August 12, 2001: For the impatient, or those interested in getting a glimpse of the reviewed products immediately, you may use these links:
Images
1:
Uniform Items, etc. Images
2:
Accouterments Images
3:
More Accouterments
After a buying drought, I have been busy acquiring a number of new products in the second half of the 2000 season through this Spring. Traci was kind enough to buy me a scanner a couple of years ago, and, when practical, I will add images of the reviewed items on separate pages. A list of reviewed or soon to be reviewed items follows:
Newly
Reviewed Items Maker Images Chris
Sullivan Yes Mark
Woodburn Yes Brandon
Jolly Yes Nick
Sekela Yes Nick
Sekela Yes Ray Hock
Yes S.G.
Marinos Yes Andrew
Doddington Yes
One of the best sources (outside
of examining original items) for scrutinizing reproductions is
The Watchdog. Published quarterly, the 'Dog
provides the reenacting community with a valuable source of informed
product reviews, particularly when it comes time to shell out the
hundreds of hard earned dollars necessary to purchase high quality
items. Please know that I do not have the level of expertise shown by
the majority of Watchdog contributors.
My sources for information on historical accuracy include The Watchdog, Army Blue: The Uniform of Uncle Sam's Regulars, 1848-1873, Civil War Cartridge Boxes of the Union Infantryman, and Echoes of Glory. I have also consulted a number of authenticity guidelines and evaluations on the Authentic Campaigner website. The discussion forums on Rick Szabo's CWReenactors board are full of information, and the sites for The Columbia Rifles, The Rowdy Pards and The Rockport Mess all have excellent articles on attaining the most authentic garb.
I favor an approach that takes a number of sources into account, as assumptions, even those from the most reputable of sources, might be incorrect. An example might be the infamous Enfield Bluing debate. A large portion of the progressive community bought in to the notion that Union Enfields were almost invariably burnished bright during the war. It became a standing policy that the defarbing process should also entail the wholesale removal of all bluing from reproduction Enfields. This conclusion was drawn in part from extant original muskets, but the bulk of the "evidence" relied on close examinations of period photographs.
Geoff Walden's article, "The Enfield in the Civil War," cast a long shadow of doubt on the "bright Enfield" myth. Walden had the benefit of examining a large number of original Enfields, but he also takes a cool, common sense approach and considers the facts in a logical and coherent fashion. His conclusion? It would most likely be incorrect to make a sweeping generalization about blued or bright Enfields.
The continued insistence on burnishing Enfield barrels, despite a well researched and argued article calling the widespread practice into doubt, provides the researcher and critic with a cautionary tale. As an acknowledge amateur who primarily relies on secondary sources, I have to add the disclaimer that my evaluations of historical accuracy are only as good as my information on hand.
In addition to the Manufacturer's and Vendor's contact information, I plan to add links to articles discussing the reproduction and/or original item. The links will be included in each review. If the reproduction was discussed or reviewed in The Watchdog, I will include quotes from the review as well. I also plan on adding additional links and references to the reviews, if and as they become available.
My criterion for reviews are as follows:
How well made is the object? Did this product fall apart after one event, or does it handle abuse readily?
Craftsmanship and historical accuracy: Smaller details, such as materials, inspector's marks and other notable examples (or lack thereof) of craftsmanship. Please note that I am not an expert on these matters; I have access to a number of good resources, but viewing photos in Echoes of Glory and looking at an original haversack are two different things entirely. As new information regarding authenticity becomes available, I will adjust my reviews and comments accordingly.
Comparison: How well does the item compare to similar products in its category, based on my observations.
Cost. This includes the important cost for authenticity factor.
Overall Rating: A combination of the four categories.
I welcome people's opinions on these and/or other products. If you wish to have a review posted here, mail it to me at cw_reenactors@yahoo.com
Reproduction Rifle Muskets, Rifled Muskets and Muskets A detailed chart
M1861 Springfield Rifle Musket
Specifications:
Stock: American Walnut, oil finish.
Barrel: .58 Caliber, bright finish. Flip up rear sight, marked 100, 300 and 500 yards. Rate of twist 1-66", button rifled, groove .007" deep.
Furniture: Steel, bright finish. Lockplate marked 1861, U.S. Springfield, U.S. on butt plate, barrel bands each marked with a "u" (up) for proper installation.
Cone: 5/16th x 24"
Weight: approximately 9 1/2 pounds.
New Information/Considerations: I've had an opportunity to conduct some additional research in the two years since I first reviewed the Armi Sport Springfield. I intend to keep the text of the original review intact, as some of the details I incorporated remain accurate.
I found a link to this page in a NSSA post on purchasing reproduction Springfields. I do have some live firing experience with my old Zouave, but I only put rounds through the Armi Sport once. I have no intention to do so again, given the possibility of minié skirts lingering in the barrel. Based on my sole experience firing conicles through the bore, I can make a few observations:
1). The trigger pull is terrible. Some friends and I conducted an unscientific test with a fish scale (after we took some measures to protect the cone, of course), and we found the trigger pull was in the 12-14 pound range. This is obviously not condusive to accuracy. I would reccomend that if you are interested in purchasing this weapon as a hunting or target rifle, you should have a gunsmith lower the trigger pull. This will probably involve hardening internal parts in the lock, As it stands now, you can support the gun's weight on the trigger without snapping the hammer. A heavy trigger pull is fine when your vollying with blank rounds and you can jerk the trigger without worrying about accuracy. In fact, some might argue that it is safer to have a weapon with such a heavy trigger pull in a massed formation. Some units might require a weapon with a heavy pull.
2). If you've bought the gun for reenacting purposes, get a second barrel if you intend to do any live firing. Patched round ball are less likely to leave residual lead, but why take a chance?
3). Replace the factory cone with a stainless steel cone. I had some problems with misfires when I first used the Springfield (described below), but these were alleviated when I bought a high quality cone. My old Zouave had a cone with a wide, straight channel, which was fine for igniting loose powder. I never used the rifle in a reenactment after I began to shoot live rounds, but the channel would fill with powder, resulting in a spectacular flash over the cone. The hammer almost invariably was thrown to half cock, and my right hand had powder fragments embedded in the skin for a week after each shooting session.
Some reenactors attempt to improve the ignition qualities of their rifle muskets by drilling out the cones. This isn't the safest proceedure. A good cone should be able to ignite the loose powder of a blank charge and prevent dangerous blowback if one chooses to fire live rounds (keep my caveats about this practice in mind).
I initially bought the Armis Sport beacuse of its faster twist. However, original rifle muskets have remarkably slow twists (1/78-1/72), and they were able to acheive decent accuracy out to 400 yards or more, with a good marksman (see some of Joe Bilby's work on this subject). The Euroarms reproduction is probably equally accurate. It would seem that a slower rifle twist is of less importance in military arms than in sporting/hunting rifles.
With regards to authenticity, the jury is still out. An article in The Watchdog panned the Armisport Springfield, while I have heard others reccomend it as a more accurate alternative to the Euroarms reproduction. Some claim that the Armisport is heavier, others argue that the Euroarms weighs more. In both instances, it is likely that modern liability concerns led the manufacturers to add thicker barrels, with correspondingly thicker stocks. My current inclination is to reccomend the Euroarms rifle, at least for authenticity's sake (make sure you purchase a reproduction with an oil finished stock). It must be noted that the Armisport 1842 varients have received high praise from reviewers and reenactors alike. If Dixie Gunworks is still selling the Miroku Springfield varients, you may want to consider one of these fine, if not expensive reproductions. A number of people claim that this weapon is the closest match in terms of "feel" to the original weapons, and it's reputed to be a fine shooter as well.
Original Review
Considerations: Although there are a number of manufacturers who produce WBTS firearms, Armi Sport and Euro Arms (both based in Italy) appear to dominate reproduction long gun production. When I was shopping for rifle muskets, I weighed several considerations. Most sources agree that the Euro Arms weapons have a somewhat superior finish. However, I was also interested in purchasing a gun I could live fire. Based on my research, Armi Sport's the 1 in 66" twist rifling is better suited for conical projectiles than the Euro Arms' 1 in 78" twist. Euro Arms rifle muskets tend to cost slightly more, but I opted for the faster rifling. One sutler states that the Armi Sport Springfield boasts progressive rifling (the barrel's rifling narrows slightly at the muzzle to swag the bullet, improving accuracy), however I have not seen this information anywhere else.
It has been said before, and I'll repeat it here. Avoid purchasing 2 band rifles unless your unit carried them historically (even then, many reenactments ban the use of the shorter rifles). The M1863 Remington "Zouave" is a fine gun for target shooting or hunting, but there is little evidence to suggest that it was issued in the field. Their barrels are considerably shorter (about 7") than those of most rifle muskets, which makes them more dangerous when fired from the rear rank in a battle.
Review: This has been a generally solid and dependable weapon. I have yet to throw miniés through the bore, so I can't report on its accuracy.
Armi Sport chose to make the stock out of American walnut, which is apparently lighter than the European walnut stocks of Euro Arms muskets. Nevertheless, this is a fairly sizable and hefty gun, as I discovered when I took a hit at Monocacy and had the rifle fall onto my arm. I had a deep bruise for two weeks. The stock has an oil finish, the metal parts are highly polished, and the fit between the metal and wood parts is excellent. However, it must be noted that the barrel and stock are significantly thicker than those of the original. Some may prefer the more graceful lines of the Euroarms reproduction.
The finish overall is quite good, although not as good as that of comparable Euro Arms muskets. The stock took a blow during a drive to an early event, and a piece located between the nosecap and first barrel band broke off. More recently, the ramrod got caught on something in the car and bent just below the swell. My advice to readers is to buy a carrying case or gun sack to prevent such mishaps. Ironically, the rifle has emerged unscathed from some rather harsh landings when its owner took hits at events.
A more serious problem manifested itself in numerous misfires during the first few events. Although this problem plagues a variety of guns at a reenactment, M1861 Springfields, which have tortuous paths from the nipple to the breech, are particularly susceptible to this problem. Some people choose to drill out the nipple or the bolster hole, but this can present a problem when live firing, as powder is more likely to get into the channel. A simple and inexpensive solution is to replace the stock nipple with a stainless steel nipple. These are readily available at many sutlers, and they also have the advantage of ensuring that musket caps will fit snugly on the cone, eliminating the need to squeeze the cap. With a small flash hole at the base, these nipples are also ideal for live firing. The Armi Sport nipple hole is threaded for 5/16 x 24" nipples, and will not take the 8 x 1 mm Euro Arms and Dixie cones, so make sure you specify the make of your rifle. Better yet, bring it along with you, as many sutlers might insist that "one size fits all." Since I replaced the nipple, I have only experienced two misfires over 5 battles, and both of those were due to excess oil in the breech.
While many touches are historically correct, there are some smaller details that can be improved through "defarbing," a process involving a qualified gunsmith removing the modern maker's marks and correcting certain errors. One such flaw is the fowl on the lockplate, which conjures up more images of Thanksgiving than of the Fourth of July. Another, which becomes fairly apparent when one compares photos of original guns with the reproduction, is that the "US" and "Springfield" on the lockplate are too low.
Just a few years ago, there were few choices for reenactors. This situation has changed recently. I would rate the Armi Sport Springfield as a serviceable gun, perhaps somewhat less refined than the Euro Arms equivalents, but more than adequate for most reenactors. Those seeking to fire live ammunition (please, not at reenactments) might want to seriously consider the Armi Sport, with its faster twist (see the new information above; this may not be as important as I first thought).
Price: $420
Source: Old Sutler John. P.O. Box 174 Westview Station, Binghamton, NY 13905.
Durability: Good
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Fair
Comparison: Good (finish), Very Good (live fire potential)
Cost: Very Good
Overall: Good
Weapons
Chart
There are a number of musket and rifle-musket choices available to reenactors. The chart below gives details on some of the infantry weapons currently on the market. Expect additional rifles to appear in the near future.
Caliber/Model Make Time Frame Twist Weight Nipple Price .69 M1816
Conversion Dixie/Pedersoli 1861 on SB 9 3/4 5/16x24 785 .69 M1842 Armi Sport 1861 on SB 9 1/4 5/16x24 450-495 .69 M1842 Rifled Armi Sport 1861 on 1-66" 9 1/4 5/16x24 495-595 .58 M1855 Euro Arms 1861 on 1-72" 10 1/2 8 mm x 1 500-650 .58 M1861 Euro Arms mid 1861 on 1-78" 10 1/4 8 mm x 1 445-465 .58 M1861 Armi Sport mid 1861 on 1-66" 8 3/4 5/16 x 24 415-450 .58 M1861** Dixie/Miroku mid 1861 on 1-64" 8 3/4 8 mm x 1 595 .577 P53 Enfield Armi Sport mid 1861 on 1-48" 8 3/4 5/16 x 1 390-420 .577 P53 Enfield Euro Arms mid 1861 on 1-72" 10 1/4 5/16 x 20 415-495 .577 P53 Enfield Gibbs/Parker Hale mid 1861 on 1-72"* 10 1/2 5/16 x 20 600 .58 M1861 Special Colt mid 1861 on * 550-600 .58 M1863 Type I Dixie/Miroku 1863 on 1-64" 9 8 mm x 1 595 .58 M1863 Type I Euro Arms 1863 on 1-78" 10 1/4 8 mm x 1 465
*Progressive rifling. **May have been discontinued; also available
with a 1-66" twist.
Bayonet Scabbard Seven rivet variety
C & D Jarnagin
Considerations: I purchased a bayonet the same time I bought the rifle. The bayonet is the standard, made in India variant (without the India markings), and the scabbard was the seven rivet variety. After two skirmishes, it became a two rivet scabbard, so I ordered a replacement from C&D Jarnagin.
Review: The scabbard was clearly superior to the stock sheaths that come with the bayonets. The top of the sheath has tightly stitched linen thread, the leather is clearly superior, and the frog is marked with a Storms NY maker's mark. Despite taking a beating at a number of events, the scabbard is in great shape.
As a rule of thumb, one should generally try to pick up a bayonet at an event, so it can be properly fitted to the rifle. Very few scabbards at these events are likely to be of high quality, which most likely means ordering a new scabbard from an outside source. This can also present some difficulties, as in this case, the scabbard need to be stretched slightly to take the bayonet. The frog was also initially very difficult to get on the belt, but in both cases, the leather stretched and became more manageable.
Purchased: Mail Order, July, 1998
Delivery Time: 4 weeks
Price: 29.95
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Excellent
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Very Good
Considerations: Although not necessary for my impression, the knapsack gave me an easy way to carry my equipment to the bus station before Traci and I moved in together. I wanted something that would be both accurate and durable. Knapsacks allow their users a good place to hide anachronistic items, but they can also serve as tables and pillows as well.
Review: I have been more than satisfied with this piece. This is a soft pack variant, really most appropriate for mid to late war impressions. The pack has two compartments, one of which is closed with two rawhide thongs, while the other has four flaps which close by means of two leather straps and buckles (these cross each other when closed). The knapsack itself is secured with three leather straps. The left shoulder strap is secured with a heavy brass buckle, while the right attaches with a brass clip and loop, which acts as a quick release. The shoulder straps have cross straps, and there are smaller leather straps on the top of the knapsack for greatcoats or blankets.
There is evidence of extensive hand-stitching, and the left shoulder strap is marked "R Valentine, U.S. Inspector, N. Y." and "J. & W. Lyall, New York." When opened, the knapsack bears a more than striking resemblance to the example in the lower left corner of page 213 in Echoes of Glory. The body is made of painted canvas as per the originals, and has proven extremely durable (although not particularly comfortable) with heavy loads. Compared with the knapsacks often found on sutlers row, this product shows superior workmanship and materials. The stitching is tight, the leather is of high quality, and the knapsack bears a much closer resemblance to the originals than the typical reproductions.
Purchased: Mail Order, July, 1998
Delivery Time: 6 weeks
Price: 115.95
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Good
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Good
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Very Good
Overall: Good
James Owens
The "Fire on the Mountain" event at South Mountain, Maryland provided me with a windfall in terms of highly authentic gear. The source is Tim Sheads, of the S & S Sutler based in Gettysburg. While I often lament the lack of quality on sutler's row, a few vendors consistently provide good or excellent equipment and service.
My initial purchase was an 1851 haversack, made by James Owens of Silver Springs, Maryland. I now have the benefit of back issue of The Watchdog, including an issue which provides the original specifications for the issue haversack. Based on Michael R. Cunningham's article, "It's in the Bag: The M1851 Haversack in Federal Service," the Owens bag is an excellent reproduction.
One of the most striking details of the Owens haversack is its diminutive size. Although my old haversack didn't fall into the category of gargantuan, it was certainly larger than my new purchase. The body of the Owens bag measures 12" tall (with the flap closed) and 10" wide toward the bottom of the bag (the bag tapers to a mere 8" on the very bottom). The top flap is also quite shallow, measuring just over 5 1/4". With the flap open, the bag measures about 16 3/4".
The flap consists of two pieces of cloth, sewn together 3" above the bottom edge. The thread used to secure the two pieces is visible on the flap's exterior, and leaves a slight but distinctive ripple on the surface. The flap material is the same as that used in the rest of the bag: a light weight cotton material, covered with a shiny black paint. The flap is secured by a 5/8" roller buckle (just over 6" above the bottom of the bag) and a 7" long, 5/8" wide leather strap.
Compared the the lengthy shoulder straps on typical reproduction haversacks, the James Owens bag utilizes a remarkably short strap, measuring in the 40" neighborhood. The strap measures 1 5/8" wide, and consists of two layers of material, folded over and sewn.
The bag's interior reveals more differences between the Owens haversack and the sutler bought variety. Internal seams are flat felled, virtually every seam is hand sewn, and the rice bag is held in place with three tin, paperbacked button (2 on the back, one in the front). The buttonholes are hand sewn. A James Owens makers stamp hides behind the rice bag.
Based on the specifications given in the Cunnignham article, this reproduction is practically a dead ringer for an original bag. As with so many things authentic, the Owens haversack is a bit pricey when purchased through a retailer. I was initially a bit taken aback at the bag's limited dimensions. One has to be a bit more selective about filling an authentic haversack, as it runs about 40 to 50 percent smaller than most reproductions. This bag would certainly pass muster in a hard-core inspection.
Purchased: From Vender, South Mountain, September 2000
Cost: $78, possibly less if purchased directly from James Owens
Source: S & S Sutler of Gettysburg. 45 Steinwehr Ave. Gettysburg, Pa 17325 (717) 338-1990
Maker: James Owens
Durability: Appears to be very good over three events . . . more on this next season.
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Fair
Overall: Excellent
Images of the James Owens Haversack
C & D Jarnagin
C & D Jarnagin's recent efforts to improve the quality of their goods bodes well for the reenacting community. Although their uniforms continue to lag behind the Daleys and Sekelas in the hard-core category, Jarnagin leatherwear seems to be a different story. Many hard-core and progressive units list Jarnagin as a secondary, or even primary supplier of leather accouterments.
As a part of this year's (2000) great impression upgrade, I ordered a considerable amount of equipment from Jarnagin this Fall. As I am trying to work on an early war impression, I eschewed the late war cap box in favor of the 1850, Watervliet pattern cap pouch. The order arrived about five weeks after I faxed the form to Missouri, and I had a chance to inspect the items before putting them to good use on the second day of Cedar Creek.
The cap box is small, and the flap only partially covers the face of the box. A nicely lath turned acorn finial secures the outer flap. The inner flap bears a H.A. Dingee maker's stamp. The box is hand sewn, and for the most part, the stitching is both tight and straight.
In addition to the requisite wool fleece (located along the top edge inside the box), the pouch has a small leather loop to hold a cone pick (included). This means an end to the dubious practice of keeping a cone pick stuck through my forage cap, particularly when I paid a fair amount for a good cap.
Unlike the later war models, which had riveted belt straps, the straps on the early war box are hand sewn. However, durability should not be a problem, given my own experience with Jarnagin products.
There are probably more authentic cap boxes on the market, but Jarnagin's leather products are worth looking into, whether you're a mainstreamer, an aspiring authentic, or a member of a hard-core group. The products are good, the prices are competitive, and the wait time is considerably less than what you may encounter with some vendors.
Purchased: Mail Order, September, 2000
Delivery Time: 5 weeks
Price: $41.95
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Excellent
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good/Very Good
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Very Good
Nick Sekela
This cap pouch appears to have been manufactured in the mid to late war period. The outer cover is larger than that of the Jarnagin H.A. Dingee pouch, the belt loops are lower, and copper rivets secure the belt loops the the body of the cap pouch. The back of the box shows an additional line of stitching, between the upper part of the belt loops (the stitching goes through the wool inside the pouch; it was also present in the Jarnagin Watervliet pouch, but the stitching did not go through the back).. The inner cover bears a "Jewell, Hartford" maker's stamp.
The wool is longer and softer than that of the Jarnagin pouch. Both hold caps in the respective pouches fairly effectively. The Sekela pouch also has the loop for the cone pick. The finial has some horizontal scoring, indicating a turned (as opposed to cast) product. However, the finish is smoother than that of the Jarnagin box.
While the Jarnagin pouch had a tight stitch count, the linen thread was white. Makers commonly coated the thread with a rosin mixture, which left the thread gray (another possible explanation for gray threads would be the use of blacking and accumulation of dirt in the field). Sekela uses a gray thread for the stitching in this box. The sewing is for the most part tight and precise, particularly on the front of the box. The stitching on the rear wanders slightly, clearly indicating a hand sewn product.
There is some debate over Jarnagin's use of a machine to punch the holes in their hand sewn accouterments, although a close examination of both the cap box and cartridge box purchased last fall (2000) gives some indication of stitch variations inconsistent with a machine (Jarnagin cited the use of a stitching wheel). There is no such question at to the construction of the Sekela box. This is an outstanding product, and an excellent addition to a mid to late war impression.
Purchased: From Vender, Gettysburg, March 2001
Cost: $65
Source: S & S Sutler of Gettysburg. 45 Steinwehr Ave. Gettysburg, Pa 17325 (717) 338-1990
Maker: Nick Sekela
Durability: Thick supple leather and tight stitching indicate a very long life in the field.
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Good
Overall: Excellent
Images of the Sekela 1850 cap pouch.
1861 C.S. Storms Contract Cartridge Box
C & D Jarnagin
Jarnagin has a substantial collection of cartridge boxes in their collection, so it should come as no surprise that the company would produce a good replica of an 1861 cartridge box. I choose the C.S. Storms contract box, which began production in 1862. This should give me some leeway when it comes to covering scenarios set in different years.
Base on a survey of cartridge boxes in the Autumn, 1998 edition of The Watchdog, C.S. Storms the Pattern of 1861 cartridge box for the .58 caliber rifle musket had either a turned ball or acorn finial. The box was sewn together (8 stitches per inch). In both instances, the Jarnagin box matches specifications. Stitching is tight and generally even, and a measurement reveals that their are indeed 8 stitches to the inch. The finial is a turned acorn.
The box includes cartridge tins, and has a relatively large implement pouch under the inner flap. A small "US" stamp is set beneath the stitching that attaches the closing strap to the outer lid, and the C.S. Storms maker's marks are visible on boxes sides.
The one uncertain element might be the carrying strap buckles, which appear to be painted black. I plan to purchase a volume on Federal cartridge boxes, which might answer any questions I have about the buckles' accuracy.
The caveats I expressed with the Jarnagin cap box apply to the cartridge box; a close examination may reveal inaccuracies not present in the handmade (and expensive) boxes made by specialized, super authentic vendors. However, you can get a good product (acceptable to a large number of very authentic groups), the cost is reasonable, and the wait is often considerably less.
A second criticism can be applied to the carrying strap. While the length and width conform to specifications, the leather is thin and is not as supple as that in some other vendor's products. I would still rate the strap as a step above most on the market, and I have few reservations regarding its durability.
The box comes with cartridge tins.
Purchased: Mail Order, September 2000
Delivery Time: 5 weeks
Price: 81.95
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Excellent
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good/Very Good
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Very Good
C & D Jarnagin
The Jarnagin reproduction canteen came with a brown jeancloth cover and a cotton carrying strap bearing a N.Y. inspector's mark. The strap and mark make it well suited to a post 1862 impression.
As a significant number of canteens came without a chain to secure the stopper, I choose to order the canteen without the chain hole in the bracket. As this canteen has the New York marks, it would technically be correct to have a chain, if one so desired. There are a number of color and fabric options for the canteen, and the addition of a leather strap would make it well suited for an early war impression as well.
Purchased: Mail Order, September 2000
Delivery Time: 5 weeks
Price: 41.95
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Excellent
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good/Very Good
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Very Good
Article: The Federal Canteen
C & D Jarnagin
The 2 rivet scabbard is essentially similar to the 7 rivet product I bought 2 years ago. The finial is identical, although the scabbard itself is slightly shorter. The obvious difference are the two rivets and hand stitching on the frog. The chief advantage of the 2 rivet scabbard is its historical flexibility, which ranges from 1861 through 1863 (although it is present in period photographs through 1865). It is also the most acceptable Federal scabbard for the Enfield bayonet.
The stitching on the frog and scabbard is tight and even, and the frog bears a "C.S. Storms" maker's mark.
Purchased: Mail Order, September 2000
Delivery Time: 5 weeks
Price: 34.95
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Excellent
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good/Very Good
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Very Good
C & D Jarnagin
My previous poncho was a heavy thing, with enormous brass grommets. The hole in the center of the poncho could occasionally made life more difficult on cold nights.
The Jarnagin gum blanket is a study in contrast. The material is relatively light, and the weave is visible through the rubber coating. Jarnagin produces a vulcanized gum blanket, much as Goodyear did originally, and this might explain the pattern on the rubber.
The grommets are considerably smaller, and the lack of a neck hole means less draft on those chilly eves. Jarnagin will stamp these blankets with a Goodyear Maker's Stamp, although I have yet to locate it on my replica.
As with the Jarnagin canteen, the Jarnagin reproduction gum blanket is highly regarded in the authentic community, so you should be able to purchase this product without the fear of being caught by the authenticity police.
Purchased: Mail Order, September 2000
Delivery Time: 5 weeks
Price: 43.50
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Untested
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Excellent/Very Good
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Excellent
Image of the Jarnagin Gum Blanket
Matt Woodburn, Family Heirloom Weavers
My first blanket was a thin, gray affair, with no sewn "US" of strips. While acceptable for warm summer nights, my first weekend at Cedar Creek quickly revealed the blanket's inability to shelter me from subfreezing temperatures. My second blanket was a heavy, think all wool affair, with reddish strip that appear to have been painted on. This was a significant improvement in many respects, but the thickness of the wool made it impossible to roll the blanket with any hopes of fitting the straps of my knapsack. Both blankets came with the ends bound.
Enter Matt Woodburn and the Family Heirloom Weavers.
Armed with photographs from the ubiquitous Echoes of Glory and the work of Fred Gaede (The Watchdog, Volume 8, No. 1), I made the decision to purchase a Woodburn-Mount blanket from Matt Woodburn.
The blanket arrived shortly before Christmas, and included two templates for sewing a "US" into the center of the blanket, as well as several yards of brown yarn. In addition to a template for the standard three line letters, gives the recipient the option of sewing block letters as well. Both templates illustrate the use of quilt stitching, which produces a dashed effect. Those with patience and more confidence in their sewing skills could probably use the templates to create chain stitched letters.
In some respects, the Woodburn-Mount blanket bears a superficial similarity to the "emergency issue" blankets sold by many sutlers. Both show a brown (as opposed to gray) color, with dark brown end strips. There, however, is where the comparison ends. The may be some evidence that a few soldiers in the field bound the ends of their blankets, but the blankets were cut from spools and issued raw. Like its historical model, the Woodburn-Mount blanket is issued with raw ends.
Although thinner than the second blanket, the wool in the Woodburn-Mount blanket is very tightly woven, and shows a distinctive twill weave. The end strips are woven in to the fabric, and clearly show the weave. As noted above, the blanket has a tan/brown color, and is darker than the sutler examples. Shoddy material within the blanket lends a kind of "texture" to the wool, independent of the weave. Red, blue and orange flecks are revealed with a close inspection, and red fibers are clearly visible on one of the unbound ends. I have heard that the blanket's tight weave compensates for its relatively light weight (around 3 lbs, as opposed to the quartermaster regulations specifying a blanket weighing "no greater than 5 lbs" (Yingling, 12).
It is quite easy to add the "US" to the center of the blanket with the templates and yarn, and it adds an additional touch of authenticity lacking in many generic blankets.
I placed my order shortly after Matt shipped the last of the first run of 80 blankets. He was exceedingly polite over the e-mail, and promptly shipped the blanket when the second and final run of blankets arrived from the weavers in December. This is an excellent product, and while it may cost a bit more than the "Emergency Issue" blankets on sutler's row, it is a vastly superior product. The price-for-authenticity ratio is outstanding, considering that other reproduction blankets can cost considerably more than the Woodburn-Mount's $93, including shipping (in all fairness, the Abraham Thomas and Country Cloth blankets are both considered outstanding products, and well worth the money themselves).
Woodburn-Mount blankets were quite a hit within the campaigner community, and the second run has sold out. I post this review both in tribute to a fine product, and as a guide for someone fortunate enough to have the opportunity to purchase one of these excellent products.
John Yingling rated the Augie Weissert (Wisconsin's Veterans Museum, now sold out), the Abe Thomas (Quartermaster Woolens) and the Woodburn-Mount blankets as "excellent reproductions" in the Summer, 2000 edition of The Watchdog.
Purchased: Mail Order, October 31, 2000
Delivery Time: 7 weeks
Price: 93
Source: Matt Woodburn, http://hometown.aol.com/rmwoodburn/myhomepage/sale.html
Durability: Untested
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Excellent (Sold Out!!!)
Overall: Excellent
Andrew Doddington
When I returned to the hobby in 1998, one of my first purchases was a shelter tent, complete with the triangular ends and 2" by 2" tent poles. The poles were quickly replaced with sticks, cut from locust and maple trees on my parent's farm. Eventually, the ends (which never really fit well, due to my unwillingness to cut more "properly" sized sticks) were left at home as well.
However, I continued to drag the tent to events for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Although I began to attend more events sans tent in 2000, my battered Jarnagin tent sheltered me from the frequent rains at numerous events during this rather damp season. Somehow, the untreated fabric repelled intermittent rain at New Market, and a far more serious downpour at Mesopotamia. Following Mesopotamia, I decided to quietly retire the old pair of shelter halves.
My rationale for doing so was motivated by a variety of factors. A downpour at the end of the Gettysburg event forced me to put the wet halves in my trunk. By the next morning, they were beginning to mildew. This was not so serious as the tears around the brass grommets, caused at least in part by my attempts to close the triangular ends, a nearly impossible task, given my slightly short sticks.
The coup de grace however came about through my continuous research on proper materials and construction. As far as mainstream shelter tents went, the 1998 Jarnagin was relatively light, and its untreated fabric was more accurate than many tents seen in the field. By the same token, it was still too heavy and bulky, and the brass grommets were simply (and glaringly) incorrect (as a side note, Jarnagin now offers shelter halves with hand sewn grommets, but not buttonholes).
I decided to purchase a new pair of shelter halves for the 2001 season. My preliminary research indicated that there were several major patterns of tents issued throughout the war that are also available as reproductions (many contractor and other variants aren't, to my knowledge, currently available). The general characteristics are as follows: I. "Early War" variety, issued roughly from 1862 through 1864. Three panel body, bone buttons. II. Possibly issued from 1862-63. Two panel body, bone buttons. III. Issued in 1864. Two panel body, paper backed tin buttons, addition of enter grommet/loop for additional tent peg (6 for a full shelter tent). IV. As III, with "blue line" material.
There is some debate as to possible variances in size. It was commonly held that early war tents were smaller than the late war varieties, but some have refuted this claim, and attribute size variances to possible shrinkage in the field. Generally, tents seem to have measured 66" by 65", with some variance. Grommets consisted of two holes in a reinforced panel. The holes were reinforced with waxed thread, and twine was looped through the holes. Types I and II have four such grommets, two per side. When the tent was assembled, it was possible to run a piece of twine from one of the top grommets to the ground. There are some records that two piece poles were issued, and when these were employed, the ropes would be necessary, as there was no provision for a ridge pole. It is also probable that when the shelter tents were brought into the field, soldiers would use just about anything they could find to build their humble shelters.
Button holes were hand sewn, and the tents themselves were made with a light duck or drill material. Extant examples are made from 6, 8 and 10 ounce material, although the lighter fabric is more common. By contrast, many reproduction shelter halves are made from 10 to 12 ounce material, sport three brass grommets, and have machine sewn buttonholes. In addition, their is little evidence to support the use of triangular end pieces.
With this information in hand, I posted a message on the Authentic Campaigner mailing list requesting information on a maker who could produce a good "early war" shelter tent, with a relatively fast turnaround. Dave Grieves was kind enough to suggest Andrew Doddington, whom I contacted immediately. I received a reply within hours:
I can make several
varieties of shelter halves. The earliest ones produces by
the U.S. weren't issued until June or July of 62. There were
some imported from France but they're smaller and I don't
have the faintest idea of the look or make of them. The
first ones produced here were 3 piece models with bone
buttons. The bone buttons were the norm until 64 anyway. The
next type produced was a 2 panel version but I don't know
exactly when they were made. I'm still guessing 62 but I'm
not sure. Either of these 2 models is ideal for early war.
The next type is 2 panels with an extra set of grommet holes
along the bottom seam at the center. This allows for a 3rd
loop of rope for another tent peg. This type has metallic
buttons and is for the 64-65 time period. The 4th type I can
do is made of "blue line" sail cloth and is constructed like
the previous type. Each panel has a single blue line 1 inch
in from each edge. This gives a double blue line down the
center where the 2 panels are sewn together. This material
is far more expensive per yard and I don't always have it on
hand. All come with hand
done grommet holes and button holes. Button holes are done
in waxed cotton thread and grommet holes in waxed linen
thread as per specs. Pricing is as
follows: #1. 3 panel marked
B.HANSELL PHILAD'A is $85 #2. 2 panel marked
H.S. McComb Wilmington is $80 #3. 2 panel no
makers mark is $85 #4. 2 panel "blue
line" no marks is $110 Please add $5
postage per half. This covers shipping via priority mail and
insurance. Let me know which
of the first two you want and I'll get on them in a few
weeks. I have 3 pairs of drawers to make, a sack coat, and a
shirt. Too much to do after work! It may be 3 weeks or more
before I get to them. I'll keep you posted.
Although I wasn't in too much of a hurry to receive the halves, they were indeed on my doorstep within three weeks. As one might gather from the e-mail above, Andrew is pleasant to deal with and quite informative. I've noticed that several high-quality makers are willing to share a considerable amount of information with their potential customers, which bodes well for a number of reasons. At the very least, it shows that they have done their research, and they are willing to educate their clients on the matter. Given the increasing number of resources available, this exchange also allows customers to match the information provided by the vendor with historical records for a rough comparison.
The halves themselves meet every criteria for historical accuracy. Grommets and the 23 buttonholes were neatly hand sewn, the tent bears a clear B.HANSELL PHILAD'A maker's stamp, and the cloth used is considerably lighter than that of my previous tent. Doddington also provided the twine lines mentioned above, as well as the twine loops. Each half measures 65" by 64", and I would unscientifically estimate that together, the 2 halves weigh in at a mere 3 pounds, or lighter than a typical single reproduction half. Both halves easily fit into my knapsack, something that would not have been possible with my older tent.
I have yet to properly field test the tent. As I plan on more campaign style camping, regardless of an event's authenticity requirements, it is quite probable that I'll simply use one half for a dew cloth. My old tent proved to be relatively waterproof, however I suspect that the lighter fabric in the new tent might not keep me quite so dry. I must add that this is not any condemnation of the product; a "properly" made reproduction, with its light, untreated fabric, is bound to be less water repellent than a tent made of 12 ounce, treated duck. On the other hand, I would dread the prospect of marching any distance with two 5 or 6 pound shelter halves, provided that I could find the room to carry them in the first place!
There is one final consideration that works in Doddington's favor: variety. Many high quality vendors are now offering several variants. Andrew offers 4, which allows for a considerable degree of specificity. It might be wise to purchase an earlier pattern initially, as such a product allows for a fair amount of historical versatility (1862-64, as opposed to say, late 1864-65).
Purchased: Mail Order, February 27, 2001
Delivery Time: Under 3 weeks
Price: $85 per half
Source: Andrew Doddington. 13651 Kretsinger Road, Smithburg, Maryland 21783. (240) 818-0035, E-mail ny49th@yahoo.com
Durability: Untested
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Competitive with other makers in this level.
Overall: Excellent
Images of the Andrew Doddington Shelter Half
C & D Jarnagin
Considerations: The overcoat should be one of your last purchases, as you're not likely to use it other than early spring and fall events. At Cedar Creek, where mid October evenings can push freezing, the coat is invaluable. It can be used to ward off rain or snow, or as an ersatz sleeping bag. The cloak-coat was also one of the more attractive articles issued to the troops.
Review: The greatcoat is well made, with a pattern in the wool, as can be seen on an original on page 143 in Army Blue. The body is lined with a blue wool flannel, and the sleeves are lined with cotton/muslin. There is a great deal of fabric in this item, as the coat extends to the knees and the cloak itself extends to the elbows. This makes the greatcoat one of the pricier items on the market.
I read somewhere that the Jarnagin greatcoat needed a new lining and reworked button holes in order to pass muster. The buttonholes are machine sewn, and would need to be hand sewn to meet hard core authenticity requirements. The lining is a wool flannel, which is what the originals were often lined with. Jarnagin has shown some initiative recently in terms of producing more historically correct items. Although I have not taken the steps necessary to "authenticate" my greatcoat, the coat is again superior to most I have seen along sutlers row. Many greatcoats are made with cotton, canvas or even burlap(!) linings. The wool in these coats is not of the same quality, and the colors can vary noticeably. Hand made greatcoats, with inspector's and maker's marks, logwood dyed thread and extensive hand stitching are obviously going to be superior products. Jarnagin is a rather large company with a good reputation for quality, but it simply can't produce an extensively hand sewn item for a lower price. My greatcoat cost about $180. However, a similar custom made coat can easily run twice as much.
Jarnagin is perhaps best known as a source for quality leather and tinware. The "Inspector General" gave a Jarnagin cartridge box a thumbs up, and I have been very impressed with their leather items. While their uniforms are not likely to win the approval of hard-core units, they are often of a much higher quality than the run-of-the-mill items found at most sutlers, and the prices are generally comparable. Jarnagin was one of the pioneers ushering the "wool era" of reenacting when most of us were wearing modified work clothes. For the mainstream reenactor, most uniform items found in Jarnagin's catalog are probably not only acceptable, but most likely better than the majority of uniforms found in the field. Again, keep in mind that they probably won't pass muster in hard-core units, so check the suppliers lists at the Bully Boys and the Rowdy Pards websites if that's the direction you wish to go.
Purchased: Mail Order, July 1998
Delivery Time: 6 weeks
Price: 179.95
Source: C&D Jarnagin. PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS 38835-1860. www.jarnaginco.com
Durability: Excellent
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Good/Very Good (fabric)
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Very Good
Overall: Very Good
Nick Sekela
Nicky Hughes ("Trying to Bag a Good Sack Coat," Watchdog, Volume 1 No. 1, 1993) and Patrick Brown ("My Own Poor Observations on the Lowly Sack Coat," Watchdog, Volume 8, Nos. 1-2, 2000) lament the poor quality of most reproductions readily available to mainstream reenactors.
The average "sutler's row" Sack Coat is constructed of a heavy, fuzzy navy blue material that quickly fades to a deep purple color. The collar is too large and low, the facing on the front of the coat is straight, the material is the wrong weight and color, and the vent in the cuff is exaggerated. Most sack coats issued during the war were lined, and those that were issued without a lining had flat felled seams.
Patrick Brown found the following general characteristics in the 26 samples he examined (yes, the purple is a deliberate commentary/shot at the unholy sheen of many reproduction coats!):
Materials Were constructed of a
lightweight wool flannel (regulations specified 5.5 ounce
wool). The weave had a diagonal twill pattern, and would let
pinpoints of light through when the material was held up to
a light source. The indigo dye process produced coats with a
variety of shades of blue, "from what ranged from what
almost approached a royal blue to a dark navy blue" (8.1:
18). Virtually all coats had a green or gray cast to
them. Generally, reproduction sack
coats are made of a heavy, 18-21 ounce wool/synthetic blend
with no visible twill. The coats are navy blue, with a
black/purple cast to them. While the indigo dyes used in
originals is virtually light fast, the red based dyes in the
modern coats fades to a bright purple, more appropriate for
characters on children's shows than serious living
history. Linings Wool flannel, wool/cotton
blends, cotton (rarely, based on the admittedly small
sample). Sleeves were lined with unbleached muslin. Lined
coats generally had marker's and size marks in the sleeves.
Coats were issued at a ration of 3 lined to 1 unlined. The
bottom of the lining didn't extend to the bottom of the
bottom hem, but stopped at least 2" from the
bottom. Unlined coats had flat
felled seams (8:1: 18-19. No linings, no flat felled
seams. Those with linings frequently have muslin liners in
the body. No makers marks. Linings frequently extend to the
bottom of the coat. General
Construction Facings narrowed from the
top to the bottom of the coat. The collars were relatively
small, and had some form of interfacing. The vent in the
sleeves ranged from 3/4" to 1 1/3". Bodies were made in 3 or 4
pieces, although 2 piece bodies do exist. Fronts were
rounded or squared at the bottom. Construction techniques
varied, from mostly machine sewn to entirely hand sewn.
Tailoring ranged from excellent to erratic. Coats were
initially offered in 4 standard sizes (1-36", 2-38", 3-40",
4-42"), although several other sizes were added later.
Buttonholes were entirely hand sewn. (8.2: 2-4) Facings run parallel. Peter
Pan collars are much too conspicuous. Vents are much too
deep. Machine sewn button holes,
regular stitching (frequently of low quality thread). Sizes
range from 28" to 50"+ breast.
I had a chance to purchase a J.T. Martin sack coat from Bill Sheads of S & S Sutlers at the 2000 Fire on the Mountain (South Mountain) event in Maryland. While I commented on the clear gap in quality between Jarnagin clothing and the average sutler's row merchandise, uniforms constructed by Nick Sekela, John Wedeward and Chris Daley are clearly in a league of their own.
Although I have added some photographs of the new sack coat, they simply fail to do justice to the product. The coat has a distinct diagonal weave and a nice shade of blue (with a blue-green cast). The button holes are hand sewn with a tight and durable button hole stitch. The body is of the 3 piece pattern, lined with a brown cotton/wool material, and the sleeves are lined with white muslin. The lining in the left arm bears the stamp "J.T. Martin, OCT. 18. 64" in black characters, with a large "3" (denoting a size 40 coat), stamped in red ink. The lining in the left sleeve has the inspector's stamp, and reads "Geo. C. Fry, U.S. Insp. Ciniti. O."
The collar and cuff splits are almost understated in comparison with those of most reenactor's coats. The collar measures 2", while the vent of the cuff measures a mere 1/2". By contrast, the purple sack coats have collars measuring 3" or more, with cuff vents of 2" to 3".
It stands to reason that the coat's light weight flannel (5 ounces, as opposed to 18 or more for the purple fuzzies) served to lessen soldiers misery in the summer heat. In fact, the Sekela reproduction is considerably more comfortable than the costume jackets commonly worn at events. It becomes evident that this plebeian uniform was part of a system that, while hardly comfortable in extreme heat, was nevertheless far more bearable then the low quality merchandise worn by the lion's share of reenactors.
There are several concerns as far as the Sekela fatigue blouse goes. The first stems from the date of the maker's mark, although this is invisible when the jacket is worn. J.T. Martin contract jackets were constructed early in the war, so the style won't stand out as anachronistic at events set in 1862 and 1863. A second concern is the potential for a "tailored" look is the purchaser buys a blouse made to individual specifications. The Sack Coat was made in 4 standard sizes, although there was a considerable amount of variation. The potential "tailored authentic" or "cookie cutter progressive" look can be avoided by buying jackets that conform to period specifications concerning size (if practical). My size 3 is actually a bit on the large size for my thin frame, although not so oversized as to preclude my comfort. It should be noted that many makers and progressives extol the virtues of coats that have a "hastily made" look. Based on the material given above from the Brown article, many original coats exhibit signs of hasty and erratic construction. However, he also notes that many coats displayed excellent workmanship. I am leery of the implication that all jackets should have erratic sewing, since this has the possibility of becoming yet another "reenactorism." The workmanship in the Sekela coat would fall into the high end of the category.
The final concern stems from the cost, which can be rather steep. Nick Sekela sells the J.T. Martin Sack Coat for $140 on the Historic Clothiers website (rumor has it that he is getting out of the direct sales bit and focusing on retailers). Unfortunately, 8 or 9 months may pass before the buyer receives his blouse. Chris Daley Sells a similar coat for $140, and the wait is supposedly somewhat less. John Wedeward makes a highly regarded .T. Martin with a short wait time, but the coat runs around $195.
High quality retailers provide potential buyers with another avenue. Most sutlers continue to sell the dreaded purple fuzzies, but the S & S Sutler and S.G. Marinos of Gettysburg both sell high quality merchandise. Tim Sheads of S & S is quite pleasant to deal with, and he is more than willing to point out the important features and details of each product. The obvious drawback of traveling the retail route is the increased cost, but the retailers provide an excellent means of comparing competing products.
On the positive side, virtually every hard-core Federal group recommends Sekela as one of their primary suppliers of Sack Coats.
Price: $179; $120 if purchased directly.
Source: S & S Sutler of Gettysburg. 45 Steinwehr Ave. Gettysburg, Pa 17325 (717) 338-1990
Maker: Nick Sekela, Historic Clothiers.
Durability: Appears to be very good over three events . . . more on this next season.
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Good
Overall: Excellent
Articles on sack coats: What is the Correct Color for Your Federal Sack Coat? and The Fatigue Blouse.
Images of the Nick Sekela Sack Coat
Brandon Jolly
This is one of 30 sack coats produced by Brandon Jolly of the Dirty Shirts Mess. Brandon based his research on an original coat in St. Louis. The project is based in part on the need for more variety in hard-core uniforms, as the J.T. Martin coats, such as my Sekela, tend to dominate the field (almost every major authentic maker produces J.T. Martin coats).
The project was coordinated with Paul Calloway's Authentic Campaigner website, although Paul was not directly involved with the project. I still don't buy into the idea that every sack coat was a rush job, but many were, and this coat adds more variety to my impression, particularly from an early war perspective.
The following information came from Brandon Jolly's site:
Chicago trip:
It was encouraging to see the maker taking the time to examine an
original coat to support his research. Sekela, Daley and other
quality makers share this habit.
After a visit to the Chicago Historical
Society, and observation of an original Federal fatigue
blouse, the following characteristics will be seen on this
run of coats.
4 piece body
2 piece sleeve
5 piece collar, (1 piece front collar, 4 piece back
collar)
Collar will be interfaced with linen
Front facings will be interfaced with linen.
Tapered front facings, button side lacks the third or extra
top stitch seen on some JT Martins.
I will vary the tapers on individual jackets, some will be
steeper, some wont.
Buttons will be spaced further apart as a standard in these
jackets, some will vary. They will not be bunched towards
the top of the jacket.
The cuff will be vented approx. 1 1/4". The top
stitching will rise back to the vent, but narrows towards
the front of the cuff.
The top stitching throughout the coat will be very spiratic,
and will vary in stitches per inch. Approx. from 5-6
stitches / inch to 12-14 stitches / inch.
Hand done, uncorded button Holes No Markings throughout the
coat.
It will be lined in:
Gray Flannel
Brown jean type material (not heavy
material though, something new)
Cotton Jeans of varying colors.
Sleeves will be lined in Muslin.
I will piece parts of the coats where I see fit (facings
etc.)
Overview:
In general this coat was EXTREMELY hastily made. It
was a very well made piece however. The stitching
throughout the coat seemed as though the seamstress was
drunk. This was very evident in the pocket stitching,
collar, and cuffs. This coat was exactly what I was
looking for. It is the product of a production line,
and showed every characteristic of a hasty process. You will
receive in all practicality, just a sack coat. Nothing
special, no real defining characteristics. This coat
was not a JT Martin as promised. I am making a coat as
close to an original as I possibly can. I am not
making special sizes, or taking special requests. All
of you who have supported this project will be pleased with
the final product. I thank you all for your
support. As they start to get finished, I will try to
photograph the first ones to post on line to ease
anticipation. I will keep everyone updated. I am
dying the thread this weekend."
I placed my order around Thanksgiving. The coat was finished in mid January, but Brandon received the wrong buttons from one of his suppliers. I received the coat in the last week of February.
As noted above, the coats are not J.T. Martin's. The coat uses a 4 panel body (my Sekela coat uses a 3 panel body). The collar is taller in the back, with a more pronounced taper in the front (no Peter Pan collar here). The top stitching wavers noticeably, but this does not detract from the coat's durability.
The button holes are nicely hand sewn, with a wider stitch than the Sekela reproduction. The facing tapers, and the bottom hem is squared, as opposed to the rounded J.T. Martin style. Brandon used a logwood dyed linen thread throughout the coat, and I suspect that the current bluish gray thread color will eventually fade to the brown seen on many extant Civil War uniforms.
The coat is lined with a brown jean cloth, not unlike that used in Sekela's coat. Sleeve linings are made of muslin, and are neatly whip stitched to the lining. The wool flannel was manufactured by Pat Kline, has the proper twill pattern, and exhibits even more of a blue green cast than the material in the Historic coats jacket, which is regarded as one of the "lightest" of the Federal coats on the market. Other Jolly coats varied in flannel color and lining material. There are no maker's marks, relatively unusual, but not unheard of.
If Sekela's coat represents the finer end of the tailoring spectrum, this coat approaches the most erratic. This is not a slight on the quality of the coat, as many production coats displayed this rough, hastily assembled construction. As such, both fall well within the spectrum of existing sack coat varieties. I have indicated my reservations about buying into the "grunge" theory of sack coat construction producing nothing but hastily made, erratically tailored coats. One should refrain from criticizing a coat for being too wildly sewn or too neatly tailored (given that such coats are properly made in the first place), although there is something of a need for more hastily constructed coats to add more variety in the ranks. It is unsafe to say that all should be one way or another.
Only 30 coats were produced in the Sack Coat Project, and all of them were initially purchased. Brandon Jolly has indicated that he may make more period garments. He is a very agreeable fellow, and his future endeavors may well be worthy of notice in the authentic community.
Price: $145 (Sold out!!!)
Source: The Sack Coat Project
Maker: Brandon Jolly
Delivery Time: Three months (would have been two, but for the mistake with the buttons described above).
Durability: Probably excellent.
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent (given the intention of producing a hastily made item).
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Excellent
Articles on sack coats: What is the Correct Color for Your Federal Sack Coat? and The Fatigue Blouse.
Images of the Brandon Jolly Sack Coat
Ray Hock
Period photographs and first hand accounts indicate that the average Federal soldier most commonly wore an issue shirt of white domet flannel, or a contract variant of such a shirt. Troops in the field also wore civilian shirts, brought from home or possibly purchased from a private source. Unfortunately, as with so many reproductions that flood the marketplace, very few high quality, authentic shirts are available to the reenactor. One of the most ubiquitous of the incorrect shirts is the so called "issue shirt," sold for around $20 at many sutlers. This creature is made of a white or off white muslin, with pewter, wood or bone buttons. Seams aren't felled, button holes are machine sewn, collars are too tall, and the material is decidedly incorrect for a true issue shirt (which was made of a scratchy wool flannel).
Most civilian shirts share these flaws. As I wanted to add some variety to my impression, I recently (March, 2001) bought a civilian shirt made by Ray Hock at the S&S Sutlery in Gettysburg.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the shirt is the fabric itself, a rich red and green plaid weave with a few minor "flaws" in the cloth. We're planning another trip to Gettysburg at the end of March, and I may inquire as the to source of this fine cloth. Button holes are hand sewn, and the collar and cuffs are cleanly attached with whip stitching. The main seams are machine sewn, and neatly felled. The buttons are made of bone, and are fastened with the correct "X" stitch.
While a decent civilian shirt represents a more costly investment than the typical sutler tripe, it is well worth the money, especially if you don't share my tolerance for 98 degree weather, and the though of wearing a flannel undershirt makes you skin crawl. Completely hand sewn varieties are available from a number of vendors, but the extensive time involved in constructing such a shirt leads to a proportionately higher price.
Price: $65
Source: S & S Sutler of Gettysburg. 45 Steinwehr Ave. Gettysburg, Pa 17325 (717) 338-1990
Maker: Ray Hock
Durability: Felled seams and thick thread attaching the buttons bodes well for the future.
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good /Excellent (I haven't done as much research on civilian shirts, but I believe that many were in fact machine sewn, with the exceptions of button holes).
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Very Good
Overall: Excellent
Nick Sekela
There is a considerable amount of historical evidence that large numbers of Federal soldiers wore issue shirts into the field. Such shirts were characterized by their simple construction, their large size and their low status among many of the soldiers. Shirts issued from government arsenals were made with a white domet flannel wool, which chafed the skin and added significantly to the soldier's discomfort on a hot summer's day. These shirts employed a considerable amount of hand sewing. As one would suspect, buttonholes were invariably hand sewn, seams were flat felled, and much of the other sewing was also done by hand. Indeed, several sources indicate that such shirts were often completely hand sewn.
Contract variant shirts utilized the same, simple pattern: rectangular body, reinforced shoulders (particularly important, given the fact that the massive shirts draped off one's body, creating added potential for wear) and, from what I can gather, paper backed tin buttons. However, contract shirts were often primarily machine sewn, with unfelled seams. Materials varied; the shirt upon which Nick Sekela based his reproduction was made with a tan wool flannel, as described on the Historical Clothier website:
Federal Contract Shirt Worn by Pvt. David Gilbert Meyers of the 87th PV, who was
wounded at the Wilderness and later, perished at
Andersonville. The pattern consists of many straight lines,
which is a feature of streamlined 19th century mass
production. The shoulders are cut straight, without any
"hollowing" for the armscye. This causes the shoulder seam
to fall off of the shoulder; consequently, there is a
reinforcing strip. Offered in tan flannel, with breast
pocket, and three-button placket front, as per original. As
and added detail, the original shirt had the soldiers
initials stitched in outline letters between the two buttons
on the placket.
I ordered the shirt from Joe Hofmann, of the Jersey Skilletlicker. Joe was prompt and courteous, and the shirt was on my doorstep within a week.
The shirt was almost everything one could expect from a Sekela product: well constructed, with neatly hand sewn buttonholes and tight construction throughout. Oddly, the shirt had polished wooden buttons. I contacted Nick Sekela to verify the accuracy of this rather highly visible detail, but I received no reply. Chris Sullivan, of The Stony Brook Company, was kind enough to send me a set of paper backed tin buttons, and the old buttons are now awaiting use on one of Traci's projects.
This is not to say that the buttons were incorrect; I simply could not verify the use of wooden buttons on contract variant shirts. It was a strange addition to an otherwise highly accurate product.
I recently had the chance to field test the shirt at the Stone House, near Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. With its reinforced seams, there is little doubt as to the shirt's durability, and I can now say without hesitation that the contract shirt's dismal reputation with regards to its comfort is well deserved. My neck was raw for a couple of days following the event. While the wool flannel feels deceptively soft to the touch, it wasn't long before the collar began to chafe my neck.
Articles
An overview of Federal Issue Shirts, by Stephen Osman.
Federal Issue Shirts, by Chris Sullivan.
Price: $115
Source: The Jersey Skillet Licker. Jersey Skillet Licker Products, ATTN: Joe Hofmann, 8 Arlington Pl., Fairlawn, NJ 07410 - 3506. E-mail: winger6049@aol.com
Maker: Nick Sekela
Durability: Very well constructed, with reinforced shoulders.
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good /Excellent (Machine sewn, as per originals. Hand sewn button holes. Originally came with wooden buttons, which may in fact be accurate. My somewhat limited research calls this into question).
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Good
Overall: Very Good
Images of the Nick Sekela Contract Shirt
S.G. Marinos
Bad suspenders abound in the hobby. Fortunately, there is a fair amount of research aimed at correcting what is really one of the more visible maladies within the hobby. What is clear however is that the bulk of suspenders seen in the camps are made of incorrect materials (particularly colored elastic, although some forms of elastic suspenders may be correct), and have woefully bad buckles.
Our trip to Gettysburg in early March, although cut short by the recent Nor' Easter, saw us staying at a hotel within easy walking distance of S.G. Marinos, one of the better sutlers in the market. Since my new Sullivan trowsers were on their way, it seemed ridiculous to let a small but glaringly obvious anachronism undermine my impression, so I wandered through the shop, savoring the aroma of wood smoke and searching for a good pair of braces. Fortunately, the sutler provided.
The braces are made of a red and tan material cotton material with a noticeable weave, with a backing of finer, tan cloth. The term pair of suspenders literally refers to this product, as the braces consist of two separate straps. They fasten to the buttons on the trowsers by means of 6 hand sewn button holes. Adjustments are made with 2 prong, brass buckles, and the braces form an "X" pattern on the back when worn properly. I was told that these braces reflected a more expensive option than some other varieties, and may be indicative of a middle or upper class soldier. It should be remembered that braces were privately purchased items, as the army did not issue braces until the 1880's (Chris Sullivan, "Visible Means of Support").
Six button braces were privately purchased items (braces in general were not issued until well after the end of the war), and it seems that trowsers came with 4 buttons on the waistband. Soldiers would attach an extra pair of buttons if they desired to have a 6 button attachment. Apparently, the 4 button, non adjustable "poor boy" style sometimes seen on the field is correct, although Robert Braun argues that the adjustable, 6 button variety was more common ("Brace Yourself").
The Marinos braces lack leather ends, but are nonetheless based on models seen in period images. According to Aaron Young's article, "Did You Know They Wore Braces in the 1860's?!," braces with leather ends were more common, and Marinos does in fact carry a pair of braces with this style of construction (I believe that this model is of the 4 button, adjustable variety).
Price: $50
Source: S. G. Marinos, 890 Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 3192, Gettysburg, PA 17325-3192. (717) 334-9376
Maker: S. G. Marinos
Durability: Appears to be quite good.
Historical accuracy/craftsmanship: Very Good /Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Excellent
Images of the S. G. Marinos Braces
Dirty Billy
The Uniform Regulations of 1861 state that for fatigue purposes, troops would wear a forage cap of "Dark blue cloth, with a welt of the same around the crown." In my ongoing effort to upgrade my impression this year (2000), I added a Federal forage cap from Dirty Billy to my collection at the Lisbon event.
As with the Sekela fatigue blouse, there is little comparison between the Dirty Billy cap and the standard Sutler's row fare. The cap is made of a tightly woven wool fabric without a diagonal pattern (although one might discern a diamond pattern with a close examination). Although the wool is darker than that of the Sekela blouse, it has a nice, rich blue color without the purple cast evident in many reproductions. The bridle leather bill is thick and painted, resulting in a shiny finish. The chin strap is also painted, and has a brass buckle.
The crown is made of a thick, sturdy pasteboard. One of the complaints I had about my last forage cap stemmed from the flimsy crown, which distorted in a moderate rainstorm. This is unlikely to happen with the Dirty Billy hat.
A typical reproduction forage cap may bear a passing resemblance to an original, but the similarity is purely superficial. No where is this more evident than the cap's interior, which lacks the polished cotton, black leather headband and maker's tag. The Dirty Billy reproduction has a nicely polished black cotton interior, a black leather headband hand sewn to the cap, and a maker's tag that reads "Size No. 5, 7 1/4, U.S. Army, L.J.&I. Phillips."
Dirty Billy has a retail shop in Gettysburg, and is a something of a fixture at many of the larger events. A message on the Rob Hodge Preservation March discussion board stated that Dirty Billy makes excellent caps with a quick turnaround. His website displays a wide variety of hats for sale, including Confederate slouches and prewar shakos. He also makes a good replica of the 1858 Army Hat (also known as the Hardee).
As with so many things authentic, the price for quality runs a bit high, but compared to the typical $20 forage cap, this is an outstanding item. The cap is rugged, well constructed and is frequently approved for use by hard-core units.
Purchased: From Vender, Mesopotamia, September 2000
Cost: $85
Source: Dirty Billy
Durability: Heavily built . . . there are stories about Dirty Billy hats lasting for years. Probably excellent.
Historical Accuracy/Craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Good
Overall: Excellent
An article on Forage Caps
Images of the Dirty Billy Forage Cap
Tim Bender
After two and a half seasons, my trusty wool uniform hat (often called a Hardee) was a bit worse for the wear. The coup de grace came at Gettysburg, when the tower went down and the heavens opened up. With the wedding a few months away, it dawned on me that my battered old hat probably wouldn't pass muster with the wedding crew.
Word among my South Mountain pards was that Tim Bender, of TP&H made an excellent product. Further research indicated that this was the case, and, with three weeks to the wedding, I rushed off my money order. The hat was on our doorstep within a week and a half, complete with a blessing from Mister Bender. The dress hat itself is a remarkable piece of work. Tim uses the historically correct fur felt (a Watchdog review cites the material as wool felt, but several sources emphasize Mr. Bender's use of fur felt), a difficult to find silk grosgrain ribbon, a painted leather headband and a cloth label (reading US ARMY EXTRA MANUFACTURE) shellacked in the crown. The leather is hand sewn to the hat.
The hat came well shellacked, which should prevent a repeat of the Gettysburg droops. The brim has two lines of stitches, as per original specifications. Overall, this is a very durable and authentic article, possibly the best on the market.
Tim Bender is a pleasure to deal with. He responded to my e-mailed within 24 hours, and he was more than happy to provide information on the product. The hat initially felt a bit tight; Tim has lasts for round and long oval shaped heads, and apparently I fell somewhere between the two. Traci loosened the silk ribbon slightly, and the hat fit quite well.
The Watchdog called this "an extremely well made product" in the Fall, 1999 edition.
Purchased: October, 2000
Delivery Time: 8 days
Cost: $85
Source: Tim Bender (T.P.& H. Trading) T.P & H. Trading Co., Tim Bender, 121 Carriage Dr., Birdsboro, Pa 19508
Durability: Very well made. The fur felt is less likely to shrink, and the shellac gives the hat a fair degree of water-resistance.
Historical Accuracy/Craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Excellent
Article: The Model 1858 Uniform Hat
Cedar Creek Supply Depot
By the end of my third season, my old army shoes were quickly wearing out. They were billed as high quality shoes when I picked them up in 1995, but parades, encampments and dozens of skirmishes, tacticals and battles wrought havoc on the old brogans. The bottom layer of leather had worn through on one boot, and the soles were separating on the other. Needless to say, it was time for a new pair of boots.
Traci and I found a pair of boots from the Cedar Creek Supply Depot in the Heirloom Emporium in Strasburg, Virginia. One of the proprietresses knew Jim Lammers, the shoemaker, and when I told her of my footwear woes, she contacted Jim and had him bring some extra pairs of bootees to the Cedar Creek reenactment. I bought a pair two days before the wedding.
The Cedar Creek Supply bootees are noticeably different than the standard, chunky soled "brogan." The toe is quite square, but the shoe is also narrower; Jefferson bootees won't win many awards for aesthetics, but these shoes boast almost graceful lines when compared the the Frankenstein boots slipping on the wet grass beneath the feet of many reenactors.
One might say these shoes are overbuilt; the sole has two rows of pegging. The pegs themselves are thick, and some aren't flush with the bottom of the soles. Hammer indentations indicate that the pegs were tapped in, rather than simply glued in for shoe. The sole itself consists of two layers of leather, and is noticeably thicker than the soles on my own shoes. The heels are also quite durable.
The leather on the uppers is heavy, and the shoes come with the proper black leather shoelaces. CCSD bootees occupy an interesting position within the reproduction spectrum; on the one hand, they lack some of the traits necessary to boost them into the super authentic category (a la Tim Bender or Nick Sekela). The pegs aren't all quite flush or oriented as they were on the originals, the peg count is 3 to the inch as opposed to 5 for the original shoes, there are 12 nails in the heals as opposed to 4 nails per inch on surviving bootees, the toe is actually blunter than those found on many issue shoes (although private issue shoes often had blunt toes), and the shoe lacks lace holes in the vamp.
That said, the CCSD shoe has some excellent qualities that warrant consideration among the mainstream and hard-core communities. The shoes are certainly more authentic than most; the relatively narrow profile and double pegged soles don't scream farb! when the shoes are paired up with other authentic garb. The Watchdog was quite complimentary toward these shoes despite the variations from original samples. The heavy construction virtually assures the buyer that these shoes will last many seasons to come, and word of mouth seems to indicate that these are among the most durable shoes on the reenacting market. It should also be said that this is a very comfortable shoe.
If one is looking for a good blend of historical accuracy and longevity at a decent price, consider contacting Jim Lammers. Incidentally, he also seems like one of those personable vendors who is willing to go the extra mile to support his product.
What The Watchdog says:
Jim Lammers (Cedar Creek Supply Depot) produces a very durable and well constructed bootee. An ongoing field test (since April of 1998 that includes a week straight at Gettysburg 98) and the testimony of many of our pards continues to demonstrate the fact. Add in a pair of Mickey Black cotton socks and our "paws" feel real good (18). Cunningham, Michael R. "Federal Issue Jefferson Bootees--Part 2" The Watchdog, Vol. 7 No. 3, Summer, 1999.
Purchased: Direct from vendor, Cedar Creek, October 2000
Cost: $90
Source: Cedar Creek Supply Depot, 1100 Witt Road, Morristown, TN. 37813 (423) 317-7602 e-mail: jimlam2@email.msn.com
Durability: Built to last. Everything is made of thick, well pegged or glued leather.
Historical Accuracy/Craftsmanship: Very Good/Excellent
Comparison: Very Good
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Very Good
Images of the Jefferson Bootees
Chris Sullivan
Caps/hats and coats may be the most visible reproductions worn by reenactors, but it's fair to say that the trowsers take some of the most abuse. I'm notorious for taking hits on the field (because no one else seems to, because I have a knack for getting into bad situations, and because I sometimes drop simply to rid myself of that obnoxious individual who insists on ruining the moment). Two or three such plunges per event can take quite a toll on the old pants, so durability is an important issue.
By the same token, I was also looking for an authentic trousers to match my upgraded kit. Word on the proverbial company street was that Chris Sullivan of the Stony Brook Company was one of the premier makers, so I decided to order a pair of his "museum grade" trowsers last fall.
Preliminary notes: Before I begin my description of the trowsers, I will share some information from Patrick Brown's article, "Observations on Federal Trowsers," in the Summer, 1999 issue of The Watchdog, (Volume 7, Number 3: 9-12). Brown notes that trowsers are a somewhat neglected aspect of the reenactor's impression, a malady which he attributes to a general lack of knowledge about correct trowser patterns. I believe that this problem is exacerbated by the fact that trowsers, as I have said before, are not as visible as other pieces of clothing and accouterments.
Brown's article relies on an examination of 77 pairs of original trowsers. For the sake of brevity, I will relate the information pertinent to the Deering contract trowsers.
Type: Trowsers are categorized in part by the shape of the yoke, with Deering trowsers falling into Type 2, with a trapezoidal yoke (10).
Construction: Many contractors utilized a combination of machine and hand sewing. Some other common characteristics:
Trowsers were made with light blue, indigo dyed wool kersey, with a diagonal twill pattern (probably after 1861. I've heard that this was a step to reduce the cost of cloth by requiring less dye.). Buttons were made of paper backed tin.
Review: The trowsers arrived after a four month wait. To his credit, Chris is capable of delivering trowsers in a considerably shorter period of time (within reason) if necessary. As there was no immediate need for the pants, I indicated that there would be no need to rush the order.
Virtually every detail described above is present in these trowsers, as is evident in the scans on the clothing images page. The Sullivan Deering reproduction has a 5 button fly, lined with polished brown cotton, which Brown describes as common on contractor trowsers. Both the waistband and the pockets are made of a cotton drill cloth, as opposed to the muslin seen on many sutler pants. The pockets and the waistband are cleanly whip stitched with dark blue thread, as are the brown cotton facings on the fly. Button holes are neatly hand sewn; in fact, there is a considerable amount of hand sewing throughout these trowsers, although the main seams are primarily machine sewn.
My original pair of sutler's row trowsers were left unhemmed, a fact which tends to be at odds with the material presented in Brown's article. The Stony Brook trowsers are hemmed, and have a second piece of kersey sewn on the inside of the cuff, as well as the 1" square piece of drilling mentioned above. The upper edge of the inner piece of wool is whip-stitched. Unlike my old trowsers, the Sullivan reproduction is not only hemmed, it also has the 1" overlapping vent seen in the originals.
The buttons are made of paper backed tin, with 7 larger buttons (1 to close the fly, 6 for suspenders) and 5 small buttons on the fly. The wool is a Woolrich kersey, with a nice shade of blue and a diagonal weave, hidden in part by the nap. Chris explains that the Woolrich wool is 85% wool, 15% synthetic. This should not deter purists; the synthetic fiber is unnoticeable, and it probably adds substantially to the trowser's durability. In fact, Sullivan trowsers are famous for their durability.
The right front pocket bears a "WM. Deering, Portland Maine" stamp, while the inspector's ("Jos. Jones, NY") and size stamps are on the waistband. I confess that I cheated: while I did order a size 1, I had Chris add a couple of inches to the inseams to accommodate my longer legs. Given the disparity in size present in extant examples, this is not such an egregious departure from standards.
Chris is very willing to accommodate the wishes of his customers, and shows a remarkable knowledge of his product's history. Furthermore, he is willing to share that information with interested parties. He's sent several long message chock full of fascinating information to answer my questions, and my queries were invariably answered within a few hours. I have purchased many highly regarded reproductions as of late (much to the detriment of my bank account), but this is one of those products that stands out. Not only were my expectations met; they were exceeded beyond my expectations.
What The Watchdog says: "The bottom line is that the trowsers they submitted for review were very high quality reproductions. We are pleased to recommend both (this review also included trowsers from Goldberg & Co.). There is no question to that point. (Arf!) (Volume 8, No. 1: 13).
Purchased: October 31, 2000
Delivery Time: About 4 months (see note above; Chris can deliver in considerably less time, if necessary).
Cost: $145
Source: Stony Brook Company (Chris Sullivan), 169 West Fifth Street, Oswego, NY 13126-2505. E-mail: cams@bridgemicro.com.
Durability: Heavily built and well sewn. Sullivan trowsers are highly regarded for their durability.
Historical Accuracy/Craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent
Comparison: Excellent
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Excellent
Images of the Stony Brook trowsers.
Hardtack: the lowly, oft maligned staple of the Civil War soldier's meager diet. Until recently, the only way to recreate the "experience" of dining on the infamous tooth dullers was for one to bake his own hardtack using one of the simple recipes widely available on the Internet. Unfortunately, the resulting crackers were frequently too dense, with a consistency resembling that of the concrete like material used to create miniature fortifications for middle school history classes.
Enter the G.H. Bent Company. Bent baked hardtack for the government during the Civil War, and the recent resurgence of nostalgic (morbid?) interest in sampling sheep iron biscuits led the company to produce the crackers by the box full. I first sampled G.H. Bent hardtack at Hale Farm, dined on it frequently at South Mountain, and purchased a box at Mesopotamia.
The Bent crackers are baked in the proper ovens, using the correct (pastry) flour. The resulting hardtack measures 3 1/2" by 3 1/4" by 1/2" thick. Both the top and bottom of the cracker are lightly browned. The cracker has a series of holes through the surface, and somewhat resembles an oversized saltine.
Unlike the dense, almost solid homemade biscuits, the Bent hardtack is relatively light, with numerous bubbles and flaky layers inside the cracker. I say relatively, because these crackers are rather tough. One may bit into a fresh cracker without breaking a tooth, but don't expect the thing to melt in your mouth. The resemblance to a saltine is only superficial!
Forget about flavor; this hardtack is remarkable for its lack of flavor. This is probably one of the most historically accurate aspects of the biscuit, as the originals were simply made of flour and water. I found that dipping the cracker in coffee helps, as does frying it in a pan with some bacon grease. At $7.50 for a box of 10 at The Confederate Yankee, this is an inexpensive was to add to your immersion experience, although I wonder about those who claim the Bent crackers are "delicious." Another added bonus: visitors are often fascinated by discussions of period foods on campaign, and one can easily share a few pieces of something truly authentic with the crowd. The box has a plastic bag with a twist tie, in case you want to keep the hardtack fresh. That might be a good thing, as I can only imagine how tough these things might get after sitting in a haversack for a few days in humid weather.
Purchased: At Mesopotamia, September, 2000
Cost: $7.50 for a box of 10
Vendor: The Confederate Yankee
Source: G.H. Bent
Durability: An archeological expedition reportedly found intact on a sunken Civil War era ship! Given the adherence to original ingredients and baking, one can only imagine how durable these biscuits are!
Historical Accuracy/Craftsmanship: Excellent/Excellent (not much in the way of craftsmanship, just very accurate!)
Comparison: None
Cost: Excellent
Overall: Excellent
Pictures of the G.H. Bent hardtack
1858 Uniform Hat T.P & H. Trading Co.,
Tim Bender, 121 Carriage Dr., Birdsboro, Pa 19508 Leatherwear, Canteen, Gum
Blanket, Great Coat PO Box 1860, Corinth, MS
38835-1860. L.J. & I. Forage
Cap 7574 Middleburg Road,
Detour, MD 21757 (410) 775-1865 James Owens Haversack (through S &
S) J.T. Martin Sack Coat, 1850
Cap Box (through S & S); Contract issue shirt, (through
the Jersey Skillet Licker) Retail merchant of high
quality goods. Also produces some excellent
clothing. 45 Steinwehr Ave.
Gettysburg, Pa 17325 (717) 338-1990 Cedar Creek Supply
Depot Army Bootees 1100 Witt Road, Morristown,
TN. 37813 (423) 317-7602 e-mail: jimlam2@email.msn.com High quality mail order
goods. Carries many Sekela products. 8 Arlington Pl. Fair Lawn,
NJ 07410 Deering pattern
trousers 169 West Fifth Street,
Oswego, NY 13126-2505, (315) 343-1557. e-mail:
cams@bridgemicro.com Retailer, maker of high
quality goods. 890 Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box
3192, Gettysburg, PA 17325-3192. (717) 334-9376 Andrew Doddington Shelter tents 13651 Kretsinger Road,
Smithburg, Maryland 21783. (240) 818-0035, E-mail
ny49th@yahoo.com
