One, Two…Buckle My Shoe

This post will be in reference to shoes and leggings. As we now have a family as part of the group I will go into just a little detail on women’s shoes.

Let’s start with leggings as there are basically two materials, canvas being a third, that they will be made of. It is recommended to have both a pair of wool and a pair of leather leggings. The wool was probably as, if not more, prevalent in the area we portray. The construction will be the same…sewn along the outside edge in the fashion of the Savages. You might even want to do some basic bead work along this edge for decoration. The wool will not only offer protection to your lower legs, but also add a bit of warmth in the winter. Leather is more costly so I would suggest beginning with a set of wool leggings. If you prefer to wear the F&I War / Rev War button gaiters I would have to assume they would pass muster for our impression.

There are two basic styles of footwear you should look to purchase. These are the “Buckle Shoes” and center-seam moccasins. The buckle shoes will most likely see a string holding them to your foot; however, you should have a pair of brass buckles for events requiring a more “Dressy” appearance. Brogans are a good choice until you can get a pair of buckle shoes as they were worn. The center-seam moccasins are the correct style for our area and you can further their use through “shoe-packs” and wool linings.

Shoes for the ladies will vary from barefoot (I really wanted to put “and pregnant” here) to moccasins to ornate buckled shoes. Kids of course will mimic the adults.

More Pics from Fall Encampment at Manskers

I apologize for the lack and quality of pictures this time around. I wound up with my daughter's cheap camera and this is some of the better that I got.

From Our Newest Member Steve Shore

Fall 2010 Manskers Station

Canteens

Well its two for one blog day. This is real quick about canteens...gotta have your water. Wood, tin, copper, bota. You have a lot of options. It's pretty much what you like and you may have to try a few different types before you settle on one.

The bota will of course be used on our expeditions down to Fort Charlotte when we portray Spanish militia. Wooden options can be a drum or barrel, and of course the British style kidney in Tin and or copper. Beg, borrow, or appropriate a copy of "Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution" and "The Frontier Rifleman" for your many options.

What to Eat Off of and Eat With

As we are all getting our kit together and replacing items as we go to get to the persona we want to portray a group of items that isn’t thought of much is that of our eating utensils and plates and cups. The Captain and I decided to do a photo shoot of period correct items for this group.

You will see there are different materials used; pewter, wood, horn, ceramic. Each of these materials are good but not for everything. I learned from a talk with the Captain that a horn spoon is good to eat with but you can’t use it to cook in a boiling pot because the horn will bend. Likewise a wooden spoon is good to cook with but not eat with.

You’ll need both plate and bowl and neither has to be a large table size plate or bowl. My wooden plate is about the size of a salad plate and can handle a good heapin of rice and toppins. The Capn’s bowl is about as 5” round and about as deep. Perfect for stew or soup.

Probably the best thing going for a kit that will give you a ceramic and tin/cooper cup (good for drinking and cooking due to lid) is the trekking set from Westminster Forge. But, if you’re like me right now, that’ll come farther down the road and I’ll just stick to the basic stuff for now. Since the majority of ya’ll started in CW, guess what, it is perfectly ok to use a three tine fork and knife set so don’t sweat trying to get a two-tine.

The Flintlock: Safety

FLINTLOCK SAFETY

The flintlock firearm utilizes the same ancient principle of flint and steel fire making. When a gun is fired, the cock, holding a flint in its jaws, swings through an arc, scraping the flint down the hardened steel face of the frizzen to produce a shower of sparks. The frizzen "kicks" forward, uncovering a small indentation, known as the flash pan, which contains priming powder. The shower of sparks then ignites the priming powder. The "flash" of the ignited priming powder is carried through the touch hole, a small hole which connects the flash pan with the main powder charge in the barrel. This sequence takes place in a fraction of a second, when the gun has been properly loaded, primed and carries a sharp flint and a hardened frizzen. NOTE: The spark from a flintlock falling into an unprimed pan can, at times, fire a loaded weapon. Always treat a flintlock -- primed or unprimed -- as a loaded weapon.

Maintain your sight picture until the main charge fires. Many people make the mistake of moving the barrel as soon as the priming powder sparks.

Any muzzleloader should have the critical half-cock and full-cock functions checked prior to use. The lock should have a secure and solid half-cock (the first click position) to prevent the gun from accidental firing. If for some reason the half-cock does not fully engage its notch and allows the hammer to fall, the gun should NOT be used until the problem has been completely resolved by a competent gunsmith. Always check the half-cock position before relying on it.
Treat a misfire or failure to fire as though the gun can fire at any second. Wait at least a minute with gun pointed at the target.

Never use FFFFg black powder for a charge in any muzzleloader at any time. The only safe use for fine priming powder is for the priming of a pan on a flintlock. Fine powders will cause excessive pressures and could very well burst your barrel.

Never lean over (or stand in front of) the muzzle at any time.

Do not pour a powder charge directly from a horn or flask. If a smoldering ember is present, it could ignite the powder in the larger container, as well as the powder charge, as it is poured into the barrel. This excessive amount of black powder could cause a dangerous explosion possibly causing a serious injury to yourself and bystanders. Therefore, be safety minded; use a graduated powder measure or other small measuring device.

Never stand near an open flame with your powder horn or loaded weapon.

Recap powder / priming horn prior to firing. You’ll have a very bad ending to a good day if a spark gets into a ¼ lb. of powder.

During the long hunter era, members of a camp would place a feather into the touch hole to signify their gun was loaded but had no powder in the pan. At NO time will you maintain powder in your gun while in camp. Nor will you place a feather into the touch hole, even if the gun is unloaded, as this could cause undesired attention by a safety officer.

When firing, cock your gun at an angle so that the sparks from the pan do not in turn burn the person beside you.

Special thanks to coon-n-crockett.org for much of this information.

Mansker's Station August 14, 2010

A select few of us were able to enjoy a few hours at Mansker's Station in Goodlettsville, TN on the 14th. We utilized the time to pre-position some items in the "Sevier Cabin", walnut dye some items, and do a little general maintenance on some items. We also took a brief respite to watch part of an educational video on the long hunter.

Let's Get Started

I am currently working on a manual to help guide each of us in developing our individual personas. Hopefully by the end of summer I will be able to provide you with a printed copy. In the meantime I am going to try and post at least bi-weekly a part of each section. There will be much more info in the final version (maybe even pictures for those who don’t read so well), so don’t think this is all the options you have in the various areas covered.
One item not relating to this week’s topic that I would like to address: We will, as a standard, each maintain a RED Bag to carry any medications, contacts, etc. in. This will allow us and any event staff to easily identify it as containing necessary 21st century items.

This week’s topic is “HEADS and TOES.”

HEADS:
For your head you will be required to have two types of headgear, our Co’y tricorn and bonnet.
The tricorn should be black (without white tape), but other colors and tricorns with the tape will be accepted. A full-size Spanish Alliance cockade will be attached to the tricorn. The tricorn will be worn in garrison type environments in the spring and summer.
The bonnet, of the Scottish variety, can be the color of your choosing either green or blue. A miniature Spanish Alliance cockade will be attached to the bonnet. The bonnet will be worn in garrison environments in fall and winter.
The Spanish Alliance cockades will be provided and attached by the Captain. I will discuss other forms of headgear which will be able to be worn on occasion in the final printed version, i.e. round, jockey, voyager, etc.

TOES:
As with hats there are multiple options for your feet. I will also go over in short the options for leggings and stockings.
Shoes – Moccasins or buckled shoes. Buy the center seam variety when purchasing moccasins. Your buckled shoes will have the buckles on when in garrison or attending a social event such as Yule Tide. At other times you can remove the buckles and use laces to tie them up. This being said, if you are just starting and have a pair of brogans you may use those until you get your “buckles.” If you want to portray a really affluent persona or are going to be mounted you can wear the 18th century style riding boot.
Leggings – You will need to eventually invest in two types of leggings at a minimum. First for spring/summer environments buy a pair of canvas leggings. For fall/winter it is recommended to purchase a set of wool leggings. Also it is recommended that when possible you invest in a pair of leather leggings.
Stockings – I recommend a pair of heavier type stockings such as Lindsey-Woolsey or even wool for winter. Color and material is a personal preference but remember the cotton ones will be thin.

4 July celebration at Manskers

Today the Sevier boys attended festivities at Manskers Station to celebrate our Nation's birthday. It was a long week's march from our station but worth the trip. The Captain and Sergeant Mund gave us a quick drill to ensure our smoke poles would still spark and we were able to fire a few loads.

We had the opportunity to discuss personas with a few who have been ranging a little longer than we have. We were given some good advice. We listened to speeches, some better than others, and ate BBQ. I apologize for the lack of pictures but I couldn't find my camera and I only got one pic with my phone.

As some of you know, I am pursuing a Masters Degree in Colonial American Military History. I am going to attempt to put together a paper on what the southern colonial ranger would have looked like to include equipment. Notice I put "southern" as I figure it is quite easy for us to research Roger's, Butler's, or Gorham's Rangers. Now I am no expert and never will be, but you can piece together what you may have heard today and what I will write, some stuff will match, and build YOUR persona from there. Personally I'd say we've gotten off to a great start...and we can transform to cover more than one group or area of the country.

Patriots Day

A few of us were able to attend and support the Patriots' Day Ceremony at the City Cemetery in Nashville. There are 11 Revolutionary War Veterans identified in the cemetery. This event is organized by the Andrew Jackson Chapter, TN Society - Sons of the American Revolution.

Spring Encampment at Mansker's Station

The Company mustered at Mansker's Station in Goodlettsville, TN for the Spring Encampment. There were some old faces and one or two new ones. We had great weather and a number of the boys were able to stay in one of the cabins inside the fort Friday night. Unfortunately there was no fighting indians this weekend and the only powder burned was Friday during the school program.

Pics from Doc Stanton - 230th SoFC

More Pictures from Charlotte

230th Anniversary of the Seige of Fort Charlotte

The Sevier Ranging Company was in full force at the 230th Anniversary of the Seige of Fort Charlotte this past weekend. It was held at Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, Alabama as the original site is now a 1/3 scale replica in the heart of downtown Mobile. We had a great time and enjoyed getting to know some fellow reenactors of Puerto Rican descent who portray Spanish Regulars of the time period.

Sevier Station

Pictures from Sevier Station in Clarksville, TN.

Sevier Ranging Company

Our living history group is named for Colonel Valentine Sevier and the station that he built in what is now present day Clarksville, TN. We portray the early middle Tennessee settlers on what was then the North Carolina frontier. Once a year we also portray Spanish militia at the reenactment of the Battle of Fort Charlotte in Mobile, AL. We can be found twice a year at the Fall and Spring Encampments at Mansker's Station in Goodlettsville, TN.

Our Captain is Robert Nichols and the Sergeant is Gary Mund. The other two founding members are Jimmy McCall and Guy Kerby. If you are interested in having our group participate in a program or join our Company, please contact us through this blog.

We are associated with the 19th Alabama, http://www.19thalabama.org/.