Tent fly....

[Historicaly Correct]

Do tent flys all need to be the same at reenactments? I have a idea for making one made of canvas and lumber. The fly isn't like the normal sutlers. I dont want to make one and not be able to use it if they all need to be the same. Can you use canvas tarpolien instead of regular canvas? Thanks for your help..
HC

[johan_steele]

Fly's as they are used in modern re-enactments are generally incorrect to begin w/. I can recall only ever having seen one CDV w/ a fly used as a front porch as is so common in re-enactments.

There is FAR too much tentage, of the wrong type, at most events. The CS army in the field was usually issued tent flys in place of the standard A & wall tents as it was easier to produce, took less material & easier to transport. And they were typically put up as wedge or an A tent w/out the ends.

There are far too few sibley tents in Union camps, especially western theatre events. The Sibley was well liked by the men and common through late 63. I see far too many big Wall tents in Union & CS camps.

I have seen CDV's of all sorts of tentage; from french bell tents, Sibley, dogs, lean to's, A's and even a few walls... but only ever one fly; IIRC the context was a Sutler tent.

THat said... check w/ your unit and see what they allow. Family friendly usualy throws a lot out the window. It is a sacrifice I am willing to make. My wife, daughter & other two female civilians have the wife's Baker tent, I sleep in a dog tent.

[30th_il]

Shane...just make sure you don't sleep in the "dog house".....!

[ole]

Of course, I do not re-enact. About 10 years ago my dear one made the pronouncement that she would never again sleep on the ground in a tent. The truth be told, I wasn't too fond of it myself, even with inflated mattresses which never seemed to ease the joint aches.

It comes down to a question of accuracy or comfort. With comfort, you get more involved in re-enacting. Without it, you get a better feel for the time, but fewer participants. Next weekend I will be attending a re-enactment of the "west" in the Seven Years War. From previous exposures, I've learned that the enactors kind of compromise. They hide their coolers and buy chicken for cooking from the nearby Jewell. They only briefly have exposed the packaging and go from there. It's not strictly kosher, but they make an attempt at showing originality. I don't ask for much more than that as an observer. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds....."

Whatever,
Ole

[Miss Amy]

Hello -

My husband has a coffee table civil war book - wish I could remember the name - anyway, it is almost all pics. One of my favorites is a group of "gentlemen" in front of a tent - with the fly used as a "front porch". It is set up with one end of the fly resting on top of the tent, and the other end on an upright - no ridge pole and no uprights along the sides - but a lot of ropes.

So, yes, at least someone used thier fly for a space to gather in front of their tent.

I really like the pic because there is not a ridge pole, which is one of the harder things for me to pack in the car. So, if I am with a group without many flies, I can set mine up as such. Although, I do prefer it over top of my tent, for a variety of reasons.

Miss Amy

PS - a painter's canvas tarp (bought at the local hardwqare store) can be used as a fly, but tends to leak. Select your material based on your needs - weather/rain protection or a sun shade.

[AZReenactor]

The shade flys used at most reenactments are a modern reenactorism based on convienience and comfort rather than authenticity.

A great resource for how Federal camps actually looked is the image studies pages of the Syke's Regulars.

A good source of info on Confederate Camps is an article on the Lazy Jacks site titled Tenting Tonight? The Confederate Infantryman on Campaign.

[30th_il]

Ole, are you going to Theatiki in Borbounai/Kankakee..if so, I will be reenacting there! Matt

[ole]

We'll be there on one of the days. Have to get the kettle corn or home-made root beer. We're less than 3 miles away from the site and we have missed only a few of them. A good place to pick up a piece of history for those within driving distance.
Ole