Tent/hut question

Ethan S.

First Sergeant
Joined
Aug 19, 2019
Location
Carter County Kentucky
1. Alright, this is gonna be interesting for me. How much does it cost to get the material for a small pup tent?


2. Have any of you guys dug winter huts? I want to make one on my property just for the heck of it. I know how to build the walls and all, but not a roof.
 
well if you want to get the pup tent it roughly going to cost about $100 if you want the 2 halves, if you want the end cap then its like $40 or so. if you want to go campaigner style then then just use branches around you fo your 2 poles and ridge pole and use branches for stakes to secure the tent to the ground. now if you want to use something more traditional lumber then at your local lumber yard getting 2x2, pins and find tent stakes that is roughly $2 per stake. you can save alot on tent if you were to go to an event that someone is getting out of the hobby that you could get it cheaper.
 
Dog Tent
These consisted of two shelter halves. Related costs to make one depend's on the material chosen and its respective bolt width to work from. There were two primary pattern styles used during the war. Earlier version utilized three sewn together panels out of cotton drill, latter used two panels usually of cotton duck. Keeping in mind that the looms used to make the material were much narrower than those used today. So is why these used multiple panels to get the desired size needed. Having lots of patience and fairly good hand sewing skills helps a lot. Each shelter half utilized 23 buttons and related button holes. Button holes, grommet holes and the edging were all stitched by hand. (many of the reproduction ones have brass grommets which the originals did not have). Each soldier was intended to be issued one shelter half, he paired up with a pard and buttoned the two together to make one dog tent. Its a lot more time and work than most typically expect to make these.

Winter Huts
Rather wide variety of types that were used. Most were quite crude and only intended to service a temporary purpose but for a few months at best. Majority were commonly constructed of logs, a cut out for doorway, and maybe one window if such could be found. A wood framed or saplings used to construct a roof frame, then commonly a tent fly or common tent used overtop this that served as the roof. Once winter camp was broken up the tent was retrieved and taken with you. Occasionally we find examples that used wood shingles or wood planks for the roof if such could be obtained. Soldiers tended to be quite creative and build something suitable based on whatever materials they could find, scavenge, repurpose or steal. Some were dug out to some degree down into the soil to permit more room, but greatly depends on the area and soil in question... not desire it to fill with rainwater every time it rains. Most others just built on ground level. Most incorporated a fireplace of some sorts to fathom the winter cold. These can be found made of anything from bricks, or stones for a hearth to wooden lattace work covered in mud and old barrels for chimney tops. Yes these frequently also tended to catch fire, that many intentionally constructed them leaning outward with a pole/post support so if they did catch fire, just kick out the support to allow it to fall away from the hut. Having a good working knowledge of period timber/woodworking tools and come basic period construction methods that were used at the time can serve very well. They didnt have Lowes, plywood, shelving boards or 2x4's to work with... Ive build a number of them over the years at home, as well as for historical program displays, and film productions.
 
A simple shebang from fence rails.

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