Shelter half, Pole Height?

[Tiger_rifles]

OK, I have searched here and on Google. Can someone help me out here?

What is the basic height of the Federal issue shelter half vertical pole? (From pictures I would guess 40 to 50 inches), but was there a standard?

Thanks!

[Northerner]

NJ Seleka's shelter half pole is 46" inches long and 7/8" in diameter. It should be a copy of an original, so the measurements should be okay.

http://www.njsekela.com/OSCommerce/c...50d2bcf2fb23b4

Hope this helps.
Regards
Jeff

[flattop32355]

There's the official length of the official two piece uprights, and then there's what was done in the field by individuals. Low and wide gives more room underneath than tall and narrow. Then, there's setting up for shebang, lean-to, etc. that will affect how long the uprights need to be.

I used to have mine at about 48". Now, they're down to about 36".

[dixieflyer]

Then again, a steep roof will shed water faster than a shallow slope. As others have advised you:

- there's the length of the repro pole based on an original.
- you can go low and wide
- you can go tall and narrow
- you can assemble yours with any number or pards to make a "shebang" limited only by your numbers, imagination and shelter half engineering skill.

I would say that "field expedient rigging of the shelter half using whatever "pole" you have available or a shebang would be most representative.

Just my two kopecks.

[billwatson2]

Apparently the regulation poles often failed to make the trip. Try putting a two-foot pole in with your on-your-back gear sometime and one reason becomes apparent: While not impossible, it's at best inconvenient, leading many fellows, in all probability, to assess it as not worth the trouble of transport.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

There is much speculation and little hard fact when it comes to the shelter tent pole provided by the government. There are little to no surviving examples and only a handful of images. They were designed to be two-piece, with slotted ends that met in the middle at a metal socket which was pinned to one piece. The intent was to tie them to the side of a knapsack when not in use, and in that capacity it works well with little fuss, but I would imagine that over time, the inconvenience, weight, and usual availablity of tree branches, sticks, and other assorted fixtures made in unnecessary to carry them. There is an excellent drawing in "Hardtack and Coffee" that shows that muskets with afixed bayonets were used often. Just place them barrel down with the bayonet in the ground, run a cord or rope through the trigger guards and down into the ground as a ridge, and you've got two poles.

[Pookie]

Ross, I am part of a very mainstream artillery unit. We all enjoy our hobby. Many are very authentic and make an excellent impression. Others, (like myself) are always trying to improve. I think that this constant striving to be better, makes the hobby more interesting. My question involves tentage/shelter. In our unit, officers use wall tents/dining flys. Enlisted use wedge tents. No one uses shelter halves or shebangs. We portray a mid-war unit. Since shelter halves were not widely issued, then perhaps a shebang would be more appropriate? If I was to construct a shebang, it would lend me to believe that anything could be used; canvas tarps, hemp rope, gum blankets, ponchos, etc.

What is your opinion?

[GaWildcat]

Sorry Im Not Ross, but I might could weigh in...

Artillery can use the gun tarp if its not covering the gun, or under the caisson. A tarp or fly would work well as a shebang for a few gunner, or just do without..... I know the part of California your from sir, and unless its winter time, its usually pretty conducive to going sans tent...

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

The esteemed Mr. Hughes is correct - for artillery a gun tarp is quick, easy, and documented. I sent you answers to your PM as well, but as a Confederate unit, you've got a lot of options from tent flies, painted cloths, groundcloths, etc., and in a variety of materials from cotton drill, cotton duck, heavy linen (although linen usage dropped as the war progressed due to flax shortages), and hemp linen.

[Michael Dec]

As part of our campaign impression, we tend to use the artillery tarpaulin, which is strapped to the limber chest. We stretch it out over the gun and limber, while limbered, crawl in underneath, and go to sleep. It's nice and cozy. We've even buttoned shelter halves and stretched them out over the limber pole, in numerous configurations.