Equipment of the militia

[richw]

Hi Bob,

Sorry about the login. It is fixed now.

So, we agree oilcloth existed. We also agree there are no references of personal use of oilcloth during the Black Hawk War.

So, we must look at context.
1. During the Revolution and before, oilcloth was an imported luxury item (see previous refs).
2. Tarpaulins are for covering expensive goods that may be damaged by water. People were not expensive goods. They got wet. We know this from numerous diaries, including J.P. Martin, who says a rain shower damaged their ammunition (isn't that what started this thread?).
3. Oilcloth can be made at home (i.e. on the frontier) using linseed oil, turpentine (ordinary goods) and a large piece of cloth (luxury goods). Making an extra shirt, or buying an extra pair of shoes would be a better use of money, or time invested in producing a large piece of cloth at home.

Finally, we can look at probability. Along with oilcloth, there is probably no mention of false teeth or eyeglasses in the historic record. That does not mean, by itself, that oilcloth, false teeth, and eyeglasses were not used in the Black Hawk war, but I doubt if false teeth were issued to troops!

I have developed a hypothesis that I like to use in cases like this. I call it the "Space Alien Hypothesis." That is, in this case, if there is better evidence for the existence of space aliens than there is for the use/issue of oilcloth "groundsheets" to troops, well, then let us speak no more of either.

[Robert Braun]

Rich, I agree.

While "absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence," the lack of mention of such an item (amid a plethora of items, used, ordered, issued, or claimed lost in Whitney's index) the absence of the "oilcloth" is remarkable.

I have stated before on multiple discussion boards, and will restate here: if evidence can be found for the oilcloth in the BHW, I will be the first in line to purchase or make one. Until then...

ADIOS!

Bob

[Scalper]

How far back were oilcloths used?

-Andrew G. Braun

[Robert Braun]

scalper said:

How far back were oilcloths used?

-Andrew G. Braun

Scalper... I believe Mr. Worthington indicated earlier in this thread, that a mention of this product dates back to at least 1739... almost 100 years prior to the Black Hawk War.

Regards,


Bexar Bob.

[Scalper]

Bexar,

So I see. Thanks very much for pointing out the information earlier on in the thread, I am afraid I missed it the first time!

-Andrew Braun

[richw]

I chanced across a few choice tidbits this weekend, while thumbing through Dorothy Hartley's "Lost Country Life," which deals primarily with Mediaeval English folkways and material culture.

First was a cloth saddlebag, in tubular form, with a slit opening in the middle, called a "boyster." This is the same as our market wallet, except she shows round ends, like on a duffel bag, and tied ends, which can be opened to pour out the contents. The context, as a piece of horse equipment, is significant--and suggests a reason why mounted militia were provided wallets instead of haversacks in 1832.

The other item, "partially charred linen" tinder also caught my eye. She does not say if this was scrap fabric or loose tow, but the "partially charred" part is unambiguous.

[Robert Braun]

richw said:

I chanced across a few choice tidbits this weekend, while thumbing through Dorothy Hartley's "Lost Country Life," which deals primarily with Mediaeval English folkways and material culture.

First was a cloth saddlebag, in tubular form, with a slit opening in the middle, called a "boyster." This is the same as our market wallet, except she shows round ends, like on a duffel bag, and tied ends, which can be opened to pour out the contents. The context, as a piece of horse equipment, is significant--and suggests a reason why mounted militia were provided wallets instead of haversacks in 1832.

The other item, "partially charred linen" tinder also caught my eye. She does not say if this was scrap fabric or loose tow, but the "partially charred" part is unambiguous.

Rich, some nice finds there!

I am quite comfortable with medieaval origins and context for travel/carrying bags like the wallet. I have been able to document this item far back into antiquity.

The interesting thing regarding the wallet in 1820c-1830s America is that period dictionaries and martial practice seem to use the word "wallet" and "knapsack" interchangably-- much as the words "battalion" and "regiment" were often used interchangibly-- although clearly the construction of the two items show differences. The "Militia Act of 1792" clearly prescribed that each volunteer provide himelf with a "knapsack"-- yet if the knapsack and the wallet could be used interchangibly, then a wallet should suffice for a knapsack in the American militia experience.

Indeed... more and more we are seeing that this is precisely what happened.

Nice find on the char-cloth reference. I have found precious little on this item in historical accounts and have always held it in suspicion (see also "How did they strike a fire?" thread, under the "Distaff" section.)

Regards,

Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

Bob and Rich,

In the context of militia horse equipment, I have observed but not thoroughly investigated an item called a"portmanteaux." A Colonial Spanish Militia reenactment group from St. Louis had the item attached to the rear of their saddles, on top of saddle bags. The spokesman for the group said the origin was from the Napoleonic army era. A light cavalry group called "Hussars" routinely used the travelling bag in their spy or scouting activities, especially when required to bivouac seperate from the main camp.

The portmanteaux was of a heavy canvas type material with round, duffle type ends and offsetting end slits to allow the contents to be emptied out quickly. There is about a 12 inch opening on top with a double thick flap and button fasteners. The best description I can give of the traveling bag overall is it resembles a bolster.

The reenactors were depicting militia from St Genevieve called to St. Louis to defend the community from a British-Indian attack in 1780. The 1780 militia were made up, in large part, of Frenchman with Hispanized names.

Larry

[richw]

Interesting stuff!

I see a relation between "bolster" and "boyster." Similarly, if you took an American style (flat ended) wallet, and draped it over a baldrick... and maybe tied the ends, you would have a knapsack (on your back) or a haversack (on your hip). No wonder the terms are so loose.

[Robert Braun]

larrykoschkee said:

Bob and Rich,

In the context of militia horse equipment, I have observed but not thoroughly investigated an item called a"portmanteaux." A Colonial Spanish Militia reenactment group from St. Louis had the item attached to the rear of their saddles, on top of saddle bags. The spokesman for the group said the origin was from the Napoleonic army era. A light cavalry group called "Hussars" routinely used the travelling bag in their spy or scouting activities, especially when required to bivouac seperate from the main camp.

The portmanteaux was of a heavy canvas type material with round, duffle type ends and offsetting end slits to allow the contents to be emptied out quickly. There is about a 12 inch opening on top with a double thick flap and button fasteners. The best description I can give of the traveling bag overall is it resembles a bolster.

The reenactors were depicting militia from St Genevieve called to St. Louis to defend the community from a British-Indian attack in 1780. The 1780 militia were made up, in large part, of Frenchman with Hispanized names.

Larry

Lary, I re-read your post and now I am befuddled.

If I am understanding you correctly, the militia you mentioned was doing a "1780 militia," (see www.vallesmines.com/losthist/DefenderOfStLouis.html) yet they claimed they were using portmanteux from " the Napoleonic army era."

I'm no Bonaparte fan, but Li'l Nap was eleven years old in 1780, and attending the Collège militaire royal de Brienne. His rise, and that of the Grande Armee was still about 20 years away.

I am rather suspicious of militiary equipage relating to elite Franch Hussars appearing in colonial America and showing up used by "militia." I am also uncertain of reenactors attaching validity to interpretive materials twenty years too late for their particular impression. It would be like me showing up as a Black Hawk War militiaman with a minie musket and a tarred haversack!

Webster defined "portmanteau" and "valise" interchangably: as a travelling case made of leather and attaching to the rear of the saddle. British and French examples (both in drawings and artifacts) from the American Revolution era support this definition.

Best, Bob

[Larry Koschkee]

Bob,

Good catch here... time is of the essence, however, I will defer to my disclaimer in the first paragraph of my post. " I have observed but not thoroughly investigated an item called a "portmanteaux."

The conditions may have not been the best when I was interviewing the reenactors. Heavy campfire smoke, port wine and a dark moon, if I recall. Thought sure they defined the napoleonic army era as the period of item in question here. Hussars, which date back to the 15th century were definately part of the discussion.

regards,

Larry

[Robert Braun]

Fair enough. We will patiently await the dawn...



Best, Bob.

[richw]

Pardon my French, but portmanteaux is the plural of portmanteau.

" I have observed but not thoroughly investigated an item called a "portmanteaux."

"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A portmanteau (from 16th century French, plural portmanteaux) is a large travelling case made of leather. Originally designed to carry (porter) your coats (mantles)..."

Brainy Dictionary
"Valise
A small sack or case, usually of leather, but sometimes of other material, for containing the clothes, toilet articles, etc., of a traveler; a traveling bag; a portmanteau."

[Larry Koschkee]

Can reasonable individuals agree to the fact that the Illinois and Michigan Territory militia may have utilized a portmanteau or portmanteaux in the Black Hawk War?

[richw]

Larry,

I think we can all agree that the valise/portmanteau was known before and after the period, and was used by civilian horsemen. It is not unreasonable, then, to assume that militiamen may have owned and used their own valises/portmanteaux. I suspect, however, that this item was more common in the settled East.

Your turn, Bob! ;D