down. The shelter half can be a good substitute, if the you do not yet have a groundcloth or gum blanket. Otherwise, keep the shelter half handy for a dewcloth. For the extra weight, two gum blankets can’t be beat, and gum blankets make a dandy shelter half.

Blanket - Your blanket should be long enough to cover your head and feet. If you are tall, curl up a bit. If you are short, be happy to have such an advantage. If you can sandwich into the blanket/ground cloth arrangement, then fine. If not, don't worry about it. Some like to fold the blanket once on the long axis so you climb in like a sleeping bag, and if have a second blanket, fold it along the long axis and lay the whole thing on top of you - its the equivalent of three blankets. This is nice if you have an extra blanket, but that’s rare. Most people merely mummify themselves with their one blanket in an evil sort of twist. Find your own level of comfort in this.

Headwear - Those funny little smoking hats have a purpose, but a good flannel or monmouth cap is hard to beat in cool weather. Keep some kind of headwear handy, and use it. You'll lose a lot of heat from that old bald head, if you don't keep it covered. Less heat if you still have hair. I see pards use Crimean Balaclavas, and they look mighty comfy, too. A good woolen scarf can be wrapped around your head, as if one of those old cartoon characters with a toothache. Looks stupid, but it is warm.

Wind - Find a place to sleep that is out of the wind. If you have to choose between a windbreak and a fire, go with the windbreak. A good low hanging cedar or other ground hugging tree works well for this in the woodland environment. If you are in a built up area, determine the wind direction, and bed accordingly. Avoid inside chimney corners as they are frequently used as urinals. Getting next to a log works, as does piling up a little berm of soil or snow on the windward side, and those who sleep next to the firewood pile are probably there for more than just the altruistic reason of adding a log to the fire now and then. You can make a lean-to or shebang, but it's more work taking it down in the morning. Besides, if the officer in charge doesn't order it, then canvas shouldn't be sprouting.

Fire - Spoking works well. Use your judgement as to whether you want toasty feet or toasty skull. Documentation has the boys of ’61-’65 pointing feet in or feet out, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. If you are my age, you'll get up once in the night anyway, so don't forget to toss a log on the fire. A good trick is to keep 3-4 pieces of firewood by your side to toss on the fire so you don’t have to go tripping over to the squaw wood pile in the middle of the night.

Wood - Put denser wood such as cherry, beech, or persimmon on the fire before retiring. The fire should still be warm in the morning. Pine burns fast, and you’ll be up in a few minutes looking to put some more wood. Wet wood warmed near the fire can be both a reflector and a way to dry it.

Musket - Put it in the fold of your blanket. This discourages thieves, and keeps your piece nice and warm. Stacking is good at events with some form of security, but if it is only you and the messmates, think about securing the musket next to you, and putting other pilferable items close at hand.

Great Coat - If you happen to have one, you almost have a sleeping bag. Use it as a second blanket, and with the cape flipped up it covers the head nicely.

Optional Sweet or Irish Potato - Stick a sweet potato about 4" under the coals, so your breakfast is cooked and ready to eat when you open your peepers at the first tap of the drum. Laugh now, eat hearty later.

There is a huge difference between sharing the discomfort of the elements and being miserable. A little chill or breeze up the blanket opening should be expected. Use common sense, and if you are having problems let someone know, or, better yet, spoon with them to share some blankets and body heat.

Re: Staying warm

I agree with you chris on the quilt issue only. If your doing a reb impression you should have all the reason in the world to have a quilt. Now the spooning thing, well I have to agree with your "homophobe" pards there. My impression can only go so far. I would have to be in a modern day POW situation to do that, and it would have to be after a long period of beatings, torture, and many cold nights for that feeling to wear down. But go with the quilt reb.
Billy Hiatt

Thanks for all the great tips. I've tried to get my pards to spoon before but they do have a certain 21st century homophobia, so I just freeze to death normally. I remember one reply saying I shouldn't bring the quilt. Why is that, as it is the warmest article I have.

Pvt.Chris Anderson
5th Geo. Infantry