Which is Better?

[BigDuke634]

I'm still deciding which to buy, so I really need yall's help. Shelter half or wedge tent?

[Rob]

Two shelter halves.

That way, you can buddy up or go solo.

[jurgitemvaletem]

This totaly depends on what type of events you will be attending and what years the types of events you are going to intend to portray. The shelter half or "dog tent" was not invented until late, late '61 and was not distributed until mid '62 and was not mass distributed to the point of a mainstay until late '62, of course withmost anything else these dates can be argued to an end that we do not totaly know the exactdates,theseare just rough estimates.

As we are heading into the 145 anniverseries of '62 events I would suggest purchasing a correctly constructed "A" tent,as they would have been more prevelant in this time period. However I would also reccomend that you secure the funds to purchase a shelter half or two at some point during the year so next year with the 145 anneverseries of '63 you will be prepaired for.

Ofcourse most mainstream events do allow leway on such things and they usually tend toattempt a portrayal of a battle that didnot actualy take placeduring the years anneversary happenings, if any at all.

So it boils down to if you will be doing mainstream events, pick a tent that will accomodate your needs best, and if you will be leaning more torwards progession identify the events you will be attending and what would be appropriate for the time.

[theknapsack]

What side and unit are you portraying? Your answers are in the quartermaster records.

[Altecfive]

Shelter half is good if your looking for light and quick. Also, if you are portraying a campaigning soldier. But, if you have a cot, cooler, or items that are non-period your better bet is a A frame because you can close it up and hide everything from the public view.

[Memphis]

Get a three panel shelter half and use it only when needed. If you get a common tent or wall tent you will quickly find yourself filling it will all matter of modern junk. The more junk you have to move about the less fun you have.

[bob 125th nysvi]

is a shelter half.

It is lighter, goes well in the knapsack and can be just wrapped up in instead of set up if you don't feel like it.

As pointed out it is appropriate for a 'genric' portrayal for three years of the war.

If you can only afford 1, I'd suggest the shelter half (you and a pard should order them together from the same vendor that way there is at least a 50% chance they'll fit together exactly right) and if you're at an event where it isn't appropriate then bunk with somebody who has a correct tent or rough it.

[Memphis]

I forgot to mention a good book about shelter halves is The Federal Civil War Shelter Tent by Frederick C. Gaede. It was published by O'Donnell Publications back in 2001.

[rebel yell]

I would buy a good shelter half with the sewn grommet's, at the very least. If you have more money to spend get both halfs.

[TimKindred]

Comrade,

Your choice actually depends more upon whether you are portraying Federal or Confederate.

As a Federal, from the fall of 1862 on you will carry a shelter half. That's all you need, plus, of course, a blanket and a rubber or painted groundcloth.

For Confederates, the majority of the time on campaign they had nothing but tent flys, if that. The Confederacy produced so few shelter halfs that they are considered negligible in appearance. Their were the occasional use of captured ones, but that was primarily after the spring of '63, so that limits use as well.

Time after time, account after account, letter after letter, the Confederates all speak of camping under the stars with a blanket and a ground cloth to roll up in. Why don't we see more of that? Why do we see entire cities of wedge tents?

The most common tentage found amongst Confederate units would be the tent fly, used to make a shelter for several soldiers to sleep under. These were reasonably light enough that one man could carry it, with his blankets if need be, but often just carrying the fly, and one or more of his comrades carrying his blanket(s) and ground cloth for him. That load could be switched around from day to day, each man taking a turn.

If you want something to use year round, from the war's beginning to the end, then there will be no single solution for you. Wedge tents were there, of course, but they were issued 1 tent per 5 men. They were also discarded by the Federals after fall 1862 for campaigns, the shelter tents being introduced for easier packing. The wedge tents could be (and were) reissued for rear areas and for winter camps.

For CS usage, well, like I said, in rear areas and such you would find a variety of wedge tents, bell tents, some wall tents, etc, but on the march, it was mostly tent flys or nothing.

A good winter project for you and your comrades might well be to make a tent fly and share it during the season. Realistic, flexible, and a lot less expensive than a wedge tent.

Sorry to ramble, but honestly, there is no "one-size-fits-all" answer to your question.

Respects,