The Long hunter's Journal The newsletter of the Utah ALRA

February 2005

Grant Davis, Lieutenant

James Chandler, Sergeant at Arms

Steve Gish, Scribe

Muster

Patriots:  Grant Davis (217), Terry Pendley (12), Gregg Hansen (100), John McCann (155), Rex Ward (179), Steve Gish (231), Dave Kafton.

Prospective Members and Guests: Kirk Davis, Trent Isaacson, Ole Jensen, Kevin McCarthy, Kevin Molett, James Stone, Sue Stone, Marsha Ward, Darwin Lowery, Garade, Jonathon Kafton

Lieutenant's Message

We had a great meeting in February. Many thanks to Terry Pendley for a great presentation on hunting bags, powder horns, loading, and shooting. Those of you who missed staying over missed a COLD bugger of a night! I would like to remind those of you working on bibliographies to keep at it. It's tough and time consuming, but you will feel a real sense of accomplishment when it is done. Also, there are many of us here to help you. Don't hesitate to call on myself or your sponsor for assistance in completing your bibliography.

Spring Rendezvous

The Fort Buenaventura Rendezvous will be held March 25th, 26th & 27th. They have requested that we provide demonstrations. Free camping has been offered to those who demonstrate an 18th Century activity. Activities discussed were casting round balls, candle making, spinning, card weaving, lace making, making char cloth, knitting, and making period leatherwork. The Lieutenant said this is a good way to give back to the Fort for the free use we enjoy each month. Call Grant to coordinate your demonstration. The demos will be fore scheduled two hour blocks throughout the event both Saturday and Sunday.

Flag Raising Ceremony

The Brigade formed for a practice flag-raising ceremony under the command of Gregg Hansen. The Garrison will perform a flag raising ceremony at the Spring Rendezvous. Members are asked to form at 7:30 am the morning of March 26th. Donuts and drinks will be provided. We'll march around the pond and fire several volleys on the way to fort. Dave Kafton's drummers, fife, and pipes will lead the parade. The Hansen clan will carry the colors.

Fort DeChartres, Illinois

The rental van idea has been canceled due to lack of numbers to share the cost. The Hansen's, John McCann, the Lieutenant, Scribe, and Sergeant are all going to make the trip to Des Chartres by various modes of transportation.

March Meeting

The meeting will be held at Fort Buenaventura on March 4 & 5 with a shoot planned by the Sergeant of Arms, James Chandler. It's an "any one can win shoot" and not based on the top score. The Lieutenant is planning on spending the night at the Fort if any are interested in joining him.

Idaho Camp, Memorial Day Weekend

Ken Stanley tells us of a camp in Idaho that sures to be a good one. A base camp will be setup one-half mile in from parking. From there, day treks are planned. Perhaps a total of 30 miles will be covered. The AMM will also participate. Rex Ward is the ALRA contact for this event.

Shooting from the bag

Terry Pendley provided the members with some excellent tips on powder horn and pouch positioning along with shooting techniques. The pouch is carried under the shooter's gun arm at waist lever. The powder horn is carried high on the pouch on a separate strap for earlier periods but may be attached in later periods (around 1800). He has seen horns carried on the opposite shoulder. This can be documented even into the mountain man era.

Whisk, pick and powder measure may be attached to the pouch. There is no evidence of a short starter such as commonly seen. This item is on the ALRA's "Challenge list." Knives from the late 18th Century have been found with a small indentation in the butt of the handle that serves as a ball starter. In the 19th Century, knives with an antler tine shaped to start a ball are known.

Terry keeps his pouch organized with each item in a definite place. He uses a two-pocket pouch with his ball bag, priming horn and patches in the front pocket. A quantity of patches are neatly contained on a string that runs through the center of each patch. This is documented at least in the 19th Century. The back pocket is reserved for cleaning worm, screwdriver, ball puller screw, extra flints, tow, and touch-hole feather. Books were provided as references during his presentation.

Terry feels most people don't spend enough time at the range to sight in their guns. It's important to find the proper load and ball and patch combination. A well sighted in gun increases confidence. When standing, have feet shoulder width apart and 90 degrees to the target. He suggests supporting as much weight of the gun with the shooting arm and hand as is comfortable leaving the forward hand to aim with the forearm and elbow under the gun rather than out to the side.

This requires that the elbow of the shooting arm be held high to support as much of the weight as it can without contributing to distraction or discomfort. The trigger should be squeezed rather than jerked but the shot should not come as a surprise in off hand shooting. There will always be wobble. The trick is to develop hand and eye coordination such that the trigger releases as the sights come on target. Follow through until recoil occurs is necessary to prevent flinch.

Dues are Due

Please contact the Lieutenant or the Scribe regarding dues.

News from the Outposts

Scott Rawley says hi to everyone. He is making arrangements to be at the June camp and is looking forward to it.

Upcoming Events

Historical Notes

…for we had been studiously careful with our ammunition, never firing but at some object which would give us some means of subsistence. Though we drew of loads every morning, from a fear of the dampness of the atmosphere, yet the ball and powder were never lost. Our bullet screws brought the first out with ease, and it was recast-the latter was carefully returned to the horn, where, if moist, it soon became dry. The principal of Morgan's rules were, that there should be no straggling from camp; -and no firing without authoritative permission.

Henry's notes state: At this place, Morgan had given out in orders that no one should fire. One Camberlaine, a worthless fellow, who did not think it worthwhile to draw his bullet, had gone some hundreds of yards in the woods, and discharged his gun. Lieut. Steele happened to be in that quarter at that time; Steele had but arrived at the fire, where we sat, when Morgan, who had seen him coming, approached our camp, and seated himself within our circle. Presently, Chamberlaine came, gun in hand, and was passing our fire, towards that of his mess. Morgan called to the soldier-accused him as the defaulter-this the man (an arrant liar) denied.

Morgan appealed to Steele. Steele (Archibald Steele was a Lieutenant under Smith's command) admitted he had heard the report, but knew not the party who had discharged the gun. Morgan suddenly springing to a pile of billets took one, and swore that he would knock the accused down unless he confessed the fact. Instantly, Smith seized another billet, and swore he would strike Morgan if he struck the man. Morgan knowing the tenure of his rank, receded. This was the only spirited act of Smith. Such were the rough-hewn character, which, in a few subsequent years, by energy of mind and activity of body, bore us safely through the dreadful storms of the revolution. Morgan was of an impetuous temper, yet withal, imprudent in war, as he was fearless of personal danger. His passions were quick and easily excited, but they were soon cooled. This observation is applicable to many men of great talent, and to none more than Morgan. His severity, at times, has made me shutter, though it was necessary, yet it would have been a pleasing trait in his character, if he had been less rigid.

John Joseph Henry's Journal of the Campaign against Quebec, 1775. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Volume XV, Page 92.

Washington once found occasion to express his pleasure in obedience to his recommendations even to the "cocking and decorating the hats," but still he thought "some improvements may yet be made; to wear the hair cut or tied in the same manner though out the whole corps would still be a very considerable ornament." Not content to rest the matter upon good advice, Washington went on to provide supplies with which the men could dress their hair, "two pounds of flower and half a pound of rendered Tallow per hundred men…"

Diary of a Common Soldier in the American Revolution, 1775-1783, page 235.

New Powder Horn Book

Scott and Cathy Sibley have written a book, "Recreating the 18th Century Powder Horn." It will be published at the end of March. Scott and Cathy are renowned powder horn makers. Scott makes the horns and Cathy decorates them. Their work is superb and may be viewed on the Contemporary Longrifle Association website. I have four of their horns and carry one from time to time to our meetings. The book will sell for $23 postpaid and is available directly from them.

Their address is: 1132 Road 7, Powell, WY 82435.

Knowing the quality of their work, the book should be terrific, and the price is a real bargain.

John McCann, AKA Capt Matt, Utah Scribe Emeritus

Snowshoes

I have a pair of modern aluminum and neoprene snowshoes, but I wanted a pair of traditional ones for my ALRA activities. A search of the web revealed a company well suited to the task, the Iverson Snow Shoe Company. Their website is www.iversonsnowshoe.com. They also have a retail site: www.seekwilderness.com. Iverson offers some six different types of snowshoes with either rawhide or neoprene webbing.

They also offer a couple of types of modern bindings, a separate item. One can select bear paws, traditional round front, or canoe shaped shoes. Each of these was found during our period of interest. I opted for the traditional round front with tail style in 10" X 46" size. They make wider ones, but I was never in the cavalry, am not bow legged and find them uncomfortable. The website tells you which ones are suitable for what weight. Remember to include the weight of your gear. Rex Ward built some canoe shaped ones from a kit that he found on the Internet. Last I knew, he is quite happy with them. I think they're some 56" long, which can pose a maneuverability problem in dense brush.

Propitiously, my "On the Trail" Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1-Jan./Feb. 2005 just arrived. It has an article entitled "Re-enactor Snowshoeing 101, or All the Stuff I wish Someone Had told Me about Snowshoes," by William Halpin. It's well worth reading. (You can borrow my copy, or better still, subscribe to it. I need to make some period correct bindings. The article has several sources: The first is by E. Krepps, "Camp and Trail Methods. The second is by William Osgood and Leslie Hurley, "The Snowshoe Book", Steven Green Press, 1975. It's out of print but should be available on interlibrary loan or from used book sites. Another site is cited as having an excellent description of old time bindings: www. inquiry.net/outdoor/winter/gear/snoeshoes/bindings.htm.

Punxatawny Phil says we still have some six weeks of winter left, so put on your snowshoes and get out in the woods. Choose your ground wisely as the snow doesn't want to stay on the side of the mountain like it's supposed to. If you don't have traditional wooden snowshoes, the Lieutenant would probably give you dispensation to use some modern ones temporarily. By the way, I've seen some wooden snowshoes in antique stores. They are usually more expensive than new ones. Add to that questionable wood frames and rotten leather. I wouldn't want to bet my life on them.

YHS, Capt Matt

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