Living History in Texas

Texas Living History

SOLDIERS and REENACTORS

Ft McKavett The Western Migration

What a Well Dressed Woman Wore in the 1860’s Lucy Holcomb Pickens Private Tour of Judy Richey’s Victorian Dress Collection Military Sutlers in the Civil War Picnic on The Prairie Spotlight on ALHFAM 2018 Conference

Victorians At Home Etiquette and Dining FALL 2018

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FALL Texas Living History Quarterly Magazine

The Summer has been full of many civil war era events. It is my favorite time in history and I do not mean to give it more attention. So it seems many of the contributers were also busy impersonating this particular time in history. The up and coming Fall should bring a variety of different events. After all it is the best season for Texas. I am very pleased with this edition of the Living History in Texas Quarterly Magazine. Several very experience living history Interpretors share thier passions and stories. I hope as always it will offer the readers suggestions and ideas on first person character development and the motivation to be living historians. There are articles on period correct clothing options, accruements, and civilian home life. I try to include articles of Summer events and conferences from around Texas featuring re enactors at their finest. Portraying soldiers in battles and civilians in the daily activities of working for family and home. We learn from experience to better the aspects of Living Historian as both careers or hobbies. I hope new people will feel welcome and I hope you enjoy reading the Fall edition.

Tereasa

Ft Mckavett photo by Tara Hayes Pg. 3

Table of Contents Ft McKavett The Western Migration Page 12, 13, & 14

Living History Showcase

Military Sutlers Pg 22 & 23 James Watson

What a Well Dressed Women wore in the 1860s Heather Sheen Page 11 and Page 15

Lucy Holcombe Pickens Pages 16 - 21

Living History Event Spotlight

Pg 32 - 34 ALHFAM Conference 2018

Judy Richey’s Dress Collections Pages 24 -30

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Table of Contents Cont.

Living History in Texas Quarterly Magazine Articles and Photos by contributors are their own expressed opinions based on their research and sources.

On the Cover “Making Duty Notes.”

Henry B. Crawford Photo Credit Texas Historical Commission

Page 35-38

ANCESTORS Roads to Texas Pages 40 - 42

WHAT THEY WORE 1860s Heather Sheen https://southroncreations.blogspot. com/p/about-me.html Page 11 and Page 15

Watches, Chains, & Fobs. Re enactors with style.

Pages 44 -48

On page 3, 12,13, and 14 Photography by Tarah Hayes Photo credit pg 35-38. One Kings Lane Photos of watches & Chains from Pinterest.

Painting on page 40. Lady in Mirror

by Frederick Frieseke(1874-1939) The Dressing Room 1922

Picnic on The Prairie Page 50 & 51 Emily Hopkins

Photography by Tarah Hayes Page 5

Texas Living History Association facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/TXLHA/ Living History in Texas Magazine is not a subsidiary of TLHA

Information, Research, and Support for Docents, Military Reenactors, Musuems, Civilian Reenactors, and Living Historians

JOIN THE TEXAS LIVING HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION tlha1836@gmail.com Membership Application

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Refreshing Drinks The Shrub and Texas Sweet Tea

Drinking Vinegars SHRUBS

Making a Shrub syrup (like this delectable blackberry shrub recipe) at home only takes about 10 minutes of active time. Gather your ingredients and measure equal parts water, sugar, vinegar and fruit.

Step 1: Heat up simple syrup, muddled fruit and vinegar.

Start by simmering (not boiling—equal parts water and sugar over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Then add sliced or slightly mashed fruit and continue to simmer away while stirring and lightly muddling the fruit. If you want to add more flavor, consider adding a few sprigs of mint or basil. Keep simmering until the mixture has taken on the color of the fruit and the solids are very soft. Then, maintaining a gentle simmer, stir in apple cider or white vinegar. Finally place a strainer over the mouth of a glass jar and pour the mixture over the strainer.

Discard any solids and store the syrup in the fridge.

Step 2: Add the mixer of your choice Shrubs are typically spiked drinks—but if you’re looking to nix booze from this recipe, our non-alcoholic version is so very refreshing.

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It is legend that Lucy Holcombe Pickens invented iced tea. It is said that in trying” to imitate the Southern gentleman’s mint julep, Lucy put mint into sugar-laced tea. In order to cool the beverage, she used ice imported by steamboat from Jefferson, Texas to New Orleans.”

Every day, throughout the South,

“Sweet or Unsweet?”

You have to brew tea at least at 196 degrees in order to open the pores of the tea leaf and to kill residue from the field. Once you brew it, you stir in pure cane sugar while it’s warm, then chill it.

Contributors Henry B. Crawford Research Associate and Retired Curator of History Museum of Texas Tech University dba History By Choice Cell Ph. 806-786-2259 hankbob2000@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/hankbob www.facebook.com/historybychoice Live for Horses!

EVENTS Events are added to the TLHA facebook Calender. https://www.facebook.com/ groups/TXLHA/

Laura Ingalls Gunn

Contributing to THLQ Magazine

Interior Designer/Owner at Decor To Adore Author Living Historian

We are always seeking contributors to our magazine. If you have a reenacting event or museum living history report of an event email it to email. livinghistorymagazine@ yahoo.com

Lorelei Caracausa

Living Historian Showcase

Designer, weaver & general gopher at Bee Weaver Studio and works at Owner at Heritage Arts

The Historian showcase is designed to celebrate excellence in character research, including historical accuracy in clothing.

The goal of teaching this knowledge to others.

Megan Martin

Event Spotlight

President of DFWCG Historical Clothing Researcher & Blogger “Mistress of Disguise�

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If you have an outstanding summer event to announce send a report with pictures for the Fall Issue. lleia56@hotmail.com

ON THE SHELF

Writing History

Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North Gary L. Pinkerton Since he first learned that a rut across his family land was the route of Trammel’s Trace, Gary’s passion for learning more about the old trail has resulted in a book titled, Trammel’s Trace: The First Road to Texas from the North.

Both the trail and its namesake, Nicholas Trammell, are the subject of his research. Gary and other “rut nuts” continue to work on locating and mapping its remaining pathways across eight East Texas counties with the help of landowners committed to preserving their part of Texas history.

A reviewer for the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, said that Gary “brings considerable historical and geoarchaeological skills to bear in his in-depth analysis of an often-overlooked early route to Texas.”

The President of the Texas Historical Foundation called Gary a “historical volunteer” and said, “. . . through research, countless presentations to local historical organizations, and one-on-one education of landowners, he has reconnected Trammel’s Trace and brought the historic pathway back into current consciousness.” Gary calls this process Paying History Forward.

His award-winning book on Trammel’s Trace was published in 2016 by Texas A&M University Press.

His work also appears in the online Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture, the online Handbook of Texas, and the Portal to Texas History. Gary is a native of Longview and works full-time as a Senior HR Director for a large contractor based in Houston.

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Necessary Things Handcarved Medium Wood Dough/Bread Bowl or Trencher $35.99

A quality medium handcarved wood DOUGH BOWL OR TRENCHER perfect for use at home, when hearth cooking, at reenactments or when camping.

These wood trenchers are made by the Achuar Tribe, a remote indigenous people of the rainforest of Ecuador from native wood found in the Amazon including Quishuar, Capuli, CosuApron and Bonnett Set patac, Pumamaqui. (The sewn by Laura Ingalls Gunn name of the wood used to make your bowl will be Description included.)

https://www.etsy.com/ listing/603924948/ medium-wood-doughbread-bowl-or-trencher

Rainforestartisans

Girls small to medium apron set. Fits ages 7-9.

Made from 100 % cotton fabric. Eyelet trim is poly cotton. The fabric has been washed and dried prior to construction to minimize shrinkage.

Cleaning: machine wash, gentle cycle, warm dryer.

A warm iron may be used.

$25.00

The blouse and skirt shown are for costume ideas only. They are not included in the purchase. Please

Rustic Wood Coffee Table Serving Tray

see other listings to purchase these items.

You can read about our family history here: http://www.decortoadore.net/ little-house

$99

https://www.bourbonandboots.com/products/rusticwood-coffee-table-serving-tray This handcrafted rustic wood coffee table serving tray is absolutely beautiful. Handcrafted from hand selected barn wood, the rustic wood is repurposed and refinished to provide an elegant, yet rustic look perfect for any home. It is well constructed with durability that will provide a lifetime of rustic decor to your home. It is available in two stained species of wood (a) Light Golden Oak or (b) Red Mahogany, both with rustic black metal handles appropriate for the period of the piece.

Embroidery Slipper Tops Vintage Design.

Send in shoe measurements. This is for the Embroider tops only. You will have to attach the souls to your tops..email for details Chalkmountainembroidery@ Outlook.com $50.00 plus shipping

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1860s Fashion What Did The Well Dressed Woman Wear in the 1860s? by Heather Sheen Foundational Garments A proper lady always had a chemise (foundation slip), a corset, and drawers. She also had petticoats and some form of support for her dress (hoop skirt or corded petticoat). This photograph shows a young lady with her chemise, drawers, corset and “cage crinoline.” Another petticoat or two (probably starched) would go over the cage to fluff out her skirt. Stockings and boots complete her foundation wardrobe items.

Dresses Her dress would include a skirt that was about 5 yards in fullness. The dress bodice would be fitted with off-the-shoulder armscyes and full sleeves. In most outfits, the bodice and skirt fabric matched. Sometimes the bodice and skirt were permanently sewn together.

The fabrics available in 1860 were wool, linen, cotton and silk. Silk and wool were the preferred fabrics, but cotton could be used for simple “wash” dresses. Since not all dyes were colorfast in this time period, there are almost no examples of solid colored cottons. Plaids, stripes, dots and other geometric fabric designs were preferred.

Silk was used for nice dresses such as for church, visiting and light shopping. It was also used for evening and ball gowns. Silks could be solid, “changeable” (woven with two different colors so it shimmered), as well as the list of prints above for cotton.

Wool was available in a wide variety of weights, from light-weight sheer fabric to heavier coat-weight fabric. Wool is fire retardant and it also wicks moisture very well. It was therefore often used for petticoats, outer wear and cooking outfits, as well as for regular dresses.

This is a beautiful silk day dress from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, probably worn for visiting and social events. This dress has pagoda sleeves, which allow the lovely lacy undersleeves to show.

Ladies almost always wore undersleeves and collars to protect their garments from body perspiration. The laundry techniques were hard on fabric in those days, so dress fabric was protected as much as possible. White underclothing was easily washed, bleached, and replaced when necessary.

Continued page 15

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Ft. McKavett and the Western Migration Lorelei Caracausa

West Texas Heritage Days photos by Tara Hayes

Fort McKavett and the Westard Migration.

Before the middle of the 19th century, the North American continent was in flux. Wanderlust and curiosity drove the early settlers from their comfortable homes in the east, ever farther west into lands of vast horizons and beauty, but also into the areas occupied by Native American tribes, who did not necessarily welcome the intruders. The movement west became a torrent when the cry of “Gold” was issued from Sutter’s Mill in the far off California in 1849, and the 8th U.S. Infantry was tasked with establishing a frontier fort to protect the settlers in West Texas and the immigrants on their way to striking it rich in the gold fields of California and Nevada. The Camp on the San Saba was initially established in the abandoned Spanish Presidio de San Saba, only to find that the stagnant waters brought malaria to the residents.

The fort was moved approximately 2 miles downstream on the 2300 acre lease and building begun. The camp was renamed in honor of Captain Henry McKavett of the 8th Infantry, who had been killed in 1846 during the Mexican War at the Battle of Monterrey.

Each company of the 8th Infantry was tasked with building their own quarters, plus buildings dedicated to kitchens, a hospital and a quartermaster’s storehouse. A limestone quarry was established, along with a lime kiln to make the components of mortar to erect the new structures. The soldiers were not skilled masons, nor were the men hired from the Fredericksburg colony as “masons.” Lumber was at a premium, so doors, floors and windows had to be transported to the site at a later date.

By the mid 1850’s, the army garrison at Ft. McKavett was quite meager and certainly not held in favor by ranking military officers. “The experiment of mounting infantry has not been successful,” reported Colonel Freeman after his inspection in 1853. The result was that the 2nd Dragoons or “mounted rifles” arrived at post in February of 1854. The new troops were given

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“The experiment of mounting infantry has not been successful,” reported Colonel Freeman after his inspection in 1853. the orders to patrol and protect the trade routes on the way west.

Initially there was little contact between the new troops and the Native Americans in the area. But by 1856 things began to change as the patrol parties of the Comanche and Lipan Apache ranged closer to settlers homes and disrupted transport from San Antonio to the western edges of “civilization.” Ultimately the local Comanche tribe was forced onto the reservations and a relative peace settled on the lands. Ft. McKavett was ordered closed in February of 1859 and the buildings of the fort were appropriated by the civilians living nearby.

With the onset of the American Civil War, tensions were building between the area residents on both sides of the emotional debate- secession or loyalty to the Union. In due course the old fort, in a state of extreme disrepair, was used as a temporary prisoner of war camp by the CSA. On the inscribed plaque imbedded in the wall of Barracks #4 , the name, Lt. W.T. Mechling, U.S. officer in charge of initially erecting the building before the war, was defaced by some of his fellow soldiers because they believed he had been disloyal to the Union cause by surrendering his troops at The Battle of Adam’s Hill, 1861.

By the end of the war, Ft. McKavett was again

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occupied by the U.S. Army’s 4th Cavalry and 35th Infantry and the fort was rebuilt by skilled labor. By 1869 the heralded “Buffalo Soldiers” of the U.S Army’s 41st Infantry made Ft. McKavett their headquarters. Renowned for their “Indian fighting” skills and bravery, the orders of the Buffalo Soldiers Ft. McKavett included not only protecting the local citizens and putting down any Comanche or Apache uprisings, but also to insure the safety of the army’s stockpiles of equipment, arms and ammunition stockpiled in the quartermaster’s storehouse. Many an African American enlisted soldier made a name for himself in discharging his duties while under the command of the white officers.

West Texas Heritage Days photos by Tara Hayes

“The prettiest post in Texas” as declared by Gen. W.T. Sherman

Photos by Tara Hayes Eventually the Army’s use of the railroad to move supplies between its camps made the storehouse at Ft. McKavett an un-needed expense, and threat of Indian attack was over, the “The prettiest post in Texas” as declared by Gen. W.T. Sherman, was abandoned for good in 1883. Yet again the local citizens moved back until the owner of the land decided to sell off the area. The Commanding Officer’s quarters became a boarding house until a fire destroyed it in 1947. The post school house was still in use up until the mid-1950s. The state of Texas acquired a major portion of the original fort in 1968 and placed it under the control of Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. which accomplished much of the restoration of the buildings. Management was passed to the Texas Historical Commission in 2008.

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Continued from page 13

What They Wore (Cont. from Page 11) Here is an original sheer dress from the collection of K. Krewer. Sheer dresses were worn in the summer for coolness as well as fashion.

Since a lady would be wearing a chemise, corset, drawers and petticoats, there was no indecency in a see-through gown.

The delicacy of the fabric usually meant these dresses were trimmed with self-fabric as this one is, instead of having heavy trim sewn on them.

They also did not have to be worn with undersleeves if a lady desired maximum coolness.

This is a silk ball gown in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ball gowns were short-sleeved and often off-the-shoulder. The bodice was fitted and usually (not always) fastened in the back.

Light-weight fabrics such as thin silks or fine sheer cottons were preferred for ball gowns, for coolness and ease in dancing.

Light colors were preferred for young ladies, but married and older ladies could wear any color they wished. Contrary to some legends, there is no indication that certain colors were reserved for “ladies of the night.�

Cont. from Page 11

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And finally, here is a homespun every-day dress owned

by Vick Betts. Every-day dresses were often one piece, instead of bodice and skirt being separate, and the closure is in front.

Work dresses were of sturdy material, wool being the favorite as it was fire-retardant. Cotton was also used, however, as it was more easily washable.

Note once again the geometric designs in the fabric and the dropped shoulder seams. This hand-sewn dress is an enduring testimony to some lady’s sewing abilities

LUCY HOLCOMBE

PICKENS

We know that the brick Georgian-style plantation home, a second smaller house, and rows of slave cabins were built ca.1850 on a 100-acre tract at the terminus of today’s West Burleson Street. It was constructed by the owned slaves of Beverly Lafayette Holcombe, who migrated to the area from Tennessee. The name Wyalucing is said to be an Indian word for “Home of the Friendless.” In its early time in Marshall, Wyalucing hosted many antebellum social gatherings of the wealthy and prominent. A daughter of the family, Lucy Holcombe (1832-1899), is credited with having introduced iced tea and silk stockings to the area. She was said to be a most striking beauty, a true Southern Belle. It was a time when the Belle title was often heard in the same sentence when addressing a plantation master as Colonel.

“All evidence of what stood there is gone now, a casualty of bulldozers growling out the excuses we call progress”

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Wyalucing Plantation Marshal Texas

Photo of Wyalucing Plantation home cited as Public Domain Texas State Historical Association TAMU Commerce Digital Collections

During the war Wyalucing played an official role in the CSA, serving as the TransMississippi Confederate Post Office. It was also the site of an important meeting of top CSA generals. With the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, the CSA dominos fell unit-by-unit moving east to west. The more reluctant commanders of the Texas & Louisiana fields all assembled at the Plantation for a meeting to decide how best to also surrender. These men, all under the command of General Edmund ‘Kirby’ Smith, included Generals Buckner, Walker, Hawthorne and their staffs, as well as the more upstart General J.O. Shelby of “Iron Cavalry Brigade” fame.

The State of Texas Online Publications “Lost Plantations of the South” Marc Matrana

Wyalucing Ironies of Her Cast and Her Caste

By Lad Moore

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LUCY PICKENS Often called the Queen of the Confederacy, Pickens was married to South Carolina Gov. Francis W. Pickens. He was governor when the state seceded from the Union. She was also a consort to the czar of Russia when her husband served as a U.S. minister to the country.

Queen of the Confederacy: The Innocent Deceits of Lucy Holcombe Pickens

by Elizabeth Wittenmyer Lewis

First Lady of SC, Lucy Holcombe Pickens, was called “Queen of the Confederacy” because admirer Christopher Memminger put her likeness on the Confederate $100 bill. Much has been made of the martial atmosphere of antebellum Charleston as she ushered in the Confederacy. Relatively little, however, has been said of the heightened mood of sensuality that transfused the Lowcountry on the eve of hostilities.

As it was in the age of chivalry when the pursuit of arms and armor was equaled only by the pursuit of that which was amorous, so was the giddiness of aristocratic Carolinians as war clouds loomed in 1861 over Fort Sumter.

Of all those who have left diaries, letters, and recollections, none reveal so much the sensuousness of the age as the revelations that come down to us from Mary Boykin Chesnut about the beautiful, tempestuous and flirtatious Lucy Holcombe Pickens, the first lady of South Carolina — the one many called “the queen of the Confederacy”: “April 3. - Met the lovely Lucy Holcombe, now Mrs. Governor Pickens, last night at the Isaac Haynes’s. Old Pick [Governor Francis Pickens, husband to Lucy —who was less than half his age] has a better wig. [S]aw Miles begging in dumb show for three violets she had in her breastpin. She [Lucy Holcombe] is silly and affected, looking love into the eyes of the men at every glance. . . . And so we fool on into the black cloud ahead of us.” Mary Chesnut said the Lucy was a consummate actress and Miles was well up in the part of male flirt. So it was well done.

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Lovely Lucy Holcombe Pickens was the Confederacy’s “Helen of Troy,” the face that inspired battalions and bewitched brave men. Privileged by birth, fair of face and figure, coy by nature, and born to intrigue, fiery Lucy Holcombe arced across the Carolina sky like the Parrott shells lobbed into Charleston by Union batteries.

How did the aged, twice-widowed, dour Governor Francis Pickens of Toogoodoo in St. Paul’s Parish wind up with the Confederacy’s Belle of the Ball?

Woodstock plantation in La Grange, Tennessee, was the site of Lucy’s nativity, but her hardgambling papa lost the deed by betting on a horse race in 1850. Lucy and her sister were away in boarding school when a letter came telling them that they were moving to Marshall, Texas.

Marshall, the up-and-coming cotton capital of the West, was a boom town for adventurers as well. Louis Wigfall, a former fiery congressman from Edgefield, had moved to Marshall after assisting Preston Brooks in caning nearly to death Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner in 1856.

It’s fair to say that aristocratic Carolinians such as Mary Boykin Chesnut viewed the Holcombes as nouveau riche and opportunist. However, the prevailing atmosphere in Charleston on the eve of war was decidedly frolicsome and full of intrigue.

A week prior to the firing upon Fort Sumter the air around Charleston was charged with electricity. Young gallants of both sexes made amorous connections that sparked.

The annual ball of the St. Cecilia was one of the social events that Mary Chesnut attended on April 4. She recorded in her diary: “What are your feelings to those of the poor old fellows leaning against the walls, watching their beautiful young wives waltzing as if they could never tire, in every man’s arms in the room. Watch their haggard, weary faces! The old husbands have not exactly a bed of roses; their wives twirling in the arms of young men, they hugging only the wall!”

That Sunday Chesnut attended St. Philip’s with her teenaged sons and this was her diary entry: “At church I had to move my pew. The lovely Laura was too much for my boys. They all made eyes at her, and nudged each other, and she gave them glance for glance. Wink, blink and snigger as they would, she liked it.”

The gaiety was intoxicating for our state’s first lady, Lucy Holcombe Pickens, as well.

In a city known for beauty Charleston men succumbed quickly to the charms of the alluring Lucy. Her auburn hair and soft blue eyes captivated every male to whom she awarded a glance.

Women were less enthralled, and some openly gossiped about Lucy’s romantic past.

There was the story of her engagement to the dashing Colonel William Logan Crittendon of Kentucky - the boy rogue who was last, or “goat,” of his West Point Class of 1845 and hero of the Mexican War. Lucy would have married Crittendon in a heartbeat except for the fact that he became one of General Narcisco Lopez’ filibusterers in an attempt to overthrow Spanish rule in Cuba. When Crittenden was captured and executed, Lucy, age 19, went into mourning at her father’s grand cotton plantation at Marshall, Texas. Lucy wrote a novel about Crittendon and his swashbuckling adventurers which she titled The Free Flag of Cuba (1855).

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A close up of Lucy Holcombe Pickens from the engraving of her reviewing the troops, c. 1862 Another tongue wagged that Lucy’s father took his daughters every year to The Greenbrier at White Sulphur Springs and paraded them every evening in front of the eligible bachelors who frequented the resort.

It was even whispered further that twice widowed Francis Pickens of South Carolina was so smitten by pretty Lucy, who was younger than his own daughters, that he penned ridiculous puppy-love letters to her two and three times a week.

Lucy seldom responded to his advances until she learned that Pickens was to be made Minister to Russia by President Polk. When Pickens was about to depart for St. Petersburg, Russia, Lucy Holcombe accepted his proposal and hastily married her aged suitor.

The years in Russia nearly bankrupted Francis Pickens as his beautiful wife shopped in all the great fashion houses of Europe. Pickens’ return to SC and his run for governor was made when his personal fortune was collapsing.

Upon returning to the states, she became First Lady of South Carolina just in time to encourage a Confederate unit named in her honor (The Holcombe Legion) off to war.

While in Russia, Lucy became the Darling of Czar Alexander II. He covered her in jewels and rich furs, and some at court spread the tale that the Czar was actually the father of Lucy’s only child, the lovely Francis Eugenia Olga Neva Pickens. The infant was forever called Douschka, or “little darling” in Russian. It was the Czar’s pet name for the child.

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Mary Chesnut writes on June 25, 1862 about Mrs. Pickens reception for General Hampton. The guests were very shocked that Lucy met him at the door and took his crutch away placing Hampton’s hand on her shoulder. They gave her the name “The Governess” or “Madame la Governante.” Mary goes on to express dismay on Lucy’s servants uniforms described as magnificent livery from the Court of St. Petersburg in one mass of gold embroidery. They were served Champagne and Russian Tea. Mary writes she did not care for it and made note Lucy never entertained them with her servants dressed in such finery. She also wrote General Hampton did not appear to be impressed either.

Let it be said that Lucy Holcombe Pickens sold many of her Russian jewels to finance a regiment that bore the name Holcombe Legion in her honor. There was romantic fire mingling with patriotic passion in the early days of the Confederacy.

(Dr. Thomas B. Horton is a history teacher at Porter-Gaud School. He lives in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant. You can visit his Web site at www.historyslostmoments.com).

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“Submissiveness is not my role, but certain platitudes on certain occasions are among the innocent deceits of the sex.”

Lucy Holcombe Pickens

LIVING

HISTORIAN

SHOWCASE

James Watson Military Sutlers in the Civil War

by JAMES WATSON Photos by Diane Dowdey

The sutler, or licensed merchant, was a standard part of regimental life for the army. Most army posts and forts had a civilian merchant to provide supplies and comforts for the soldiers and their families from the Revolutionary War forward. With the huge expansion of armies during the U. S. Civil War the number of sutlers also expanded greatly.

A regimental sutler in the Union Army usually was a political position appointed by the Secretary of War on the recommendation of the commanding officer of the brigade or regiment to a merchant in the community the regiment was recruited from.

Because the regulations limited each regiment to a single sutler and men in that regiment had to purchase from their regimental sutler, the position was highly lucrative.

The sutler, or licensed merchant, was a standard part of regimental life for the army.

“I have stayed engaged and interested in being a Civil War reenactor for so many years, because I have often changed up my impression, which provides different things to learn and different ways to interact with the public and my fellow reenactors,” said James S. Watson of Crockett.

“I attended the 125th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg as a Confederate infantry member of the Seventh Louisiana, where we learned commands in French. Then I went as cavalry to the 135th where I got to portray both federal under Buford’s command and Confederate under Stuart’s command. At the 145th I attended with a federal ambulance wagon and my horse. I went to the 150th as a civilian teamster with my wagon and mule team, so I was looking for something different for the 155th, and I was intrigued by the stories of the sutlers and their interactions with the soldiers.”

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Sutlers often set up tents or even built buildings while the armies were in their winter quarters or static camps.

They would have wagons to bring supplies in and during campaign season they would move with the troops.

At the beginning of the Civil War the Army supplied wagons for the sutlers, but it didn’t take too long for them to realize Army wagons needed to be used for other purposes and required sutlers to provide their own wagons. “Setting up my wagon as a sutler display seemed like a good way to tell the stories of these men, and help make the public aware of this slice of history. I found the General Orders enacted by Congress in March 1862 and then revised and expanded in February 1863 that listed items that could be sold by the sutlers. I had to do some research to discover what some of the items on the lists were, like sweet oil, which is probably the name for olive oil, and crocus, which is a kind of abrasive like sand paper using iron oxide rather than sand. I think it is interesting that the sutler provided the soldiers the supplies to clean their weapon and polish their brass and keep their leather goods clean and polished.�

To make the display authentic, James researched period labels for liquor, canned and bottled food, and period medicines. The collections of the Steamships Arabia and Bertrand provide good clues to the way items were labeled and shipped. Cans from the period were hole and cap and jars with wax seal lids were likely more common than those with screw on zinc lids. Lists of sutler inventories and items bought by individual soldiers show the wide range of products available. The display attempts to show most of the categories of items such as personal care items like razors, soap, and hair tonics as well as combs and brushes and handkerchiefs; clothing items like shoes, shirts, suspenders, ties; food items like candy, pickles, canned milk, and fresh food; reading and writing materials such as books, newspapers, ink, pens, and pencils; amusements like cards and dominoes and dice; medicines like laudanum, bitters, dyspepsia remedies; and a wide variety of tobacco and alcohol products.

In addition to displays suitable to the Civil War or Army forts throughout the Indian War period in Texas, James can portray a nineteenth century peddler who would have brought goods to individual farms and ranches as well as supplementing goods available from the mercantile in towns.

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TEXAS CIVIL WAR MUSUEM FORT WORTH

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Private Tour of the Judy Richey Victorian Dress Collection

The Judy Richey Victorian Dress Collection: This private collection is an expansive look at original women’s and children’s clothing from the Victorian Era. With over 300 victorian dresses and hundreds of accessories, the museum exhibits rotate to include 1860 - 1900 attire.

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Sometimes there is an event that surpasses all expectations and really dazzles all those that attend it. When we first started planning the trip to the Civil War Museum to tour the dress collection, I thought we would be shown through the collection, learn some things about the history of the clothes on display, and have a very pleasant afternoon looking at some extant gowns. What we got, though, was far better than I could have ever hoped for.

We met at the museum as they opened their doors. The owner of the dress collection, Judy Richey, greeted us and gave us some time to wait for stragglers before showing us into the museum. We started with a short film about the role Texas and its inhabitants played during the Civil War. The film was very well done and a lot of fun to watch.

Then, we were escorted into the dress collection, a dimly lit room full of row after row of glass cases, filled with exquisite extant gowns. The earliest was a beautiful brown embroidered gown from 1858, with a tiered skirt and delicious detailing. You moved chronologically through the collection, ending at about 1900. There were gowns on display that we had only seen online or in books, like a fantastic black gown with embroidered stripes from the 1880s, and a purple 1870s gown that was so vibrant that it looked new.

The collection included not only gowns, but underpinnings, accessories, and jewelry. There was a soft-bodied child’s corset, an array of both soft and hard bustles, an entire case dedicated to hats, and even a large selection of mourning and hair jewelry. A special surprise was that she had the original hat that Scarlett O’hara wore with the curtain dress in Gone with the Wind, the only film costume piece on display. It was clear that this collection was the accumulation of a lifetime’s passion for antique fashion, and Judy was excited to show us her favorite pieces and talk about the things in her collection.

After we had exhausted the dresses on display, we were led through the museum to the back room, where the rest of Judy’s extensive collection was held. There was a staggering number of gowns, all neatly packed in conservation boxes, and a large collection of hats and accessories. We got a sneak peek at a wedding dress that was being prepped for an upcoming exhibit of Victorian wedding gowns, before she let us look through her large assortment of antique hats. It was a real treat to be able to examine these hats and bonnets close up, seeing the details of their construction and the choices for embellishment that were often rather whimsical, like a burr acorn.

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“this was the accumulation of a lifetime’s passion for antique fashion, and Judy was excited to show us her favorite pieces and talk about the things in her collection”

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Just before we left, Judy Richey let us look through her collection of Victorian “housewives”, portable sewing kits that often included space for spools of thread, an assortment of needles, and thimbles. There were several made of plain brown leather that opened to reveal brightly colored silk linings. A simple cotton one was made from the skirts of a man’s wife and daughters, which he carried with him through the Civil War. Another had the tiniest pair of stork scissors I had ever seen.

When we finally tore ourselves away from the back room, we made our way back out through the remainder of the museum’s extensive collection. Besides the array of cannons and artillery, there was an impressive number of uniforms, with case after case featuring uniforms from different regiments and occupations. The entire museum was extremely impressive, and will definitely be getting another visit in the future.

Article and all photgraphy By Megan Martin reprinted with permission

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Special thanks to Judy Richey for taking us through her fabulous collection, and to our member Tereasa Cotter, who provided the introduction that allowed us to schedule this fantastic event.

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The Ladies of Thistle Hill

photography by Laura Ingalls Gunn

Thistle Hill of Ft Worth (also known as the Wharton-Scott house) is a Georgian Revival-style mansion that was built during the cattle baron era in 1903/4. It is located on what once was known as Quality Hill due to the many fashionable families that constructed homes there. Today it sits beautifully forlorn surrounded by a sea of medical buildings.

Laura Ingal Gunn Continued on Page 49

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Event Spotlight ALHFAM 2018 In June of 2018 the ALHFAMily returned to the Great American West. We were hosted by the gracious Cherokee Nation in its capital of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

For several ALHFAMers who had never been west of the 93rd Meridian, it was a bit of culture shock. The humidity, however, made some of our eastern brethren feel right at home I am sure! For those of us out here in the Frontier half of the country, it was a chance to show off and share our special environmental, cultural and historical life ways. A splendid time was had by all!

We must raise a cheer to the Conference Committee for giving us a week of workshops, lectures, excursions, the annual auction and the ever-popular fashion show. Our week began on Friday with first-class workshops, including a tour of area Civil War sites, a hands-on tutorial on 19th century military firearms which included shooting lessons, a poultry farmer’s boot camp, and traditional basket weaving among others. By all accounts each was well attended and well received.

I can personally vouch for the puckertoe moccasin making class. Being taught age-old traditional techniques by a real Cherokee National Treasure (a title of great honor among the Cherokee) was a memorable experience! At the end participants had their own pair of custom-made moccasins. Many ended up “rocking their mocs” during the week.

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Henry B. Crawford

Interpreter at Cherokee Heritage Center

Interpreter at Cherokee The off-site visits and tours were first class. Fort Gibson, “the terminus of the Trail of Tears” has a rich past that chronicles the history of Oklahoma from the fort’s founding in 1824 to the eve of Oklahoma statehood. Hunter’s Home was our first evening event of the week. It is an antebellum slave plantation in a beautiful wooded setting fronting a creek called the Park Hill Branch. The company was pleasant, historic structures were evocative, food was excellent and the humidity definitely made its presence known! Tribal history was presented at the Cherokee Courthouse Complex and the Cherokee Heritage Center.

Courthouse exhibits interpreted the role of the Cherokee Nation in policing itself and maintaining law and order in an otherwise lawless land. The complex included the courthouse, the stone prison, blacksmith shop, as well as the reconstructed gallows in the prison yard. The Heritage Center operates an outstanding museum and outdoor village where living history demonstrations are conducted by staff and volunteers among cabins, frame structures and traditional mud homes.

The longest excursion of the week took us some distance west of Tulsa to the Will Rogers home and Pawnee Bill Ranch. For lunch we were joined by Jason Schubert, one of my Museum Science graduate students from Texas Tech, and curator of the J. M. Davis Museum in nearby Claremore, OK. He gave a short presentation about his museum and handed out brochures.

Cont. on page 34

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Henry Crawford ‘s presentation of Buffualo Hunters

Cherokee Courthouse Jail with Gallows

Timothy Turner Wopanac Tribesman

Henry Crawford Tradesman The Pawnee Bill Ranch hosted the annual plowing contest, which is always a treat to watch as well as participate in. Yours Truly took sixth place the novice class! The Ranch topped off the day by entertaining us with a short version of their Wild West Show, including a chariot race!

Other conference highlights included the hospitality evenings at Franklin Castle, Professional Interest Group (PIG) meetings and the President’s Dinner, during which our friend Pete Watson of New Jersey received the Schlebecker award, ALHFAM’s highest honor. We had many informative sessions on subjects like documenting early lighting devices, immersive theater programming, The Pawnee Bill Ranch hosted the annual plowing environmental interpretation, adaptive uses of furnishcontest.

Kerry Leigh Burchill ing plans, as well as my program on 1870s Texas buffalo contest hunting logistics and techniques.

It would not be a stretch to say that each time ALHFAM comes west to visit us, our eastern friends go home with a smile in their hearts and bags full of new information and ideas to apply to their museums and sites. They left with something else, too; a network of new colleagues and acquaintances, and the priceless memories of being reunited with old and dearfriends.

We’re glad y’all came!

Henry B. Crawford Founder, History By Choice Continued from Page 33

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Springhouse at Hunter’s Home.

How to set a proper table 1. Butter Knife 2. Bread Plate 3. Dessert Spoon 4. Dessert Fork (Alternate) 5. Water Glass 6. Wine Glass

7. Napkin 8. Salad Fork 9. Dinner Fork 10. Dinner Plate* 11. Service Knife 12. Soup Spoon

* A dinner plate can have a charger underneath, as well as a soup bowl on top.

The Victorian’s had special serving ware for almost every food item.

Olives, asperagus, tomatoes, fish, ice cream, oysters, pickles, cheese, macoroni, dessert, and fruits such as strawberries.

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There is nothing that can make a living historian more realistic than mannerism especially when the character can practice 19th century etiquette rules. Most reenactors both civilian and military can have the perfect period correct clothes, shoes, and hairstyle but are still spotlighted as a 21st century characters. The Victorians were very charismatic and just polite about everything. The topic addressed is dining etiquette which most living historians should have been taught and most abide. There are a few etiquette behaviors most ignored simple because we never do them anymore. If the living historian will practice these etiquette behaviors it will be noticed in the most favorable way.

Never leave the table before the rest of the family or guests, without asking the host or hostess to excuse you. Retrieve dropped items for a lady, Open doors for a lady, Help a lady with her coat, cloak, shawl, etc. Never leave a lady you know unattended, except with permission. Stand up when a lady enters a room (or your presence in a large room) Stand up when a lady stands. Be punctual for all dinner engagements. Food may not be served before all guests are seated The host leads the guests into dine with the senior lady (in age or social standing) on his left arm. All other gentlemen follow with a compatible lady on their left arms. The hostess takes the left arm of the senior male guest and enters last. Gentlemen seat the lady they are escorting to their left. Assist a lady with her chair when she sits down or stands, especially when at a table or when the chairs are small and light. All gentlemen remain standing until all ladies are seated. Married couples are never seated together (They are together enough otherwise) Ladies remove their gloves when they are seated. Gentlemen remove theirs just before seating themselves The gentlemen are to tend to the needs of the lady on their left, as well as make agreeable conversation with ladies to either side and across the table (size of table permitting) A lady never serves herself from a buffet line. She informs her dinner partner of her wishes and he brings her plate to her.

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Beautiful silver serving ware

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“The true aim of politeness, is to make those with whom you associate as well satisfied with themselves as possible. ...it does whatever it can to accommodate their feelings and wishes in social intercourse.” ”Civil War Etiquette: Martine’s Handbook and Vulgarisms in Conversation”

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Hutchins Metal Art Customs Designs

All of our designs are cut from 12 gauge steel (standard; other options available) using a computer guided plasma cutter to get a precise design exactly like you want! Pieces are usually finished with a flat black paint, unless otherwise specified. Powder coating is available at additional cost. Most pieces are usually finished within a two week period and can be shipped anywhere in the continental U.S. (shipping fees apply). Any previous designs may be purchased, but due to the nature of making custom metal designs, individual consultations will be necessary for most projects. Please contact us with any questions you may have so we can discuss your individual idea!

Johnnie Hutchins, owner

jthutch85@yahoo.com (254) 396 - 1243 http://www.hutchinsmetalart.com/

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The Road To Texas Our ancestors who traveled the Natchez Trace.

by Tereasa Cotter

John J. Bristow arrived in Texas with his family in the Fall of 1878 to raise sheep on a modest one hundred and sixty acre ranch in Coleman County. The Texas Census and land records show him buying and selling land from Throckmorton County and Shackleford County. One of the platt records locates one of his ranch homes was along the Clear Fork River close to Ft Griffin. John also donated some land to build a school. The school teacher was tall dark thin young man named Finlay Marquis. He was a young Scottish immigrant who became smitten with a student named Jimetta Bristow. Jimetta was John’s youngest daughter.

They were shortly married in Little Rock Arkansas and lived briefly near her brother Charles Bristow’s farm. With in a year they all returned to Texas. Jimetta and Finlay Marquis moved near John’s farm and started a family, home and sheep raising. Often Jimetta was awoken late at night to knocks at the back door. The late mysterious visitors would be local cattlemen who wanted to buy mutton but didn’t want the neighbors to know.

Mr. Bristow, was a native of New Albany, Indiana, born February 2, 1838, and has passed an unusually eventful life.

His father, James D. Bristow, was of French ancestry and married Miss Mahala Chisom, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, a lady of English descent. He was married in Indiana in 1833 and became the father of five children, four boys and one girl: Alphonso, J. J., W. H., Chas. W. and Martha. They were all living in 1890’s except Wm. H. who died at Quincy, Illinois shortly after the Civil War..

J. J. Bristow left home when only nine years old and engaged as a cook on a flatboat, going from Louisville, Kentucky, to New Orleans, receiving $8 for services rendered on these trips. This was a good job for a very young man.

Apparently it was not as rare ordeal at that day and age for boys with headstrong ways to venture out into the world and make their own living. He followed flatboating for four or five years, and then engaged in steamboating, running between New Orleans and Louisville. He quit the river and went to Iowa at the age of nineteen and worked at different vocations as he found employment, and finally went to Missouri, where in September, 1858; he married Miss Sarah M. Tulk. Their seven children were: Isabella, Ora, Charley W., R. Meda, Lee Dorah, Lawrence L. and Jimetta. Ora, his oldest daughter, married J. B. Sloan, and they lived in Stephens County, having two children. Sarah Tulk’s family, her brother John and her married sister Ella went to Texas sometime after 1889. They all were living around the same area ranching sheep around Throckmorton. Cont. on pg. 40

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Ella Tulk Bristow

by Frederick Frieseke(1874-1939) ‘Bound Down The River’ ~ circa 1870

Hospital Steamship Nashville at the battle of Vicksburg

After John’s marriage to Sarah he moved to Hannibal, Missouri, and remained there till the commencement of the war and then crossed into Illinois, where he enlisted in August, 1862, under J. D. Rosenbrook, Company K., 118th Illinois. John’s pension records described him as 5 ft 8 inches tall with a Medium build, light hair, with blue eyes. It even was noted he had a tattoo on his left arm. He remained in the Union army during the war and was in several battles. During the siege of Vicksburg he was constantly under fire for about sixty five days. He was never sick a day was never wounded and never could get off duty. His pension records declared he was totally deaf in his left ear due from the exposure from the war. John said in the pension application it was hard for him to hear the bells on his sheep. He was color-bearer for two years and was consequently at the front and in the thickest of the fight whenever a battle was on. John also served as a nurse aboard the hospital steam ship the Nashville anchored and banked at Vicksburg.

After the war He moved to Texas in the fall of 1878 and settled in Coleman County, near the Santa Anna mountains, and engaged in the sheep business, remaining there five years, and then, selling out at a considerable profit, went back to Moberly, Missouri, and invested in city property. Not being satisfied he went to Kansas the same year and bought a farm in Cherokee County, but owing to illness, sold out at a considerable sacrifice, and then moved back to Texas on the Clear Fork, in Shackelford County, and returned to his first love, raising sheep.

He met with reverses in Shackelford County, losing all his sheep, except about 300 head, and then moved to Throckmorton, and since that time was successful, considering the hard times that have prevailed in the country generally. He improved his breed from time to time. He commenced by shearing three to four pounds of wool from each sheep and has increased the yield until finally he averaged eight to nine pounds per head. He had about 2,400 sheep and then moved into the Ragety Mountains in the western part of Foard County. (1) John was a County Commissioner and one of the leading men in the county. He was a prominent Freemason.

He was also a man with a big secret. The family scandal was still whispered as not to offend the dead. It was still told only a few years ago in hushed whispers. The story teller looked around to check who may over hear and with hand cupped next to lips whispered into the listener’s ear the story. The secret was revealed. What happened was, Sarah looked into the mirror and saw in the reflection her sister Ella romantically kissing her husband John. John fell in love with his sister in law Ella. About a year later John divorced Sarah for desertion. In the court documents the adultery was not mentioned and he married Ella after her divorce from her husband Joel O’Brian. Sarah stayed with her daughter and lived out her life in Mineral Wells, Texas and died at the Baker Hotel, at the age of 91. On all the census records Sarah is recorded as widowed and not divorced.

Ella and John lived out their lives in Granite Oklahoma. (1) 1. (Source: Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry and the Cattlemen of Texas by James Cox, Published by Woodward & Tiernan Printing Co, St Louis, 1895 - Transcribed by Veneta McKinney) Do you have a story about your ancestors that came to Texas. What did they do? Where did they live?

Texas Living History is about the people. Our ancestors who lived and built here. Thier way of life.

Send submission Publications to email lleia56@ hotmail.com

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Continued from Page 41

Bottom photo John Henry Tulk brother of Sarah Tulk Bristow, he is the tall guy with the black hat on in the back left.

He owned a saloon and worked for the railroad. It was said a train he was on was robbed by Jesse James and John Henry said “He was a pretty good fellar�

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ThePolite Society of American Civil War Civilian Reenactors Welcome! The Polite Society is a loose national confederation of American Civil War Civilian Reenactors who enjoy participating in civilian activities and events. Military impressions are always welcome...you were once a civilian!

One goal of Polite Society is to meet together at various reenactments around the country at the “Polite Society” tent to be of encouragement to one another, participate in recreated social events hosted during the reenactment and have a “parlour” away from home where we can gather together at events to meet with old, as well as, new friends! (Military is always welcome!)

It is the hope, that through the nurturing of friendships, the participation together in activities and the good conversations shared, that we might truly further the beauty of politeness and good company in our reenacting society.

On the FaceBook page, there will be the sharing period of social information including etiquette, parlour games, social activities, out-of-door amusements, balls and a whole host of wonderful ideas and plans. The group creator and moderator is Karen Duffy (aka: “Mrs. Hamilton).

Joining the page allows you to become a most welcomed member of “Polite Society!” Just comment that you would like to to be a member! https://www.facebook.com/groups/PoliteSocietyCW/ Polite Society - American Civil War Please invite your friends to join and everyone welcome new members to the group! We want this to be a polite, fun and carefree group.

Please, step into the parlour and rest awhile...you are among friends!

“Kindness You Can Depend On!” Karen Duffy (aka: “Mrs. Hamilton) From FaceBook Page Polite SocietyCW

The Texas Chapter Polite Society Join facebook at texas polite society -american civil war Page 43

WATCH CHAINS AND FOBS

Morphy Auctions

Fobs were often pin knifes, watch keys, lockets, and signets. Some were very decorative. The purpose of the fob was to have something to hold to help pull the watch easily from the pockets.

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The History of Horology, Function and Style of Pocket Watches History of pocket watches started in early late 1400s and early 1500s when mechanical engineering reached the state when simple spring devices could be made. By using the invention of mainspring, German inventor Peter Henlein was finally able to create watches that did not require falling weights as the source of their power. This invention gave birth to the first wave of small portable watches, which were in the beginning worn as a pendant on a chain around the neck. The year 1675 a new fashion style emerged – pocket clocks that were small enough to be wore in pocket and not like a pendant.

The originator of this fashion style was Charles II of England who popularized this new way of carrying watches across entire Europe and North America. By then, Glass protection was introduced, and pocket watches truly became the luxurious items that received attention from fashion designers and innovators. Pocket watches represented not only the most popular type of portable clock design, but also an integral part of male fashion.

The Proper way to wear a pocket watch: The attached fob can be functional or decorative, and during the Victorian era, women would take pieces of their own hair and weave them together to create a fob chain to give as a gift to their husbands.

Chains are the most popular and easiest way to wear a pocket watch.

Chains come in a variety of metals, lengths and designs with different types of hooks used to fasten the chain to the belt loop or a vest pocket. Leather fobs and straps are another option for attaching the pocket watch. Additionally, a leather pocket or pouch which attaches to a belt loop is another elegant way to properly wear the watch.

The watch fob usually hangs at the other end of the watch chain.

The type of clothing you are wearing generally determines the proper way to wear the watch. For example, wearing a waistcoat would mean putting the watch in a pocket on one side of the coat, looping the chain through a center buttonhole and placing the fob into another pocket. With jeans the watch goes into a pocket; the chain is looped through the belt loop and then clipped onto the belt loop. Place the fob into your vest, pocket or belt on the side opposite the hand you write with. Pocket watches were originally intended to be practical as well as fashionable, so you should be able to write while holding the timepiece. Right-handed people would have the pocket watch on their left sides. With the fob connected, place the timepiece end into your pants pocket. Suit jackets, if worn, are worn on top, leaving the chain slightly visible if worn with the proper vest.

Yes there is proper etiquette in wearing pocket watches. In the Victorian era it was considered poor etiquette for a man to “publicly display his timepiece.” Apparently, it was believed to be poor form for a true gentleman to take into account the passing of time. Though fashion rules are less strict, pocket watch etiquette still exists in today’s society. [horology: noun a) the science of time measurement. b) the art of making timepieces, clocks and watches. From the Greek “hora”]

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Just a flash of watch chain and fobs sets this gentleman to a higher set of style.

Albert Probably named after Prince Albert, this is a chain attached to the pocket watch that attaches to a waistcoat buttonhole or lapel buttonhole with a T-bar. A Double Albert has two chains extending from the T-bar - the pocket watch goes on the end of one chain in the lefthand waistcoat pocket whilst the other chain can have a cigar cutter signet, key or Vesta box attached and is placed in the righthand waistcoat pocket. An Albert is sometimes referred to as a “Fob�, although, more accurately, a Fob is an ornament or medallion hung from the chain that is in view and not in the pocket.

A fast and simply way to embellish your reenactor impersonation.

If you are a fine gentleman or a lady. A bit of a ruffian, military, or civilian. Working class or high class. A nice chain and pocket watch will be the final touches.

By 1865 American Watch Company could manufacture more than 50 thousand reliable watches

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Watch and Chains For Ladies

Ladies, sometimes wore extrememly long watch chains. Draping in long swags and looping around thier necks.

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Pocket Watch Parts & Terminology Chatelaines often had pocket watches.

Watch Pocket

Materials—Pink silk or satin, a piece of white silk braid, white silk fringe, and white satin ribbon. Draw the pattern on the silk with a white crayon, and hem the braid on; trim with the fringe, and rows of satin ribbon.

ladies watch pendant

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Bow The loop or metal ring at the top of the Stem around the Crown used to clip a chain or Albert to the watch Case The metal part of the watch that houses the movement.

Often gold plate, silver, brass or chrome, the case comes in a variety of designs from Hunter to Half Hunter, Double Hunter (twin-lidded) and Open Dial.

Plain cases are commonly engraved, whilst others have ornate engined turned or hammered finishes.

Chapter Ring On the outer edge of the Dial, this is a ring that marks the hours and minutes, so called because the hour marks were referred to as Chapters.

Crown The knob used for winding and adjusting time at the top of the winding stem. Sometimes called the Winder.

Crystal The traditional name for the Glass - the clear cover of the dial originally made from glass (mineral crystal) or sapphire, but now more commonly made from Acrylic Crystal Ebauche A basic Movement often purchased by a watchmaker from an outside manufacturer and then embellished and branded.

Escape Wheel A notched wheel whose teeth alternately engage and disengage with the Anchor. Tick, tick, tick ...

Escapement This is what translates the power in the Mainspring to timekeeping. The Escapement includes all those elements that regulate the Mainspring power from the Barrel to the Hairspring, Balance Wheel and Anchor.

Are you wanting to try out another Impression from a different time era but are afraid your not exactly perfect?

Afraid of judgements and being called a FARB? Are you more interested in the clothing than work camps and reenacting wars? Would you like to dress in period correct clothing, visit nice art galleries, luncheons, concerts, museums and hang around some very sociable people? Would you just like to be around other like minded people who love to share knowledge and skills of wearing and sewing period correct clothing? Please join us for out next event.

The 10th Annual Georgian Picnic Our picnic this year will be on Saturday, November 17th, and we will be at the park from 1pm until dusk.

This is a casual event so please feel free to come and go as you please, and if you are just curious to see what we are all about, we love having non-costumed people drop by to say hi and check us out.

1. This event is FREE! 2. You do not need to be a DFWCG member to attend.

3. Photography, food, active games, and pets are allowed at this park. Alcohol and loudly amplified music is not.

4. There are restrooms on site where you can change clothes if you need to, but be warned that they are not very roomy.

5. The Georgian picnic is an informal gathering sponsored by the Dallas Ft. Worth Costumers Guild and is not affiliated with with River Legacy Park or the city of Arlington.

cont. from pg. 31

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6. If you have any other questions or suggestions, let us know on our Facebook Group page.

We hope to see you soon!

Picnic on the Prairie Emily Hopkins In May, Fort Griffin hosted a group called the Texas Time Travelers. Since it is a group made up of kids who are interested in history and re-enacting it was decided to focus their first get together on toys and games of the 1800s. In spite of the heat, the kids who attended played a rowdy game of croquet, many serious rounds of checkers and chess, they tried their hand at stilt walking, made thaumatropes and paper kites, and generally had a good time playing with the old fashioned toys. The morning was topped off with a sit down picnic under the trees.

To help the kids get as much of a taste of 19th century living as possible, the organizers thought it would be a good idea for at least one family to bring a “period correct” lunch. When I volunteered for this mission it seemed easy enough. I’ve been baking my own bread for years and picnic food didn’t sound too intimidating.

However, there were two things that I hadn’t considered, first what my kids would readily eat and second the packaging and transport of the food.

I began by doing a little reading in the books The First American Cookbook and The Frugal Housewife. These gave me an idea of what kinds of cheeses, breads, and meats would have been available, but our modern idea of a sandwich is not quite the same as what was described at that time. Such as lunch meats or American cheese and I couldn’t find any references to PB&J. Mainly what I was finding were recipes and foods for the dinner table. My goal was just a picnic, not a three course meal. So I began asking friends and acquaintances on Facebook. “What would folks in Texas in the mid to late 19th century have eaten at a picnic?” “What were people snacking on back then?” “Did they have convenience foods?” I got some helpful feedback and that got me rolling on a meal plan.

Since meat and bread were eaten by pretty much everyone everywhere, I thought that would be a good starting place. The final menu was -Roast beef -Wheat bread -Mustard -Hard cheese -Pickles -Snap peas -Radishes -Molasses cookies -and a big jug of Switchel.

When the day of the picnic arrived we loaded a basket with all our goodies. Some things traveled easily just wrapped in a clean cloth, but the cheeses and meat I wrapped in brown paper. A small sharp knife and a small wooden spoon were also stashed in the basket for slicing and spreading. Then with our quilt in hand we set out for a good old-fashioned picnic lunch!

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Texas Time Travelers at Ft Griffin “Then with our quilt in hand we set out for a good oldfashioned picnic lunch!”

In the Photos. Bo Hopkins - red shirt, Jonathan Romer- green shirt, Sorrel Hopkins -black hat, pecos Hopkins- blonde girl, Emily Hopkins- brown dress, Bailey Wheeler- brunette, Texas Hammond- striped, Nevaeh Hammond- purple dress.

There are times when I would call myself an ambitious cook, but at the end of re-enactment season while trying to wrap up the school year, I could not see myself taking up cheese making and pickling just for one picnic. So my quest for authentic LOOKING foods was begun. I had read that cold roast beef sandwiches with mustard was a common picnic item. So I started with a loaf of homemade wheat bread made in my marvelously modern oven. Our roast beef was easy enough, just sliced leftovers from a previous meal. The mustard though gave me some trouble. Good old French’s mustard with bright yellow hue was going to stand out like plastic sunglasses on a confederate uniform. So I went looking through the gourmet mustard section at the store. After settling on coarsely-stone-ground mustard I realized that the plastic squeeze bottle would be an issue. So I emptied the contents into small clay crock that I had, covered the top with a scrap of cloth and tied a string around it. This “fancy” mustard was a hit with several of the kids. The pickles were easy to find. We used kosher dill pickles and transferred them to a plain mason jar (a proper antique one was not available). Hard cheese was another thing. I knew that I wanted to use a cheese that had a similar texture and color to what would have been eaten at that time but I had no idea what a variety our local store actually had! I finally settled on a small wedge of Romano and a small wedge of Asiago. The kids all gave them a try, but it was very different from the prepackaged cheese snacks they’re used to. The summer heat had not yet destroyed my garden so I picked a handful of green peas and a few small radishes to add a bit of color and freshness to our basket. To top it all off we baked a batch of Molasses cookies (one of the kid’s favorites), and made a big jug of switchel (which the kids have nicknamed sweet and sour punch).

“I started with a loaf of homemade wheat bread made in my marvelously modern oven.”

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I picked a handful of green peas and a few small radishes to add a bit of color