It is MONDAY March 23rd as I begin to write this and so ends about a week of what can be described as nonstop inconveniences from power outages to unexpected expenditures. It's been a lot and I finally feel like I can breathe a little. As I was experiencing all of this upheaval, I dreamt of the woods. Funny, being that our counterparts in the 18th century did not view the woods with the same romantic notion of "getting away from it all" that we do in our modern lives, but that's just an aspect that I embrace. I love being able to get out in the woods and experience a taste of what the 18th century traveller might have experienced. To that end, for some time now, I have been dreaming up a trek with my wife and we've decided that this upcoming weekend is the time to do it. We both feel stretched thin and a nice getaway into nature sounds like the perfect antidote to all our recent woes.
As I've been preparing for this, I've been once again diving into Cresswell's incredible narrative. In August of 1775, he finds himself in the Ohio Country traveling between native towns and at one point is given a squaw to accompany him on his journeys. He calls her Nancy, and it is this little moment of Cresswells journey that I've zeroed in on as inspiration for our outing this coming weekend.
Quickly, before I begin, I must brag on my wife. When I first met her, she was a tent camping, cot sleeping gal. She told me that she'd NEVER sleep on the ground or outside a tent. Well, she has done both of those things now and I'm a proud husband. She even agreed to be a captive and slept in a cave with a bunch of natives.
Eileen as a captive, In Pursuit of the Captives, 2023
Monday, August 21st, 1775. "Mr. Anderson informs me that the Indians are not well pleased at anyone going into their Country dressed in a Hunting shirt. Got a Calico shirt made in the Indian fashion, trimmed up with Silver Brooches and Armplates so that I scarcely know myself."
With this in mind, I have decided to habituate myself in a similar manner. A simple kit of shirt, breechcloth, leggings and moccasins. I'll bring along my jacket as well, a blanket coat for warmth in the evening. I also have decided to wear my small round hat.
Eileen is basing her kit on native dress from period images and written accounts. Cresswell writes of the women :
"The women wear the same sort of shirts as the men and a sort of short petticoat that comes no lower than the knee, leggings and Mockeysons, the same as the men. Wear their hair long, curled down the back in silver plates, if they can afford it, if not tied in a club with red gartering. No rings in the nose but plenty in the ears. Both men and women paint with Vermillion and other colours mixed with Bear's Oil and adorn themselves with any tawdry thing they think pretty."
As we begin our preparations we are trying to decide on what kind of shelter we will attempt to make. We'll likely go with some kind of blanket tent, but if we can swing it, maybe a brush wickiup of some kind. We will have with us several blankets and a buffalo hide. Likely we won't do something as elaborate as the below photo because we won't have a tent cloth, but maybe a smaller version of this can be achieved with one of our blankets.
For provisions we are weighing our options. The canoe scout with Jim Jacobs really helped me get a sense of what one could need on extended journeys in the woods. For Cresswell and Nancy, they seem to have eaten what they could forage or procure day to day as they travelled between the towns. Here is what he mentions:
Indian Country--Tuesday, August 22nd, 1775. A very heavy fog this morning. We had got two bottles of Rum, two loaves of Bread, and a Bacon Ham along with us.
Wednesday, August 23rd, 1775. Nothing to eat but berries such as we found in the woods.
Thursday, August 24th, 1775 Got plenty of Red plums and wild Cherries which is our only food.
Friday, August 25th, 1775 Breakfasted, dined and supped on Plums and Wild Cherries.
Saturday, August 26th, 1775 Killed a Rattlesnake. Just as the Sun went down we stopped to get our Supper on some Dewberries (a small berry something like a Gooseberry)
It's the end of March, so we won't have much luck foraging for berries and such, so we are going to need to rely more on what we can bring along. We'll likely bring along some jerk, salt pork, 50/50 Cornmeal and masa to make bannock bread, and some parched corn.
I plan to pack some of the provisions in the center of the buffalo robe and make a sort of flat bale out of it that I can then carry with my tumpline. I'll make a bedroll for Eileen. I wish we were making this trip on horseback, as Cresswell and Nancy did or at the very least that we had a packhorse. I am debating taking my knapsack with me. I don't think I will, simply because I think I can pack up all the food and extra gear inside the buffalo robe or the blanket rolls, using our two wallets as a way to contain everything. We'll bring a kettle along, or maybe the frying pan. It' all really up in the air until we get all the gear laid out and decide what works best. I'm going to stop for now, but I'll return tomorrow. Tonights project is to cut out a small leather pouch for Eileen's fire kit.
TUESDAY morning has arrived and I am going to start working on this fire kit bag. I taught Eileen to build a flint and steel fire last year, so for this outing, I'm putting her in charge of the fire. A funny story. The first time we went camping together, I started to make a fire and she said "Oh, you know how to make a fire?" She says that the indignation was all over my face. One of my favorite things is having new experiences together and this weekend will certainly be a somewhat new experience. Eileen is a bit apprehensive about the woods and the discomforts it can pose, but lately I have noticed a keen interest to learn a bit more about woods knowledge and how to "survive" in those settings. I think this will be a great way for her to dip her toes into those waters.
Another project I have before the weekend is to repair an old shirt that I'm going to adorn with some brooches similar to Joseph Brant. I am using his kit as a sort of basis for mine during this excursion. Cresswell describes a very similar situation to what we see here in this painting.
Eileen needs a new pair of leggings so we'll be using some leftover green broadcloth from my waistcoat. Hoping to fit those to her tonight and begin the sewing process.
I am hoping that we can do a little fishing on the Kentucky river. We'll be camped just above it on a ridge overlooking the valley. I haven't really put that skill to the test, but we have a period fishing kit and Eileen and I both grew up fishing. We'll see if we can subsist a bit on that. In fact, Cresswell describes his party catching a catfish very near to where we will be on the Kentucky River.
Tuesday, May, 30th, 1775. This day Mr. Nourse, Mr. Taylor and Rice went to take a view of the Country. Mr. Johnston and I took a walk about 3 miles from the River, find the land pretty level, a blackish sandy soil. Timber chiefly Beech. In our absence those at the Camp caught a large Catfish which measured six inches between the eyes. We supposed it would weigh 40 pounds. Don't expect our company back tonight.
Eileen is not a fan of fish, but maybe if we prepare it correctly, she'll give it a try.
Well, I am off to work on projects...
WEDNESDAY morning I awake to my wife preparing to go to work. Last night she sent me a link to a Bushcraft 101 course she's interested in checking out. I have this tendency to get excited on behalf of others, maybe a little more excited than they actually are, so I tried not to give myself away, but I was happy. While modern bush craft isn't always my cup of tea, I do enjoy being out in the woods and testing skills. Building a fire, shelter etc are things I enjoy immensely. I really hope she can learn some things and gets something out of this weekends experience.
I sewed up part of the fire kit bag last night. More work to do on that today. Scraps of linen were provided by Eileen to repair my shirt. Leggings still need cut out.
I procured some salt pork yesterday and tonight is date night, so while we're out, I'll procure the rest of our food. Theres a local fancy grocery store here where I get a lot of my food supplies for occasions such as this. Just purchased a 1 day fishing license.
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| Shot pouch by Tony Bertolino |
Our excitement for this weekend has been building. It's something I'm grateful for, having a partner who is willing to come along on these adventures with me. I say "with me" as if she's just indulging me, as if this is entirely my project, but the great thing is that she finds a way to make it her own, and that's a great feeling. I always feel bad for the fellow who has to tip toe around his spouse to pursue the passions and dreams he has burning in his belly. I'm a lucky man to experience the mutual love and support that we have for each other. Alright, enough of that mushy stuff.
One of the things Eileen plans to bring along with her is her 18th century paint and sketch set. While not something a native woman would have been doing, we both think the results of her sketching our camp and our adventures will make for a long lasting and sentimental record of our trip together.
My kit as I lay it out this evening consists of the following :
-White linen shirt
-Linen jacket
-Small brimmed round hat
-3 handkerchiefs
-Stroud breechclout
-Leggings and woven garters
-2 pairs of moccasins
-Stockings
-Knit cap
-Belt
-Journal and porta-crayon
-fire kit pouch ( Contents: Flint & Steel, tow and cedar bark, charred cloth, tobacco and pipe)
-Smoothbore
-Shot pouch (Contents : Ball, tow, pick, gun tool, cuttoe knife, measure, extra flints)
-Horn
-Trade knife
-Belt axe
-Hoppus (tumpline)
-Buffalo Robe and Wool Blanket
Tomorrow I will go over Eileen's kit. For now, I must take my leave for now.
THURSDAY finds me awake and making porridge in the kitchen. Porridge has become a staple breakfast food for me in the last year. I'm writing this while it cooks on the stove. Eileen is snug in bed doing her morning routine of drinking coffee and reading books, her favorite pastime.
Today we need to get the rest of our food provisions as we didn't make it over to the grocery last night. Once that is done, we will basically be ready to go besides packing up our gear. I am going to do a few trial tests on Eileen's bedroll situation and see what method might work best for rolling up all of her belongings into it.
Her bedroll consists of two wool blankets with her tumpline tied up and suspended across the upper chest supported by her shoulders. Her kit for the weekend goes as follows :
-Chamise
-Bed jacket
-Wrap skirt
-Leggings and beaded finger woven garters
-Trade silver and beads, necklaces and ear bobs
-Moccasins
-Check linen shirt
-Market Wallet consisting of :
-Buckskin bag consisting of flint & steel, charred cloth, tow, fishing kit, ankle bells (for dancing), red ochre for paint
-Linen bag with mirror and toiletries
-Sketch kit and sketchbooks
-Heavy wool stockings and silk stockings
-Trade kettle, wooden bowl and horn spoon
-Two wool blankets
I ran to the store this afternoon and picked up the supplies. Some bread, cornmeal and masa mixed together for making bannock, dried apples and peaches, parched corn and jerky. Fingers crossed we'll catch some fish too!
That's all for now. Tomorrow we embark on the adventure. Part 2 will arrive next week.
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