The California Column
Personal items
All personal items are to be made of correct period materials. Personal items
specified in Carlton's G.O. 3 include:
one towel
two handkerchiefs
one fine and one course comb
one sewing kit
one piece of soap
one toothbrush.
Additional personal
items that can be carried include:
period photo (in correct case)
pocket knife
wallet or change purse
tobacco pouch and
pipe or papers
flint and steel or period matches.
Notes: Towels of the period were typically made from what is called huck-a-back (huck
or monk cloth). Handkerchiefs
could be of cotton, linen, or silk. Typically larger than today's
handkerchiefs (up to 24 inches square) the were not
standard army issue but were, rather, issued through
the sutler. Regimental correspondence directed that the sutler
should get "colored" cotton handkerchiefs for issue to the men. At least some of the handkerchiefs carried by the Column
soldiers had printed patterns. Sergeant George Hand (Co. G), in his diary entry for July 25, 1862 (after the troops had
entered Arizona) wrote: Lieuts. Crandall and Smith and Bradley, Ferg and myself were sitting on our blankets and
discussing the little incidents of the march when a little hummingbird lit on a bush beside a colored handkerchief. It was
amusing to see him trying the different flowers on it to get honey, then lite on another twig and look it, seemingly with
disgust at such pretty flowers and no honey.
Eyewear
All eyeware is to be of period correct style and pattern.
A: Original frames - no colored lenses unless medically required
B: Extended wear contacts
C: Do without for the march
Note: Some of parts of the march will be over dry terrain. Anyone considering the wear
of extended wear contacts
should take the route conditions into consideration.
Modern items
(car keys; medications; &tc.)
Any modern items should be kept in a poke or ration "Farb Bag". It is suggested that any tablets or pills be kept in
a period correct tin.
Additional items for the "Farb Bag" may include Mole Skin and baby powder (for blisters and rashes) as well as toilet
paper.
Any use of modern items should, of course, be discreet.