Naval sailors' hammocks?

[Pistolero]

Hello,
I was told that no one makes authentic CW naval hammocks anymore. It is hard to believe that in this day of reenacting/living history, aunthenticity requirements, and growing interest in CW naval history etc, that someone out there would be offering them! It would seem to me that anyone wanting to portray a naval guy would want one in his issue or kit. I wish someone offered them.
Take care,
Dave

[Union Navy]

I'm not sure how accurate this would be. I have yet to see documentation that shows sailors brought their hammocks ashore, nor was there any mention of them in launch or cutter equipment, which is how sailors would have gotten ashore. The vast majority of naval reenactors don't have a ship to sling their hammock on anyways. What little documentation I have seen leads me to believe shore parties that stayed ashore overnight either slept campaign or used what the army offered them. Any use of hammocks off ship seems to have been quite rare.

[Ronnn]

We have some Hammocks in the mockup of the U.S.S. Hartford at the Columbus Civil War Naval Museum. They really aren't that much different from the Hemp Hammocks one can buy on Ebay. I can also tell ya, I'd rather sleep on rocky ground than in one of these hammocks for a night, really!



http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-Hemp-Rop...2em118Q2el1247

[GaWildcat]

Ok, being an Army type, both real and CW, I may be out of my depth here, but a
quick search brought up a few things on hammocks. http://www.seasidehammocks.com/Naval+Hammock-sp36.html Describes the hammock, and how to lash up the thing. It describes it as being of Canvas, not hemp with sixteen (16) grommets at each end. The description dates to the US Navy of WWII but seems to be the same as a sealed pattern from HMS Richmond in 1775 http://www.hmsrichmond.org/hamock.htm. It is my guess (and only a guess being a landlubber) that hammocks in the US and CS Navies would be fairly similar in make up and use.

I apologize if incorrect, but just my guess.

[GaWildcat]

From Harper's Weekly Aug 19, 1865

After passing the examination before the surgeon and instructors, the paymaster furnishes the apprentice for immediate use with the following articles of clothing : One pea-jacket, cloth cap, pair of cloth trousers, flannel over and under shirts, pair of drawers, shoes, neck-tie, socks, white duck pants and frock, comb, knife, pot, pan, and spoon, one bar soap, clothes-bag, and a badge. The boy is then taken to the ship's corporal, who assists him in the transformation from a landsman to a sailor-boy. Next the sailmaker furnishes him with a hammock —his bed until of age. Then the master-at-arms places him in a mess, and, at the same time, gives him a printed form, on which is registered his number, that of his bag and hammock, a list of his clothing, and points out the place v here he is to swing his hammock. Each boy has a number given to him when he enlists, and he retains that number as long as he is an apprentice.

[cjdaley]

It's my understanding that one project given to new/young sailors would be to make their own hammock. This would give them a practical exercise on knot tying and rope splicing. I suggest doing research on how to make one, then making one yourself and NOT buying one if you want to really be a sailor.

[Ronnn]

Ok, being an Army type, both real and CW, I may be out of my depth here, but a
quick search brought up a few things on hammocks. http://www.seasidehammocks.com/Naval+Hammock-sp36.html Describes the hammock, and how to lash up the thing. It describes it as being of Canvas, . . . . that hammocks in the US and CS Navies would be fairly similar in make up and use.

That crossed my mind not long after I posted . . .well DANG! Yea, they're canvas . . . I'm pretty sure . . . on the Hartford Mockup. I used to have a photographic memory . . . . but some light leaked in on the film one day when I was being open-minded.

[Ronnn]

It's my understanding that one project given to new/young sailors would be to make their own hammock. This would give them a practical exercise on knot tying and rope splicing. I suggest doing research on how to make one, then making one yourself and NOT buying one if you want to really be a sailor.

Or . . . if you don't have the time or the gumption, if you can find one . . . go ahead and buy it, with no apologies. Really being a sailor has little to do with reenacting. (though it can help!) We're just playing sailor, so accuracy is more important than how you actually acquire it. Cool if you can make it yourself though!

(And while some sailors surely made their own hammocks, I believe they were issued, for the most part)

[Lightningslinger]

... Really being a sailor has little to do with reenacting. (though it can help!)

We're just playing sailor, so accuracy is more important than how you actually acquire it. Cool if you can make it yourself though!

(And while some sailors surely made their own hammocks, I believe they were issued, for the most part)

I have often wondered on what stationary fixture does an 1860's naval re-enactor usually fasten the hooks of his hammock? Where are their bulkheads? What constitutes their overheads?

Reading a prominent and seemingly respected naval uniform sutler say that re-enacting mariners most often have to roll up their pant legs to keep them from getting muddy is less than inspiring to some who have contemplated the re-created sea-going service.

Boy am I producing some downer posts of late.

Sorry about that, but I thought overhead hooks and swinging hammock postings sort of went together.
Walt

[Ronnn]

I have often wondered on what stationary fixture does an 1860's naval re-enactor usually fasten the hooks of his hammock? Walt

Hmmmm, good question . . . . I didn't know people were doing naval re-enaction back in the 1860's!


Anyway, I can only speak for this 2008 re-enactor. I usually leave my hammock at home and sleep on a cot, which I imagine most 1860's era sailors did when ashore. A whores bed was probably also a popular place to sleep back then, but my girl has a little problem with that sort of accuracy, heheh.