Civil War Sleeping Bag
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ค. 2024
- Cpt. Whitehall shows you how to use your issue sleeping gear to make a period correct sleeping bag. For more information about Berdan Sharpshooters or Civil War reenacting, check us out at www.2ndUSSS.com
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I'm glad to see these reenactments still alive and well thank you 🇺🇲
Fart Sacks was my nickname back in high school, now I know why they called me that: I was named after a civil war era sleeping bag. Thanks for all the great and informative videos!
As a 15 yo kid in the scouts, our families were living in Malaya since our fathers were assigned to an Australian Air Force base at Butterworth. The Army gave us scouts a lot of army gear which was pretty good. We lived on Penang Island. On a scout hike across the Island through jungle so thick you often had to crawl through it, we would pitch camp and sleep right in the jungle. The army gave us ponchos, these were a type of rain coat where if you tied two of them together and a rope between two trees, made a sort of tent for two scouts. To sleep, we dug a 'hip hole' just a small hollow out of the ground that was from our hip to our shoulders. We filled the hole with leaves and placed a ground sheet down on it. A blanket on top and that was it. It was very comfortable. We also dug a small ditch all around the tent with one corner leading down slope so if it rained during the night, it kept the inside dry. It was fun apart from the fact that snakes and crawlies would come in during the night. Kids have no fear :)
What ? The Army gave us a blanket to sleep in and taught us to construct things called A frames to get you off the Jungle floor in Malaysia lol
Gee… i was in the Boy Scouts of America and you’d think with our 300 billion dollar military budget we’d get something. I guess they were preoccupied with adding girls to the Boy Scouts then they were making it a good experience.
Back when I was in the Army I did something similar with a poncho and a poncho liner and it did a pretty good job at keeping me warm and dry during the night as well as not taking up a lot of room in my rucksack. Granted, as soon as I got issued the Gore-Tex bivey cover and sleep system I started using that except for during the summer when it was a little too warm at night.
ranger roll moment
Travel light. Freeze at night. Hooah!
Hey Ethan! Carl from the 4th. /wave
As to 'fart sack', I think the old marching song says it best, "Forty miles a day, On beans and hay, In the Regular Army-O'.... 😉😁🤣
I spent 2 years in the US Army.
My comfort was not the Army's 1st priority. I was trained by tough men under tough conditions. Not everyone could deal with it. I have manned a machine-gun, in cold wet muddy fighting positions in driving rain and sleet. A heavy rubberized rain poncho with a poncho liner & a wool blanket will get a man through a freezing night.
You learn little tricks.
Glad to see you guys keeping the hobby alive. A number of years ago, some feared the hobby was declining and not attracking enough younger recruits. Although numbers may be down, quality is up. I first did a CW impression in late 1976...shortly after I compeleted my 4 yr. service in the military. I was basically a mainstreamer but did have both Union and Confederate wools. Stayed active in it up to about 1986. And off and on until 1992. This all the while when completing night college, a 2 year stint in the Army National Guard, and even through Reserve OCS where I had mustanged on to a commission. Your lead-in thumb nail caught my attention as not a lot of people ever heard the term 'fart sack'. I first heard it in boot camp in 1972. The sack was actually a mattress cover used to carry all you issued gear on the first day or so of boot camp. We were also called 'Turkeys" because of all the different colored civilian attire each company wore until uniform tailor completion
Thank you for your service and your great comment. We try our best to show how rewarding this hobby is and to share information that connects with a wide range of reenactors. You're right that there is a growing hunger from newer reenactors to improve their impressions. We enjoying showing often simple ways to make a big impact. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experience and knowledge with the community.
Very interesting. Thank you for showing this.
A pard and I slept with India blanket and wool blanket below us and one each on top. We slept close, but did not spoon Slept till reveille. Best sleep I ever got as reenactor. I wish I would have learned the feet and head in the corner method. Think I would have slept much warmer solo.
Where can I find the documentation on this??
Great one, we all suffered from the cold and moist. Could it be an idea to fold the blanket over on the other side ? I mean to have the open part of the blanket on the opposite side of the open part of the gum blanket, to prevent air from going inside the blanket
Thanks for the tip captain!
You guys are the best! I admire your historical accuracy as a reenactor and major in history I truly appreciate historical accuracy. I have been watching your channel for a few weeks now and it took me this long to realize you are apart of the Washington Civil War association. I myself reenact in Organ with the Northwest Civil War Council. The next Washington event I attend I will definitely be checking the Units to see if your unit is there.
Glad you enjoy the channel! We will be at every WCWA event and may be working on doing Oregon ones next season. If you ever want to come up to a Washington event, we will be here
Definitely using that next winter for my campaigner impression
What a great adventure to be involved with
What documentation do you have that Soldiers did this? Or is this a reenactorism? (if you don't have proof that they did it and only assert that because they have the equipment to do it then they could have done it, that makes it a reenactorism still)
Great tip Cpt. Whitehall. I thought of taking one of my blankets and either adding buttons or sewing it into a partial sleeping bag for those cold nights. if it gets under 50 degrees, I'll put on long underwhere for extra warmth and of course a sleeping hat. take care and I'll be looking forward to seeing the USSS Co. D's adventures this summer. -- LT 1st Minn Sharpshooters.
50 degrees? Thats tshirt weather. Lol when you've been in 10° or colder, then let's talk.
@Endor Chef I agree! Minnesota man myself.
@@theuniongamer4552 your comment was good timing .. as next weekend I'll be visiting my rustic log cabin and top of list is staying warm
So with how it looks at 7:37 would soldiers ever leave it in that configuration and fold or roll it onto the main pack? (when not in use)
Awesome vid!
Captain, I hope that you’re reclaiming the discarded twine for your fire kit. Jute makes especially fine birds nest material.
he's a rich yankee occifer,he don't care bout makin no fire,he's got a 'boy' to do that for him .. LOL
@@robaldridge6505 wow. you still can't spell at your age? must be from the inbred south.
It works good for shorter, lighter weight guys, especially since repro gear is mostly made to original size. I'm 6 foot 180 and like you, I barely fit in the thing. Still better than sleeping on the bare ground.
Thank you.
We still call our sleeping bags fart sacks in the Army to this day lol
Thank goodness for my gortex bivy sac and recon -20 sleeping bag with my snugpak fleece liner.
picked up a carinthia observer last year ( after many years with a £25 ex-army goretex bag) briiliant bit of kit for on top of mountains etc. Makes you realise how lucky we are.
What was the army issue ground cloth made of??
What are the dimensions for your ground cloth?
Is soldiers were using poncho instead rubber blankets too?
I see you followed Archie Bunker's advance about always leaving a fla, "in case of gastrations!" ;)
I've done this before in my earlier reenacting career. Really a great solution during the campaigner events.
Good job
I think it is amazing, how the same things occur as they did way back then. lol. We just use different equipment. Now we have light weight styrofoam pad between you and the ground. We use to cut them up and ad them for protection on the back packs that cut into your shoulders and black
Brilliant idea. Would probably not work for me at 6'7". That being said I do wonder if there is documentation for this. I can't recall reading about it. Wouldn't they more often skip that kind of sleeping arrangement and all curl up together and share body heat?
From what I can remember it was from a Wisconsin or Michigan soldier who described this method. You're absolutely right however of having people curl up together to share heat.
@@CompanyD2ndUSSS All I know is I'd need two of those to cover me!
5:15..
Ol mate appears with the queen size option
🙏🙌 😂🤣😂🤣
Nice job Capt! Yes, I would have been the mummy... lol the taper is so important.
I'm forgetting what the length and width of groundcloths should be, I think I tried something like this but it seemed a little small.
We get our groundcloths from Claude Sinclair. He has some documentation on his website which is echoed from my copy of the 1865 Qtmstr Manual: "to be 46" wide by 71" long."
I am new to reenacting and just joined a infantry unit are the any place u cold tell me where to get gear.
Fall Creek Suttlery out of Whitestown, Indiana is still historically authentic & awesome. Selection, price, and Made in USA.
Was every soldier during the civil war issued a waxed ground cloth or was it just union soldiers?
Neat!
Umm can you guys do a video on how to tie the officer sash PLEASE. Thanks
Will be out this weekend.
When it comes to sleeping at events my main discomfort is a pillow, what is a good period correct “pillow” or head cushion for events??
Knapsack, boots, spare shirt, coat etc. Hell I've even used a cartridge box once! Just depends what you have with you or just how tired and how much of a care you have.
Federal issue greatcoat works really well if you have one.
Personally I like the greatcoat I carry mine all year just to use as a pillow my reasoning is as a soldier I'm willing to eat the weight to sleep better at night plus I have the coat all year round
My cousin does a 20th Maine impression and he just rolls up his spare shirts and socks into a pillow.
Soooooo Who's sleeping in the tent right next to you ?
In NW Illinois. We call it Fark Sack.
Where did you purchase your boots from? And your federal issue blanket
Boots are from Missouri Boot and shoe. The blanket was one of if not the last of the ones S&S Sutler sold. Can't tell of unlike that one or my Sekela more.
so what happens when it rained for the lower enlisted men? I know some were issued a rubber mat for insulation and projection from dew, but what happens in a down pour?
They delt with it lol.... Idk
You get your ass wet
What was the ground blanket made of? Oilcloth or were they able to rubberize then?
I am a reenactor myself. It is vulcanized rubber on a canvas base--they did know how to vulcanize rubber back then.
@@attorneyreel1181 Thank you.
Hi, would the soldiers sleep with their sharp shooter rifles in their sleeping bags to prevent theft by the enemy?.
It was very common for the USSS to "sleep on arms" basically.meaning that they slept with their rifles very close by. Theft from the enemy wasn't really a factor being in camp. Only way they would have been lost was from capture or rifles being dropped by dead or wounded. Being such prized rifles by the USSS, we are fairly certain that even the wounded would have carried there rifles to the rear for aid.
can yall make a video on how to roll a blanket rol
We'll add it to the list. We have a big list of videos to make once we get through the pandemic and we're back in the field.
As for the over hand I'd recommend right over left, left over right and she will hold you through the night. Not a soldier just a simple woodsman
Man, i love reenactment people.
300+ people running around wearing brass and 3 Private First Classes who they tell to go die.
They all love having period correct gear, yet they dont ever want to actually play the part they would have been- at best a sergent, but most likely a private. And lucky to be a PFC.
How about just roll up in it??
Soldiers to at least the 1990's were calling sleeping bags, fart sacks.
Straw that close to a fire? Would be keeping my eyes peeled for sparks 😊
@Wisconsin Woodsman whats is BLO?
Why not integrate your shelter half? For example......
Lay your gum blanket, rubber side down, out flat
Place the long side of your shelter half down the middle of your gum blanket
Fold your gum blanket in
Place your folded wool blanket down on top off your folded gum blanket
Fold the rest of the shelter half over the wool blanket
Now you have 4 layers of insulation underneath you, and two layers on top😊
Also very viable. Have definitely done that as well. While this method isn't the most practical by any means, it does help if you're sleeping solo and don't feel like pulling blankets over yourself over and over in a night.
Do you have any kind of documentation that they constructed these "sleeping bags" during the American Civil War ? If so can you inform me of the source
I'll have to dig through my sources. Fairly certain it came from a Wisconsin or Michigan soldier if I can remember right. I'll be sure to dig it up for you.
Thanks for your time as l am in a progressive hardcore unit and wanna try this myself
@@CompanyD2ndUSSS Hey, could you also send me your source if you have time? I'd really appreciate it (:
The proof is in the groundcloth grommets. They are there to be made use of. Wouldn't take much of an imagination to lace it closed.
Don't believe the infantry men had time to assemble the homemade sleeping bag
My father in the 90's used to call bed the fart sack. I thought it was because he farted alot in bed. Lol
don't need to make a ww1 sleeping bag - i have 2 of them in perfect condition - the wool insert will definitely keep you warm.
I wonder how common it was for a soldier to have a poncho, and a ground sheet, like I have, to make a more comfortable bed bag?
Most of the time they were just issued one groundcloth. Ponchos oddly enough, were only issue to the cavalry and were often disliked since the neck hole allowed water to run through.
@@CompanyD2ndUSSS thank you for responding
Wool is the best
I was in the Army in the early 2000s, we still called them fart sacks.
Why didn't they leave twine or leather thongs permanently attached to the grommet holes so that when ready to assemble the bag you could just re-tie it closed?
Good question. Maybe some soldiers did. It would be great to find some documentation on that.
Not convinced it'll be comfortable. 🙂. Military still uses something not far off that nowadays for when it isn't too cold. I've slept out in just a wool blanket. All you need when it's above freezing.
An open flame near a bed of straw? No potential for disaster there.
i thought the knife was a juul at first homie gettin nicced out on the battlefield
VapeNat!
In Northern Canada (60 n) our sleeping bags were quite a bit better I would suspect. But you still froze your butt off.
Soldiers still call them fart-sacks!
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Good video.......for a Yankee.......
Good comment...... for a sesesh......
@@CompanyD2ndUSSS Ha!
The way things are going with the country today, you might join our side too! Seriously, good video.
This is not about fart sacks but where is the best place to get a sack cout
Wambaugh, White and Company hands down.
This is adorable! Men playing dress up. cute.
First!!!!!
Those sacks looked misearable!!! what a pain to set them up every night!!! Pain in the bUTT!!
They were and most soldiers didn't do that, they just slept on the ground cloth and covered in the blanket.
Not hard to see why so many died from sickness almost as many that was killed by guns
I don't think so. One long piece of string could lace all the grommets closed and be saved for subsequent use. Cutting a dozen or so laces every night would make short use of ones cordage. Calling this a fail.
He used half the spool for 5 knots 😭
That wasn’t an overhand knot, it was a shitty square knot 🪢
Where I was lying, not laying, last night.
Yeah, I'm sure those starving exhausted soldiers took the time to sew up their blankets every night.
The Yankees weren't starving, but I agree that they probably didn't tie their ground cloths. I've done it many times and never tied it. Although my knees stick out and usually get wet if it rains. lol
Big gap down the side to let rain in, and absolutely no cover for your upper body except for your clothes.
Who in their right mind would think that is acceptable in rain or cold?
If the army didn't give me something to cover all of me, I'd have it sent from home.
Too restricting. When you're on the move no one has that much time to spend putting up a bedroll. It should be bows, soldier, blanket, and poncho if raining, otherwise poncho on top of bows. You can break camp in under a minute with practice. Tying up a bedroll like that would be suicide.
cheater they didnt have that !
I hate to be the stickler but your a questionable representation of ANY Berdan unit. First it is a "gum" blanket not a "ground" cloth. Since the Berdans carried an entire kit on them they would not be loaded with the extra weight of an actual ground cloth. Secondly, let's look at your uniform. Even an officer wore a forage cap, not a kepi as it marked them as an officer. Your buttons are an absolute WRONG. All USSS buttons had been made out of black gouda percha rubber via "Goodyear" so as to avoid any light from reflecting. Your Frock coat is missing the correct cuffs and piping as well. I know, I know, you ask WTF am I talking about. Well I started out as a private back around 2008 in Co. C 1st Regiment of the USSS attached to the army of the Potomac. I worked my way to a Corporal as our company grew and eventually ended up as the First Sergeant.
Fairly certain through our extensive research and looking through written accounts, gum blankets and ground cloths were both used for the same piece. Just depended on the soldiers terminology.
As for the uniform, if you look at several USSS officers photos from the period, a higher amount had the brass over Goodyear patent Gutta Percha buttons though they did exist within the ranks of officers. The other thing with brass is it does darken and tarnish rather quickly so the reflectivity point it moot after a short amount of time. There are also a good source of kepis seen worn on officers and enlistedmen as private purchase in the USSS from early war to the end in 65'. As for the coat itself. Youre thinking of the enlisted man's coat with the branch service trim. Officers were unpiped per the standard and regulation of the time also seen on many USSS officer photographs from the period. While your insight is useful, there is some fine tuning that would be done with knowledge of officers uniforms and wear. There's many great resources out there regarding both officers and enlistedmen of the USSS and a great collection of photographs of them by a collector we have throughly examined. "Rank" is great, but knowledge is greater, feel free to shoot me an email and I'd be happy to share some files of enlisted and officers from the period looking how we look.
You didn't join the Army of the Potomac smh, they dissolved June 28, 1865 at the end of the war...
Pretty close to what we still do.