Tent Floor

[garretttcrooks]

Would an old wool rug be an authentic ground cloth for my tent?

[DamYankee25]

Are you talking about a shelter/dog tent? Ask yourself this, would that soldier carry a heavy wool rug? He would carry his gum blanket however, they make perfect ground clothes.

[garretttcrooks]

well i have a wedge tent that is like 9ft deep... i cant find a gum blanket that big....

[Pvt Schnapps]

It depends on how authentic you want to be. Butterfield's "Camp and Outpost Duty" notes that General Orders forbid the transport of tent floors.

In 1861 or in garrison you might get away with it, but for most situations portrayed at reenactments, any "tent floor" just wouldn't be right.

I think it also falls into the category of extra stuff that just isn't worth the weight and hassle. Most events that would allow tent floors have straw, which does a better job all round, plus you don't have to take it home and clean and dry it.

If the size of the tent is a determining factor, you could always go with a smaller one.

[Spinster]

Well, we're talking a full sized common tent here, hence the discussion turns more towards 'winter quarters'.

If the number of men are in that common tent that would have been assigned to such THEN, the gum or painted cloth blankets will most certainly fully cover the floor.

If you are talking about wanting to cover the floor fully with only one or two people occupying that tent--well, you could use an old wool rug, but its a pretty bad idea without a ground cover under it. Once it starts raining, or even a good damp ground, and that wool rug is going to triple in weight, soaking up mud and water and taking days to dry.

You're right, nobody's making gum blankets that big. They aren't correct. There are a few vendors making a fancy painted floorcloth that big, for $$$$--of the sort you might have taken from a home. Or, you can obtain an appropriate amount of canvas, linseed oil, japan dryer, and pigment, and make one yourself.

Does it work better than a wool rug? Yep. Made both, used both. Wool rug's back in the house. Big honkin' painted cloth is in the truck, ready to go.

[trainwreck]

One person in my group uses an old rug. I would use it if you cant find a gum blanket that big. Unless your going to show an authentic tent at a living history or something, I would use it.

just my two cents

Stephen

[TheQM]

well i have a wedge tent that is like 9ft deep... i cant find a gum blanket that big....

Garrett,

The QM specs for a Common Tent were 6' 10" tall, 6' 10" long, and 8' 4" wide. (Four guys each got a space 6' 10" long and 2' 1" wide.)

If you feel the need to have the entire floor of your tent covered, I would suggest a canvas drop cloth. An enterprising private would be far more likely to come up with a scrap of canvas, rather than a wool carpet. At the events where I use my Common Tent, I usually just bring an extra rubber blanket to put on the ground.

Of course, none of this has much to do with how actual Civil War soldiers lived.

[Busterbuttonboy]

Just as a side note this statement bothered me a bit. This is not meant to spur on a debate and is put forth as a rhetorical statement. I understand the focus of the thread and answers have been given.

"Unless your going to show an authentic tent at a living history or something, I would use it."

This brings up a major issue. Once the public sees something dressed in anything remotely resembling a civil war soldier; what you do, what you wear, sleep on/in, eat, drink and how you act reflects on their impression of history. A reenactment is not just for those who want to steal away for a weekend, its for the public who trusts us to present to them an accurate depiction of 186x, as well for for the men who we seek to emulate. To just reenact for the sake of dressing up, with no regard for why or what you are wearing, using or sleeping on is pointless.

Finally no without a ground covering a wool rug is pointless, it'll be as wet as the ground, regardless of if your 'just reenacting' or at a living history.

"Of course, none of this has much to do with how actual Civil War soldiers lived. " Bill your awesome.

[Poor Private]

As a person previously stated by using straw as flooring--not me candle wax, dropped matches there is a good chance of starting a fire. Straw on the floor especially when it's raining absorbs water. Nothing like having everything wet. Also straw as a floor, or filling a mattress ticking is as unauthentic as the wool rug. Use the local flora.
This all being said, I also toss something on the ground of my dog, shebang, leanto, wedge tent also. I use a hunk of canvas. If your looking to dress up your floor take the canvas and paint it in period designs or colors - say you foraged/stole/apropriated it out of a house.
I do mainstream events and if a spectator looks into my tent then they have untied my tent flaps, or untied and lifted up the piece of canvas I use to cover the entry, which I take as an invasion of my privacy. I sometimes have none period stuff in my tent, the street clothes I changed out of, the plastic tub that contains all the loaner stuff for that event. Not including my valuable personal articles such as my musket, pistol(if called for) and wallet, and keys.
When I do leave the ends or front open for viewing it is intended to be viewed by the guests/spectators of the event, and is as period as any other facility at the event---ground cloth and a wool blanket, and my kit is all you will see.

[Rob Weaver]

I think the "tent flooring" forbidden in the orders is actually boards or puncheon laid side by side to create a floor. Understandably, the army didn't want to use up space transporting this kind of junk. These kinds of tents never had a floor. There's really very small need to cover the entire tent floor with a ground cloth. I've gotten along without anything of this nature for years.