Equipment of the militia

[Robert Braun]

richw said:

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

It is my opinion that portmanteaux were known and used before and after the Black Hawk War. Probably more common among the class of folks that had means or the requirement to travel frequently on horseback.

I would also submit that saddle bags would have been a far more common civilian travelling conveyance than a portmanteau in the Mineral District.

I recall that Dodge was portrayed has having a valise on the rear of his saddle in the painting "Commanche Meets the Dragoons." As much of his kit probably derived from earlier service, I would not be surprised but that Dodge MAY have had a valise early on, and used it in his Dragoon service. Then again, the valise was (I think) an item of issue to the Dragoons...

I can document Dodge's use of saddlebags in 1840-1, after his Dragoon service.

This being said, I'm not sure that the item described/shown by the 1780 militia reenactors at was a valise or portmanteau, by definition.

Best,

Bob