Federal Camp

[29thWisCoG]

It is interesting that all the stacked muskets have bayonets, I wonder why? My understanding is that the soldiers did not like to have the bayonet attached as it made it harder to reload.

 

[James N.]

It is interesting that all the stacked muskets have bayonets, I wonder why? My understanding is that the soldiers did not like to have the bayonet attached as it made it harder to reload.

Because they can't be stacked unless the bayonets are fixed. In the 1880's the army finally got around to adding additional open loops alongside those for the shoulder slings in order to stack the rifles minus their bayonets, but before that it was very awkward to do so by pulling out the ramrods part way, etc.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Because they can't be stacked unless the bayonets are fixed. In the 1880's the army finally got around to adding additional open loops alongside those for the shoulder slings in order to stack the rifles minus their bayonets, but before that it was very awkward to do so by pulling out the ramrods part way, etc.

I suppose on the upside, if a camp was suddenly overrun, the bayonet would be in place.

 

[Tom Hughes]

I love this photograph. Gives a great view into the everyday camp life of the soldiers....It sure looks cold.....Easy to see how so many men could be affected by illness due to the weather....Thanks for sharing this.

 

[A. Roy]

Great image! Much fascinating detail. I do see trees off in the distance, but maybe it was too far to carry lumber to this area for building better quarters. Also, yes, that point about Thomas wanting to be ready to move out quickly. Could be that this particular area was transitional.

R

 

[rgtaylor61]

What a great photograph. Its hard to imagine the suffering soldiers went through just to live day to day. Pictures like this speak to why there are so many deaths caused by disease.

 

[tmorr]

WOW, I would rely like to see that / them.

Some here via Google search at the LOC site.

Google Image Result for http://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/cwpb/02000/02089v.jpg

there are also some posted by Jon Harris on the Uncle Billys Boys FB page dedicated to western Federal's. Worth joining that site for many reasons.

 

[tmorr]

 

[A. Roy]

I love this kinda sassy dude in center foreground. Calls to mind the thread about overcoats started the other day by @Taji04:

Roy B.

 

[Lubliner]

It may have been in Mt. Sterling, Ky. in Jan. 1865 when it was reported the men could not remove their tents due to having them frozen to the ground, without proving them useless. They were sending out scouting parties into the surrounding areas looking for guerillas and had to leave some of their camping equipment behind until the ground thawed out.
Lubliner.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

I love this kinda sassy dude in center foreground. Calls to mind the thread about overcoats started the other day by @Taji04:

View attachment 427693

Roy B.

'Sassy' is a fitting description for him. To me, it's not only the clothing worn (overcoat and rolled up trousers), but mostly his tilted head, wide smirk/grin and both hands in pockets that display a cheekiness - an unusual pose in the era.

 

[toot]

# 29, if your trousers are to long, just roll them up. and they are the rite legenth! no hemming required!!

 

[dgfred]

Trying to stay clean looks to be about useless.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

'Sassy' is a fitting description for him. To me, it's not only the clothing worn (overcoat and rolled up trousers), but mostly his tilted head, wide smirk/grin and both hands in pockets that display a cheekiness - an unusual pose in the era.

And I think I'm seeing a checkered neckerchief tied around his throat. That is quite the finishing touch!

 

[A. Roy]

# 29, if your trousers are to long, just roll them up. and they are the rite legenth! no hemming required!!

Ooh, that's a good point! I've got a couple of trousers around here waiting for me to get around to hemming. Might take a tip from this fellow for at least one of them!
R

 

[DixieRifles]

IIRC, they were called sinks.

Did we decide what the term "sinks" meant??

Here is a quote from Tim Smith's book "The Siege of Vicksburg".

"Those contrabands outside (the Confederate earthworks) also faced their own problems. . . . An Indianan told of another pitiful episode when "last night a young wench was delivered of a young wooley head, which she very quietly disposed of by throwing it into the sinks for safe keeping. The boys fished it out and after examining it till their curiosities were satisfied the[y] hit it a kick and sent it back headlong into the sink, where it now remains."

I'm not really sure of what I'm reading here. Did she throw her baby in a sink? For safe keeping or to drown it?

 

[frontrank2]

Did we decide what the term "sinks" meant??

Here is a quote from Tim Smith's book "The Siege of Vicksburg".

"Those contrabands outside (the Confederate earthworks) also faced their own problems. . . . An Indianan told of another pitiful episode when "last night a young wench was delivered of a young wooley head, which she very quietly disposed of by throwing it into the sinks for safe keeping. The boys fished it out and after examining it till their curiosities were satisfied the[y] hit it a kick and sent it back headlong into the sink, where it now remains."

I'm not really sure of what I'm reading here. Did she throw her baby in a sink? For safe keeping or to drown it?

Latrines were called sinks in the ACW. Check this out: www.petersburgproject.org

 

[toot]

some things are a good stink

 

[Dan Scharp]

Is it an optical illusion, or does the man in the foreground center appear to have a pair of rifle stocks protruding from behind him? Possibly African American too? Just wondering.

 

[James N.]

Is it an optical illusion, or does the man in the foreground center appear to have a pair of rifle stocks protruding from behind him? Possibly African American too? Just wondering.

I wondered about those too - it's possible they're for some reason simply stuck in the ground with their fixed bayonets. As for the soldier's ethnicity, I think he's merely a very dirty and smoke- or soot-stained fellow.

Welcome to the forums!