Uniforms Sleeping gear questions

[Package4]

You got me thinking and we had a small camp and drill a couple of weeks ago, here is a picture of half of our camp and there are two blanket slings in evidence, one in the immediate foreground (red checked blanket) and one on the straw pile. I will say it go down to 29 degrees F that night and we were not entirely prepared.

And the authentic sinks (latrine) before use:

 

[Phil McBride]

Not the best photo, but here I am at a campaign event where I carried a 'hobo roll' like the one the thread starter asks about. You can see mine is sort of flattened out as I'd sit on it or lean on it when resting on the march. I liked it for ease of getting off and on. I can only ditto his question why so few images of Rebs in particular are going over-shoulder rather than hobo roll. It does pull down weight-wise more than a shoulder roll, but it is way cooler and feels less bulky. Perhaps it is as simple an answer as the common Reb soldier not having a rope or strap to use.

 

[captaindrew]

You got me thinking and we had a small camp and drill a couple of weeks ago, here is a picture of half of our camp and there are two blanket slings in evidence, one in the immediate foreground (red checked blanket) and one on the straw pile. I will say it go down to 29 degrees F that night and we were not entirely prepared.


View attachment 381327
And the authentic sinks (latrine) before use:

View attachment 381329

We used the same sink down here a couple weeks ago! I can assure you it wasn't 29 degrees though.

 

[Johhny Quest]

Most likely he is referring to what is known as a shebang, a shelter half that could be strung on a fence and pegged to the ground, or even a low branch, but usually with two y branches and a cross member and pegged.

Examples of shebangs:

Yes, that's exactly what he called it - a shebang. Only he described it as two vertical poles with a horizontal pole across the two, then brush was piled on one side and both ends. He also said that it could be improved to protect soldiers from the rain.

 

[Johhny Quest]

Not the best photo, but here I am at a campaign event where I carried a 'hobo roll' like the one the thread starter asks about. You can see mine is sort of flattened out as I'd sit on it or lean on it when resting on the march. I liked it for ease of getting off and on. I can only ditto his question why so few images of Rebs in particular are going over-shoulder rather than hobo roll. It does pull down weight-wise more than a shoulder roll, but it is way cooler and feels less bulky. Perhaps it is as simple an answer as the common Reb soldier not having a rope or strap to use.

I think that's probably likely. Makes sense that ropes and straps weren't as available as today. Someone else made a point that it would add one more strap to an already overwhelming number of straps.

 

[Johhny Quest]

Take a look at these photos of the Liberty Rifles accurately recreating a Confederate camp, you can see how the flies were used and what the men would have on them https://www.libertyrifles.org/photos/2019/warlike

Great photos, thanks

 

[Old Breck]

Straps, belts, slings etc. were property of the ordinance department and had to be accounted for by company officers.

Also, a tumpline or short roll would probably be extremely cumbersome in close quarters. It did happen but was certainly the exception.

Even in that photo from Five Forks, there's plenty of knapsacks. There was no shortage of imported or domestically produced knapsacks in the Confederacy

 

[Johhny Quest]

Straps, belts, slings etc. were property of the ordinance department and had to be accounted for by company officers.

Also, a tumpline or short roll would probably be extremely cumbersome in close quarters. It did happen but was certainly the exception.

Thanks. I understand the point about straps, belt and slings. I would only add that a good sling can be made with a rope. For example, in the video I posted above, the 3rd Infantry Division during WW 2 used bedrolls tied together with pup tent ropes.

Having said that, however, I would think rope would be difficult to find.

As far as "cumbersome in close quarters" . . . I think that's absolutely on the money. From the little I know about infantry tactics, having a bedroll hanging at your hips would interfere with turns and it would certainly interfere with throwing yourself on the ground and getting up again. Going through heavy brush would also be a big problem. The more I imagine it the more problems I can see.

But, having said that, I've also read that it was common to drop the bedrolls before action.

So based on all the responses, I'm concluding that it was probably a combination of reasons. You and captainandrew both pointed to the obvious issue: sling bedrolls require slightly more resources and those resources weren't available to the infantryman.

Many thanks!

 

[Package4]

Straps, belts, slings etc. were property of the ordinance department and had to be accounted for by company officers.

Also, a tumpline or short roll would probably be extremely cumbersome in close quarters. It did happen but was certainly the exception.

Even in that photo from Five Forks, there's plenty of knapsacks. There was no shortage of imported or domestically produced knapsacks in the Confederacy

Respectfully, a short roll would take up no more room than a knapsack and they can be adjusted to ride almost anywhere. I'll post pictures of an original private purchase sling from my collection, if I can find it.

Regarding the Five Forks photograph, I have blown this up many times and have only been able to ascertain 3 maybe 4 knapsacks, so the claim of plenty, is a bit too optimistic IMHO.

Existing Confederate made or imported knapsacks are fairly rare, especially compared to their US counterparts.

CS leather became a supply issue in the last year of the war, proven by the extant oilcloth belts, slings, cartridge and cap boxes. The amount of leather required for a knapsack was fairly substantial regardless of pattern. I am unfamiliar with pack made completely with oilcloth, slings and all.

I believe comfort and expedience were the driving factors of this choice of blanket carry.

Edit: Found the sling, this is called a coat or blanket sling and was marketed mostly to officers by Schuyler, Hartley & Graham. Made from the same type of leather as found in officers' belts, it had not faired well over the years as you can see. The sling shows no signs of ever being used.