I found this interesting reference in the Moravian Records: "Their first woodland camp was made on the evening of the 12th, sleeping in their blankets around the fire. Br. Erich undertook the cooking, and a watch was set. Br. Gottlob hung his hammock between two trees, and rested well in it. Oct. 12, 1753" This was on their journey down from Bethlehem, PA, to NC. Lots of references to rain and floods washing out bridges, washing away homes and drowning cattle making travel very difficult.
Great video! I just wanted point out that if if rained on that buff hide with the hair out that the water would cling to the hair and make it extremely heavy and possibly collapse your shelter. Just flipping it over even with a green untreated hide it would shed way more water . And make a much better shelter.
Thanks for the tip! I debated how to show it for the video and decided to go with hair out as a visual reference but did wonder which would be better. In the end I opted to build it the way the bison would have worn it. Two of the poplar poles I cut were also not large enough to support the weight of it got a lot heavier. It’s my first Buffalo hide shelter (and likely my last). That tent would be an over $2k tent with my second Buffalo robe.
Thank you for your research and time spent making this informative video. It's wonderful to be in the woods and emulate 18th C methods, however, we are often limited by 21 st C realities. One example would be the use of bark shelters. They would have thought nothing re stripping a few trees to construct a temporary shelter for the night and there is ample documentation that this was done Not only would this be frowned upon today, but the forests have changed, and the large chestnut trees which frequented the woods are gone
Great video as always. Cresswells book is a plethora of info on lots of subjects. Early in his journey he complained about being cold while sleeping and one of the men in his company told him it was because he left his clothes on. Most of his travels (just like everyone else) was along the water ways and many of times he stayed at a cabin, small fort or abandoned cabin (like you mentioned). Also they spent many nights drifting their canoes all night sleeping on them.
I couldn’t imagine being from England, showing up on the frontier with a bunch of rougher folk, and then sleeping naked, on a log or in a canoe. The frontier must have been wild for many travelers.
Hey, I'm here from the Nutmeg Tavern and I appreciate your knowledge about frontier living especially as I prepare for my first reenactment opportunity!
In the battle of Kings Mountain the British threatened to burn out everyone in the country. Word spread quickly and a couple of thousand frontiersmen poured out of the mountains. When they gathered for the fight. An observer wrote, there was not a scrap of canvas to be seen among them. General Oglethrorp was fighting the Spanish over property lines. The English sent a company of Regulars to assist the colonial volunteers. The commander noticed that Oglethorpe had no tent. He offered to put Oglethorpe up in one of the officers tents. Oglethorpe replied, No thankyou, I have my cloak, I will spend the night under the trees with the men. The botanist Bartram had only two blankets and two deerskins for his travels of the South-East in the 1780s. A scrap of canvas is not a bad thing. It is easier to stay dry than it is to get dry. Thanks for the video
That was an awesome video man! I really like the Buffalo hide, reminds me of some of the items that my nordic ancestors used. Alot of linen wool and hides, for clothing and shelter! I'm really enjoying you content buddy, can't say it enough!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! It’s funny to me how raw materials from the landscape become the great equalizer across different cultures but they all seemed to come up with similar results.
Well that's sort of what i use for viking age camping. A homemade linen trap. 2 Goat skins and one sheep skin wool blanket and my cloak. Normally keeps me warm and mostly dry. I showed it a few months on my website lol
I thank you for sharing the different subjects that you are sharing which are important for Re-enactment campouts and I have shared your videos and Black Powder groups
Another great video!!!! As I’m afoot, I try to keep it light, but always seem to have some sort of shelter with me. If I had a horse(s) I’d be inclined to have hides or heavier type canvas.
There doesn’t seem to be much evidence that they coated anything much at all. You do see oilcloth around but none of the extant 18th century tents were coated with anything and those are from the colonies and Europe.
@@thedeerskindiary I have a source for untreated natural canvas. Is there any historic evidence of them coloring their tarps and if so what with? Thank you so much for your time and input.
@@thedeerskindiary my primary focus is military so the material culture is a bit different than civilian frontiersman, but if you'd like I can send you a "dictionary of military terms" that describes many different items including tents and oil cloths!
That’s a great question. One would have to choose between period waterproofing coatings like oil cloth while knowing that oilcloth tents are not something that I can document. Modern canvasses are just that-modern. The useful thing about them though is that they look more authentic than the oilcloth but being modern are not authentic. It is up to each person to make their best decision based on the experience that they are going for. No judgement here. I have options for each and adjust my expectations based on the weather, the event, who is with me, etc.
I found this interesting reference in the Moravian Records:
"Their first woodland camp was made on the evening of the 12th, sleeping in their blankets around the fire. Br. Erich undertook the cooking, and a watch was set. Br. Gottlob hung his hammock between two trees, and rested well in it. Oct. 12, 1753"
This was on their journey down from Bethlehem, PA, to NC. Lots of references to rain and floods washing out bridges, washing away homes and drowning cattle making travel very difficult.
Fascinating. It is so distant to me to hear about sleeping in a deluge as though it’s just a rough Tuesday.
Great video! I just wanted point out that if if rained on that buff hide with the hair out that the water would cling to the hair and make it extremely heavy and possibly collapse your shelter. Just flipping it over even with a green untreated hide it would shed way more water . And make a much better shelter.
Thanks for the tip! I debated how to show it for the video and decided to go with hair out as a visual reference but did wonder which would be better. In the end I opted to build it the way the bison would have worn it.
Two of the poplar poles I cut were also not large enough to support the weight of it got a lot heavier. It’s my first Buffalo hide shelter (and likely my last). That tent would be an over $2k tent with my second Buffalo robe.
Thank you for your research and time spent making this informative video. It's wonderful to be in the woods and emulate 18th C methods, however, we are often limited by 21 st C realities. One example would be the use of bark shelters. They would have thought nothing re stripping a few trees to construct a temporary shelter for the night and there is ample documentation that this was done Not only would this be frowned upon today, but the forests have changed, and the large chestnut trees which frequented the woods are gone
Exactly. We would be arrested for a lot of what they did then.
The deerskin diary has quickly become my favorite channel.
You do awesome work
That’s very humbling. Thank you.
GREAT Video!!! . Abandoned homes made great shelters.
Thank you!
Great video as always. Cresswells book is a plethora of info on lots of subjects. Early in his journey he complained about being cold while sleeping and one of the men in his company told him it was because he left his clothes on. Most of his travels (just like everyone else) was along the water ways and many of times he stayed at a cabin, small fort or abandoned cabin (like you mentioned). Also they spent many nights drifting their canoes all night sleeping on them.
I couldn’t imagine being from England, showing up on the frontier with a bunch of rougher folk, and then sleeping naked, on a log or in a canoe. The frontier must have been wild for many travelers.
Thank you. This is a very important topic that is little covered - with historical veracity - on YT.
Thank you. Wanted to spread some love for the simple.
You’ve, knocked another one out of the park, Anthony!
Thank you my friend.
Hey, I'm here from the Nutmeg Tavern and I appreciate your knowledge about frontier living especially as I prepare for my first reenactment opportunity!
Excellent! Welcome aboard. I hope that some of this information makes your experience a little bit better and easier to navigate.
Great video as always!
Thank you my friend
This was an amazing video, as always, I'm looking forward to your next one.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the feedback!
I enjoy your well done presentations and appreciate your research.
Thank you very much!
Another great entry into the diary! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for watching!
In the battle of Kings Mountain the British threatened to burn out everyone in the country.
Word spread quickly and a couple of thousand frontiersmen poured out of the mountains.
When they gathered for the fight. An observer wrote, there was not a scrap of canvas to be seen among them.
General Oglethrorp was fighting the Spanish over property lines. The English sent a company of Regulars to assist the colonial volunteers. The commander noticed that Oglethorpe had no tent. He offered to put Oglethorpe up in one of the officers tents.
Oglethorpe replied, No thankyou,
I have my cloak, I will spend the night under the trees with the men.
The botanist Bartram had only two blankets and two deerskins for his travels of the South-East in the 1780s.
A scrap of canvas is not a bad thing. It is easier to stay dry than it is to
get dry.
Thanks for the video
Thanks for your comment! I like the phrase about being easier to stay dry. That’s a good way to put it.
Great video! Can’t wait for the next one
Thank you!
That was an awesome video man! I really like the Buffalo hide, reminds me of some of the items that my nordic ancestors used. Alot of linen wool and hides, for clothing and shelter! I'm really enjoying you content buddy, can't say it enough!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! It’s funny to me how raw materials from the landscape become the great equalizer across different cultures but they all seemed to come up with similar results.
Another great video.
Thank you sir!
Well that's sort of what i use for viking age camping. A homemade linen trap. 2 Goat skins and one sheep skin wool blanket and my cloak. Normally keeps me warm and mostly dry. I showed it a few months on my website lol
Awesome! It’s funny how people used similar means to similar ends even separated by time and space. Might be because it worked!
Great video!! I think I was born in the wrong time line lol!! I am so glad that I found this channel. Love the 18th century!!
I am glad you found it too.
Good afternoon from Syracuse NY brother thank you for sharing this subject and details
I appreciate the support and kind words!
I thank you for sharing the different subjects that you are sharing which are important for Re-enactment campouts and I have shared your videos and Black Powder groups
Another great video!!!! As I’m afoot, I try to keep it light, but always seem to have some sort of shelter with me. If I had a horse(s) I’d be inclined to have hides or heavier type canvas.
I do not want to carry that bison hide very far lol.
LOL
Another good one!
Glad you think so!
Great video! Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks!
Good stuff as always.
Appreciate that
So glad I found your channel!
Me too!!
Yet another great video. What types of waterproofing did they use on their tarps?
Often nothing! but linseed oil based paints turn linen canvas into a very waterproof, nearly rubber like material that makes a great cover
There doesn’t seem to be much evidence that they coated anything much at all. You do see oilcloth around but none of the extant 18th century tents were coated with anything and those are from the colonies and Europe.
@@thedeerskindiary I have a source for untreated natural canvas. Is there any historic evidence of them coloring their tarps and if so what with? Thank you so much for your time and input.
@@joshuashope5488 thanks for your input I will check that out
@@thedeerskindiary my primary focus is military so the material culture is a bit different than civilian frontiersman, but if you'd like I can send you a "dictionary of military terms" that describes many different items including tents and oil cloths!
Everyone today use oil cloth for there shelters is that period correct or is better to use the off white canvas that is provided today?
That’s a great question. One would have to choose between period waterproofing coatings like oil cloth while knowing that oilcloth tents are not something that I can document. Modern canvasses are just that-modern. The useful thing about them though is that they look more authentic than the oilcloth but being modern are not authentic.
It is up to each person to make their best decision based on the experience that they are going for. No judgement here.
I have options for each and adjust my expectations based on the weather, the event, who is with me, etc.
Family history says they purchased sail canvas and made tents from that, if true 🤔
There is robust evidence that both sail cloth and sail makers reused to make tents.
Did the early traveler make native american shelters of bark
Yes absolutely. Bark was a common roofing material across all frontier cultures.
cotton products should not be called linen
Can you help me understand what you are referencing?