Difference In Bags?

[Loyalist Dave]

Maybe mules as well. They are very tough and easy keepers.

I know right? BUT men of the actual "long hunter" era, from say 1760-1776 likely could not have had mules going over the Cumberland Gap into what would become Kentucky or Tennessee. Seems that mules were not in Virginia at that time. In fact prior to Washington getting donkeys in 1785, which lead to the "American Mule", there was very limited mule breeding in the 13 colonies, with some being done in New York, and none documented (so far) leaving that colony.

Now SW Fur trappers, might've been able to trade with the Spanish to get a good mule in the 19th century....

LD

 

[tenngun]

I know right? BUT men of the actual "long hunter" era, from say 1760-1776 likely could not have had mules going over the Cumberland Gap into what would become Kentucky or Tennessee. Seems that mules were not in Virginia at that time. In fact prior to Washington getting donkeys in 1785, which lead to the "American Mule", there was very limited mule breeding in the 13 colonies, with some being done in New York, and none documented (so far) leaving that colony.

Now SW Fur trappers, might've been able to trade with the Spanish to get a good mule in the 19th century....

LD

I did not know mules were not bred in the colonies
I should have, since one of the early imports along the Santa Fe trail was Spanish miles and breading stock. The ‘Missouri mule was infact bred from Spanish stock.
We kinda think of a donkey as being a poor man’s horse, but they were not too popular in England at the time of the colonies. So I understand your point. Just something I never thought of, but can’t think of a colonial reference to mule.
During the middle ages a servant of the church was forbidden to ride a horse, and mules were popular for them. Williams brother Oto(?) a bishop, rode a mule at Hastings

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Interesting.

 

[smo]

When my Family migrated from the Carolinas, Westward into Ky,Tn & Al in the early 1800’s.
Oxen & wagons we’re used too move the Families belongings..
I’m another one that never thought of mules not being around during the Longhunter time period…

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I was just as floored when I heard about it too, as in the Old World mules were pretty well known, yet they didn't "catch on" in all areas where Romans had been, such as in Britain.

LD

 

[Capt. Jas.]

William Byrd was a proponent for using mules in early 18th century Virginia but they loved their horses.

"Thus we learned by our own experience, that horses are very improper animals to use in a long ramble into the woods, and the better they have been used to be fed, they are still the worse. Such will fall away a great deal faster, and fail much sooner, than those which are wont to be at their own keeping. Besides, horses that have been accustomed to a plain and champaign country will founder presently, when they come to clamber up hills, and batter their hoofs against continual rocks. We need Welsh runts, and Highland Galloways to climb our mountains withal; they are used to precipices, and will bite as close as Banstead Down sheep. But I should much rather recommend mules, if we had them, for these long and painful expeditions; though, till they can be bred, certainly ***** are the fittest beasts of burthen for the mountains. They are sure-footed, patient under the heaviest fatigue, and will subsist upon moss, or browsing on shrubs all the winter. One of them will carry the necessary luggage of four men, without any difficulty, and upon a pinch will take a quarter of bear or venison upon their backs into the bargain."

 

[oldwood]

Sam Brady , legendary Indian scout in the Pittsburgh area , forbade his men to carry parched corn. The records show , they carried flour for ash cakes , ****** meat , and sometimes chocolate. There is a historical contradiction though , Brady also forbade building fires when on patrol , so how , and when did they cook??? My opinion , reading the accounts scouts left for us to ponder , they traveled light , quickly looking for sign left by Indian war parties , and moved between Forts , on foot , in 5 to 10 day trips. They didn't fire their guns except in emergency. So when did they make and eat their ash cakes? Another conondrum?? ......oldwood

 

[tenngun]

I can affirm that. I love packing a donkey, it eats anything, it’s takes whatever you ask it.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

I had some ornery mules in a pack string years ago. Cantankerous!

 

[Brokentaileddog]

My grandfather told me he used to break mules years ago he always said that was a job...They we're surly hard headed, I won't mention how he said he had to break some of them ....

 

[DuncNZ]

Mules have hard feet and don't need being shod . they are hardy , very agile and can carry more than a horse all pluses, they can also be cantankerous , bite , kick and very noisy all negatives . Maybe a mule braying would give notice of approaching hostiles , but would also inform the hostiles as to the hunter presence . I assume the long hunters were what I'd call skin hunters , skins need drying , board stiff ,and maybe salting then they need to be pressed and packed out to have any use , so four footed help of either sort would be required . Try and carry 10 dried deer skins or one buffalo skin and see what I mean .

 

[Artificer]

Having been a Civil War reenactor, I can appreciate the idea of authenticity but what I've also come to realize is that things happened that weren't written down or talked much about and anomolous types of gear will surface. Just as today, gear got modified and even odd stuff created to fill a need. That's what has me looking at what I read a "long hunter" bag would have been like. I've seen many of the modern interpretations of a "possibles" bag but to my eye, it's called that cuz it might be possible to put something in it if it's small. I'm wanting an authentically styled bag that is large enough for my hand that can carry all the extra stuff I would want on my person for a match but smaller than a military type haversack. Yeah, I still have that competition urge. The fun part about hanging out with my friends at the range, while it might not be planned, a match will usually happen complete with friendly smack talking.

Won't even begin to go into the disaster on the first pouch I made, but the second pouch is still my favorite for competing and hunting.

I could not afford a pouch to compete with my Brown Bess Carbine and a separate pouch for the .45 flint rifle my best friend in life allowed me to borrow to shoot. I also wanted to ensure it would be correct for reenacting FIW and AWI at least and as an old family pouch for War of 1812. It had to be capable of handling everything for either gun, no matter if I was going to shoot round ball or small shot. Pretty tall order to get all that out of one pouch.

I decided to make a pouch inspired by a FIW Cartouche Pouch complete with two adjustment buckles on the strap, but in dark brown leather for the strap and pouch as a Militiaman might have done. I used a somewhat wide welt in it and a divider off the inside of the front of the pouch that was large enough to get my hand in for balls, patches, cards and wads. This made the rear of the pouch larger and that's where I placed the removable wood cartridge block when I reenacted.

I put a loop on the front and back sides of the welt (on the inside of the pouch) to hold the short starter and adjustable powder measure. That worked wonderfully as I never had to look in the pouch for them and could easily pull and return them by feel only.

Though I never thought about it ahead of time, I found I liked to let down the strap enough I could surround the strap with my waistbelt to hold it securely. When just shooting matches, I even buckled the waistbelt over the flap to keep it open.

In keeping with the militia use, I added a whisk and prick hanging from chains on the strap, but found that really wasn't necessary.

What I did not know then was Doddridge wrote of the mid 18th century shot pouch:

"This awl with its buckhorn [antler] handle was an appendage of every shot pouch strap,..."

Not sure if this was a sewing awl or a touch hole awl, though.

Gus

 

[Coinneach]

I can affirm that. I love packing a donkey, it eats anything, it’s takes whatever you ask it.

Not like them city women then.......

 

[Coinneach]

I had some ornery mules in a pack string years ago. Cantankerous!

I made the mistake of damn marrying one.

 

[oldwood]

Everyone's first attempt at a shot pouch and the stuff that goes in it , is usually inadequate for one reason or another , mine were. Doddridge also stated , each gun had it's own pouch 'cause no two guns required the same supplies to run each one. Personal preference takes the day ,also. These days , I get my shot pouches from Crazy Crow trading Co. . Their prices are great , they have pre-assembled and kits to make your own. .........o

 

[Johnny Tremain]

The English Gent who made my bag called it an English Fowler's belt pouch.

 

[BlazingIron]

As was stated earlier in this thread, the use of “possibles bag” would identify you as a newbie. I think the same holds true today. Someone new to muzzleloading typically begins purchasing their initial collection of gear from some of the fine online venders. I think this is where the confusion starts. Check out the attached screenshots from October Country, TOW, and The Leatherman.