Packing a Civil War Knapsack

[rock city guard]

Originally Posted by ole

Bet you're a treat to share a tent with on a July weekend. Welcome to the board.
Ole

I have my own soap for reenacting, but I don't think Irish spring was used by confederate soldiers.

[blue_zouave]

Originally Posted by rock city guard

soap? what kind of soap would they have used?

Soap was issued to Union troops (when available). I am not sure about Confederates. I know somebody who makes lye soap and I got a bar from him. Before that, I went to the health food store and got a bar of some natural olive oil soap and trimmed it up a bit so it didn't look commercial.

Zou

[ole]

I'd guess a bar of Kirk's Castile would be about as authentic as you could get if you shave it a bit with a potato-peeler. Be careful though, it's hard stuff and may clean off a bit more than you want.
Ole

[Mark Wadsworth]

I tend to bring a bar of unscented lye soap. The stuff I get is hand cut so it ready to go on the spot.

[gary]

I've seen soap made at Boonesboro. Looked just like Ivory soap (white blocks). If that's the case, shave a bar of ivory and you may be good to go.

[ole]

Somehow, I suspect that the soap they used wasn't 99-44/100% pure. But far be it from me .......

ole

[gary]

Ole, for once I suspect that I'm older than you. Years ago a gubmint machinst taught me the saying, "Good enough for government work." I live by that lesson.

I'd carry a carved bar of Ivory if I wanted to play sybil wa-oh soljer. I'd also stuff a pillow in my knapsack to simulate weight too (Cleburne did that when he was a corporal in the British Army). I'd sneak out of camp and sleep in a motel where I have a hot shower and clean sheets. I'd shirk from marching and would even forge a note from my doctor. I'd even bring my own "blue pills" in the form of Almond M&Ms (yummy). Do you know how many bags of Almond M&Ms I'd have to eat through to gather enough blue pills for myself? What work! Little wonder why I'd be thrown out of a unit if I tried to play reenactor.