Campaigning in the Wet & Cold: Shelter - Civil War Camping

[@jude999]

I am going through a marathon of books on letters and diaries of Rebs. Richard Adams, 5th Alabama: "Wet as a rat, hungry as a wolf, poor as a church mouse. Down came the rain and we could no nothing but take it. I’d rather be dead than alive cold and wet."

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Great quote!!!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

09:38 "We're gonna talk about the concept of spooning."

[@madarab37]

My jaw hit the floor. No no no!

[@TR-Mead]

Thank the Lord I was in the Army infantry with some high quality sleeping bags because the whole spooning thing would have been a hard sell to me. When I first joined our sleeping bags were goose down and I would have been warm and happy in a blizzard tucked into it. The next generation bags that came out, the Goretex ones, I woke up covered in snow and rain many times and had no clue it had occured while I was asleep. Those men in the Civil War were tougher than woodpecker lips.

[@MrSheckstr]

I dunno….. I can remember once during sudden white out condition we squeezed a good 60men into a single tent by standing them up in their sleeping bag then laying them on their side head to toe…… even back during the Revolution the they would squeeze and many troops into a just for the shared body heat.

[@Bluedevil82nd]

I was in a parachute infantry regiment and we rarely had sleeping bags and never sleeping mats. Typically, a space blanket,poncho liner and a poncho. In the winter time we didn't necessarily spoon, but at least slept on our sides, back to back.

[@TR-Mead]

@Snakepliskin76 I was in a parachute infantry regiment, too, 4 different ones, to be exact. I've never heard of anyone using just a space blanket. When was that? We had packing lists for A-bags, B-Bags, and rucks pushed down from regimental HQ, and the sleeping bag was most def in the ruck requirement. When we were out in the field, we would even have surprise layouts to make sure the packing list was adhered to.

[@irockuroll60]

I agree man. I live in middle Georgia and every summer when talking to friends/family, I find myself saying how in the hell did ppl back in the day survive? When it gets to be 95 degrees with 75% humidity…i can’t go outside. They had no AC and wore a lot warmer clothing than we did. And the cold and wet is a whole different story. Being cold and wet late at night is not a good feeling .

[@11broomstickk]

Word of advice, always wipe off and stuff your boots into the bottom of your blanket pile or sleeping bag. This prevents them from being freezing wet and covered in frost in the morning.

[@33varebel]

Gum blankets are life savers

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

That they are!!!

[@dantankboy4155]

Huge props for going the extra mile and showing us!

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoy!

[@jonharris722]

Yes! This sort of content is much needed.

[@brianfuller757]

This video was recommended. And YT got this right. I learned here

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Welcome and glad you enjoyed!!

[@clockmonkey]

My Gran who had experienced both conditions was fond of saying she would rather be hungry than cold. I guess opinion varies but I agree with her.

[@lanced3256]

Bravo gentleman!! once again a smashing success and absolutely amazing post. It's so cool how you delve deep into the real life aspects of a soldier's everyday life and the challenges faced while on campaign. I think it really enhances the experience, and creates a multidimensional understanding of the real world these men lived in. While at Gettysburg I found I was more often fascinated by the small seemingly insignificant items a soldier carried like a pipe, comb, pocket knife, a handkerchief, maybe playing cards. Little personal things which we use to this day. Intimate experiences EVERY soldier who served would have had. This post felt that way Thank you truly LD

[@silverjohn6037]

In the day and age before anti-lice shampoo was available a good comb could help get rid of the bugs and their nits (small eggs). It also help to clear out dust, dirt and dandruff so you hair didn't turn into a matted mess.

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

This is why outdoorsmen make good soldiers. They are somewhat inured to discomfort and take it in stride as the cost of doing business, so to speak.

[@danielkohli1542]

Soggy hardtack seems to be an improvement compared with the dry stuff.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Lol! Yet I prefer it made soggy with coffee! Will

[@coltonregal1797]

Ahh yes, Fort Blakely. The event where God forgot he promised Noah not to flood the earth again.

[@1942Dreamer]

AKA "Lakely".

[@cheshire4856]

That's a good one.

[@utej.k.bemsel4777]

I can confirm, that by "embracing discomfort" you see discomfort in your "normal" life with other eyes!

[@1989gibbi]

A few weeks ago we did a static display at the local national guard air Base for the air show. The static display was just like any other reenactment display. We had flies up and we had a frames up. And just like any other reenactment I was sleeping inside the A-frame. Forecast called for clear skies until morning. Boy were they wrong! Storm of the century came through at about 11:00 at night. One of the two flies came down and all the A-frames lost their waterproofing within minutes. We were in ankle deep water inside the A-frames and the ridge poles were dripping down the whole length of the tents. The decision was made to abandon and run for the vehicles and in order to get there we had to run through ankle deep rivers and ponds that were not there an hour before. we were lucky to be so close to our vehicles. I can't even imagine what they would have gone through on campaign with nothing but a dog tent and a gun blanket

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

It gives you a small perspective, doesn’t it?

[@Beaguins]

I'm glad you mentioned trenching around the tent; CW vets often mentioned that. If the rain was really bad they would also sleep on branches or fence rails. Knapsacks sometimes served as pillows. It all sounds very uncomfortable to me.

[@robertmccann5838]

Did a Rev War event in the middle of a hurricane. Cold rations and wool. We actually got to take turns to go inside the 18th century building and warming by the fireplace. Really made it "real life"

[@j.van-history]

Did these techniques in the military and in reenacting, both settings, it works well

[@QuickerJoey]

Just in time as I was getting ready for an event this weekend in Florida. Thank you! Thank you!

[@themischeifguide]

Come on guys, where was this last weekend when I froze at Petersburg. I wore shoe Friday and froze, Saturday, I took them off and slept better in spite of it being a colder night.

[@erikschultz7166]

Should talk about using straw, pine, dry grasses to insulate from the ground.

[@evanbaggins4885]

I always enjoy hearing the writings from soldiers; it's like they're sitting right there with you! Great stuff, very enjoyable to watch.

[@billerd2a252]

Just arrived in Kentucky (160th Perryville) from Virginia…this information is definitely gonna be helpful when the temperature drops. Thank you Will.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Enjoy your time there!!

[@danieljosiahcotton]

This is a great topic. Thanks for the consistent, excellent content

[@amandamiller94]

U got 2 do whatever u got 2 do 2 stay warm

[@jasons.7506]

Excellent video!!!!!

[@Jubilo1]

Splendid episode.

[@mickeyholding7970]

I absolutely loved this episode and agree with Jon Harris that it needs to be covered so we living historians don't make the same mistakes our ancestors did. Can you post the name of who made your sleeping cap. Thanks Will.

[@peanutwars]

Love learning about these details

[@yaakovpiatt6000]

Great video. Just a thought based on my own experience at campaign type events. I found that taking off your outer clothing, especially if you're spooning with one, two or three other men is actually warmer and you can put them in an extra shirt to use as a pillow.

[@TR-Mead]

🤔 Just no 🤣

[@Ziggle]

​​@@TR-MeadHAHA!! Tent partner: "Well.. it's cold af.. guess we'll have to spoon!" Me: "YEAHHHH Thhhhhaaat'd be a Nooo..." 😅😅

[@TR-Mead]

@Ziggle I've been so cold in the Army infantry that I've been shivering uncontrollably and couldn't form a coherent thought. Never once would I have lowered myself to spooning with another man. I think I'd rather die first, that way I could die with dignity 🤣🤣🤣

[@Ziggle]

@@TR-Mead Bro, SAME! 😂 Mil., Winter Camping, Re-enacting, & even drunk with bros and lost walking in the cold. Spooning? That's a hard: "NOPE!" Into The Wild with Seth Green and that odd spooning scene (look it up if you haven't seen it).. seeing that or thinking about that is not a reality in my life. lmfao!! Same. I'd rather freeze to death BY MYSELF than to be found dead in a weird @$$ position like that. Can you imagine?? People: "Yeah.. They found poor Ziggy and Mead lost in the cold.. Wanna know how they found them?? Do you?? (Trying not to laugh).. Then, they hold up a spoon and laugh their @$$es off.) Nope. Not happening! 😂 😂

[@TR-Mead]

@@Ziggle 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I didn't even consider what would be thought if anyone happened to walk upon that scene!!!! It could never be lived down!

[@Joshua-in2hv]

Thisis a great video. The AC website also has a great thread about this topic.

[@ScottAvellino1]

Awesome! Will you guys be at the “perfectly homespun Waterloo” event?

[@nimitz1739]

“I hear a distant thunder”

[@iGraystar_Gaming]

awesome!

[@warskye5686]

Great job guys

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoy! It’s fun to do and we are glad to share both experiences and primary source research.

[@user-db5ss5rc3f]

Excellent video thank you.

[@jonathangomez9548]

Another awesome video

[@richarddick1842]

This was just beautiful. A much needed video, indeed! Thank you!!!

[@jeffreyburress2200]

Thank you. Good one!

[@peterv1318]

Great video, this is very good content. Very helpful too. I'm really looking forward to part 2.

[@yissilmissil]

Practical knowledge! Great content, thank you Will & CWDD Crew!

[@williameddington4686]

Can you please have a discussion on basic training of both armies?

[@benjaminbever8811]

Do you have contact info for the person that made your hat? I know you mention the a name in video but I can't seem to locate the person and would love to get a nice winter sleeping cap made. Thanks,

[@MichaelGriffith-i7t]

Very informative. 😊

[@jimplummer4879]

Thank You

[@scottdunkirk8198]

during the early Indian wars some fellows,would take 2 gum blankets and their blanket

[@CalumMacNeil-qb6wp]

Wow!those were hard times. Reminds me of my first SCOUT camp in Scotland I only had a wool blanket and a polythene ground sheet. We had a Sahara canvas bell tent. I never slept a wink. We ended up walking through woods all night to keep warm. That's a scout camp I will never forget. Those poor soldier's must have gone through hell in those campaigns. 👍👍

[@77thNYSV]

One quick note on the "spooning" technique- That kind of thing is very taboo today because in our society, people would infer someone kind of sexual thing with men sleeping with men or women with women. But back in the 19th century, that was very common with no sexual connotations at all. I'm currently reading a biography on Lincoln, and it surprised me how much Lincoln slept in the same bed as other men and how regularly it happened. For example - when he was a lawyer in Springfield, he, other lawyers and the judge would ride the circuit. And if they slept outside for the night, they all spooned. If they were in town and had a room rented for the night, guess what? They all slept as many men in the beds as possible! Even without the need, like lawyers and judges riding the circuit, it was a normal and regular occurence. Lincoln, before he got married to Mary Todd, boarded together with a friend of his and they only had 1 room with 1 bed. And guess what? They shared the bed every night. That was a very common and normal thing to do in 19th century America. It's the exact opposite today.

[@Drew791]

I wish people would stop being so immature in society and realize that cooking cleaning and sewing are not “women’s jobs“, and when you’re in harsh winter conditions, sometimes you need another human body to prevent hypothermia. On that note, at 1:08 “embracing the suck“ caught me off guard.

[@MrSheckstr]

When I was in basic training my drill Sgt showed us the trick of taking two BDU Coats and zipping them together so that two soldiers could lay or stand or sit back to back wearing both coats by having one arm in the sleeve of one coat and the other arm in the sleeve of the other. In this manner the two soldiers can share the heat generated by both body cores in a survival situation

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

Lincoln is a bad example because he actually was a dandy boy himself. That account was with an officer he was WAY too close with, to the point that it became a hushed topic of conversation among many folks. Dude was constantly sleeping in bed with Lincoln and was even seen wearing Lincoln's night clothing....👀

[@jasonwilliamson8416]

It's not a good time until you wake up with a frozen canteen!

[@recoveringfarb]

i dont know if you guys will see this comment but could you point me in the direction of where to acquire one of those sleeping caps you have in the video?

[@MrSheckstr]

Something about the woodcut in the into bugs me….. does anyone else don’t it odd that a soldier would be using his bayoneted musket as a tent pole?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

It’s not an isolated image from my years of looking at original images.

[@JohnnyButtons]

This was fantastic fellas! Y’all check out my #CivilWarTimeMachine videos for some reenactment footage, Civil War historical sites and relic hunting. I really enjoyed this feature btw. Well done.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Glad you enjoyed! We will take a look. Cheers!!

[@resolute123]

So if it's down pouring, soldiers would go asleep wet then?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Or not sleep…

[@resolute123]

What would they do aside seeking some cover from the rain, like a building or a cave? What did soldiers (on either side) have to make their lives less miserable during a down pour? Or was just standing guard the only option?@@CivilWarDigitalDigest

[@Ziggle]

​@@resolute123Caves, sure. If available. They'd sleep under wagons, throw a gum blanket over a canon.. sleep with back to a tree. Again, if available. If none of that is available, what would you do? Either try to sleep through it. Or, stay awake, right? You have to think about what YOU would do in those terrible and uncomfortable situations.

[@josephamos8641]

Wauhatchie....Indian word meaning "wet and crabby".

[@smoothrenunciation]

Who sells the most authentic shelter half?

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Wambaugh, White & Co. Make a good one. There are other makers as well.

[@fuzztsimmers3415]

who set up that fly is going to be really sad if it rains. all that slack canvas is going to soak through and leak.

[@SlickSixguns]

Yeah I wouldn’t choose to do that unless you pay me

[@talleman1]

Sad a Trump ad precedes this great video. She is a comrade but Trump has no idea what that word actually means. It is a friend or trusted companion, esp. one with whom you have been involved in difficult or dangerous activities, or another soldier in a soldier's group.

[@CivilWarDigitalDigest]

Ads are actually not based on us, but on your viewing. They are selected by Google based on your watches. Sorry you didn’t get one you liked.

[@VoorTrekker88]

so I guess don't ask don't tell is a modern invention then?