Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

[Cfarrell]

Re: Groundcloth Variation?

Wait one minute...I know that Mr. Ezell (Tom Ezell), once carried a painted ground cloth with a checkered blue and yellow pattern. I understand he had done a lot of research on the topic. He might be a good person to ask!

A little more then a year ago, Danny McCoslin submitted an article over painted cloth to the Ground Hornet newsletter. The article was unfinished at the time, but he had gathered a lot of information as well. He also made one...and ended up selling it here on the AC.

Now I'm not saying they were used all the time and that they will work at every event or every time period...I am saying that a few people have done research over the topic and might share it, BEFORE its ruled out!

I have found on account of a lady in east Texas, ripping up the carpet from her house to make blankets for the Texas soldier, and the newspaper encouraging fellow readers to do the same! Was it painted?...probably not....but you never know..........

Regards,

[C.R. Henderson]

Re: Groundcloth Variation?

Get in touch with Jason Rich of Homespunwares.com . He has done some research into these.

[Secesh]

Re: Groundcloth Variation?

Please don't be the one guy in the ranks carrying one of these....

[ephraim_zook]

Re: Groundcloth Variation?

Well, they'd have to carry it on their backs... Does that sound practical?

Ron Myzie

[RoanokeRifle]

Groundcloth Variation?

Hello,


I've been to several Civil War era homes, and a common thing to do I guess would be to have a hand-painted floorcloth extending the entire length of the room.
A carpet substitute.

A friend of mine was looking for antiques on the Eastern Shore and came upon two seperate peices of such a ground covering and they were the same dimensions and everything as a regular groundcloth.

These were painted almost like a compass Rose, black and white.
(We agreed they would have been the coolest groundcloth a soldier could have....)

Hence, my question:

I was wondering if anyone has documentation on the use of these as a groundcloth by a soldier in the Civil War.

[Justin Runyon]

Re: Two gum blankets??

I think that this has been answered sufficiently, thanks to all of those that provided some of the excellant responses Scott, Troy, Bob, Aaron, et al.

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Two gum blankets??

So it boils down to:

(1) it is documented to have happened
(2) soldiers (at least Union) had ready access to sufficient quantity
(3) it was an individual's choice

Now it probably didn't happen early in the war because none of the soldiers had the experience to "modify" what the army issued and of course access would have been limited until supply caught up with demand.

So if you want to do it, do it (I do because a second oil cloth is very VERY handy). Just remember you have to carry it.

No can say for sure it wasn't authentic nor what proportion of soldiers didn't do it.

[Marylander in Grey]

Re: Two gum blankets??

Gentlemen,
My 2 Cents is research your unit. Read the letters and diaries, find the QM reports for issued gear and base your impression on what was common amoung the men you portray.
IRYOS

[Chip42]

Re: Two gum blankets??

Dan:

I have a photocopy of the notebook of the quartermaster of the 7th Michigan from May '64. In it he documents equipments carried by various soldiers to include:

gum blankets: Up to 2 per man
Shelter halves: Up to 3 halves per man. (very interesting)

Happy to scan and post or e-mail if you would like to see.

Highly detailed info, as he even covers who had breast and box plates and who didn't.

From this piece of documentation, one would guess that the 7th didn't put much stock in uniform discipline.

Hope this helps.

Sam Lowe
Botsford Mess

Aut Viam Invenium Aut Faciam

[Clsinclair]

Re: Two gum blankets??

I have a copy of the Federal Quartermasters order of 20,000 (could be more as my copy is at home) painted/oil cloths in the year of 1862. The specifications were 71" X 46" with a two inch seam down one side and on one end and 1" on the other end and side. 18 grommets at no more than 14" apart. 1" tape for each blanket so that it could be tied off as a shawl. Two of the grommets were spaced on the edge for the tape. There's a picture of one of these in Echo's of Glory. I got the copy out of a 2002 issue of "The Watch Dog" . Also there should be a seam in the cloth as drill and canvas was only 27.5" wide at the time.

Regards,
Claude Sinclair

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: Two gum blankets??

Two points on this. First, after 24 years of Army service, my "modern" experience would tell me that soldiers make themselves comfortable in any era. 2 gum blankets would be a tremendous advantage, just for the same reasons we are describing here, make a "sandwich" with 2, or for building shebangs, it would have been handy to have. If not issued, lots of battlefield scrounging has always gone on throughout history. And as for carrying extra weight, soldiers will throw away un-needed stuff and carry what they need to stay comfortable and survive. I think there is plenty of primary source evidence as listed here to support that, and if you talk to old soldiers from WWII through today, you find that is a common thread.
So, to my second point on this discussion, the reason I looked is I am looking for a second gum blanket myself. So, I have looked at the "Goodyear 1844" vulcanized reproductions, and just noticed a couple of listings for painted groundcloth. I'm looking on advice regarding the actual authenticity of having the painted groundcloth vice the vulcanized gum blanket. Does anyone have insights or advice as to which would be best (I think gum blanket, but want to ask), and if having a painted version is correct?

[MuddyWaterMess]

Re: Two gum blankets??

I have learned the whole theory that i take what i got just as i would have. I have a mindset impression and no matter what it takes to pull that off as accurate as possible i do that. I may carry a ground cloth i may not. At some points i carry just a coverlet i pray i can spoon if not i dont. Personal comfort is something i like to try and leave at home on event weekends. Now i know to some this is not the case and by no means am i saying everyone should be like this but what i am saying is i know that if they could have it they would but sometimes that was not the case. I like to portray the few that lacked i feel it adds a sense of realism to the event. I feel that someone should do what they feel they want to do as long as they stay in the authentic spectrum. I belive that if one would like to carry two gum blankets they need to do so. I do think that what they do should be in reason with much thought. Just my boring rambling 2cents. thanks

BEN JENKINS

[TobiasJones]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

I'm gonna have to add that to my collection. Thanks Charles.

Evan O'Dell

[Charles Heath]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

Evan,

Open your copy of the CRRC-2 to page 142 for a pleasant surprise.

[TobiasJones]

Re: How to make Gum Blanket

Joanna,

I was about to ask the good people of the forum the same question.

Does anyone know if this info is in The Union Sketchbook or similar book? I was interested in finding the dimensions.

Evan O'Dell