APPOMATTOX Housewife, Lucifer, lucet circa 1865, each had special wartime meaning, and not necessarily what people expect in modern English.

The first term didnt denote a married homemaker; it meant a bundled cloth lined with buttons and sewing needles. The second did involve a fiery devilish figure, but in this sense, merely a match ready to strike.

And lucet? A handy tool dating to the Vikings that crafters in the mid-1800s still used to spin yarns into cord, a staple of the era.

All these now-outmoded items and a few others, viewed as key components of a soldiers haversack, are part of an often under-appreciated side of the Civil War: the civilian-driven supply chain.

In Appomattox, the birthplace of peace among the states, historical re-enactors in recent days showed visitors how many of these tools and supplies are used and made, hewing as close to the 1860s as possible a century and a half later.

It was all part of the yearly activities of the Pallas Athena Ladies Aid Society, a group devoted to serving Civil War soldier re-enactors through the parallel efforts carried on by civilians.

Volunteers, mainly from the mid-Atlantic and Florida, take part in battle re-enactments and living history presentations to keep detailed knowledge of the Civil War alive over the years.

Its an independent and neutral group composed of people of all age groups who distribute free comfort supplies to the acting soldiers. In the past week, the Civil War Museum on Horseshoe Road served as the venue for the supply chain re-enactment.

We love to do it. We are history nuts to begin with, Helga Torbert, who trekked from Tallahassee, Florida, to take part, said during Sundays event. To me the civilian activities are easy because I sew, I knit and do other sorts of needlework, so its a natural extension.

Accompanying her from the societys Florida group was Karen Kugell, who worked on rolling up housewives on the cabin porch outside the museum.

Around Kugell were various trappings from the Civil War era: bandages, handkerchiefs, candles, copies of the Soldiers Prayer Book. All of these would be sent alongside their gear to help soldiers make it through the harsh travails of war.

Ive been involved in historical re-enacting for many years more than 20, said Kugell, who was there for her second year.

She pointed out as a general rule, the societys re-enactors make their own clothes along with the soldiers supplies.

Its a love of history that keeps her coming back, Kugell said. Its enjoyable to present how people lived during the period of the Civil War, she added.

In the cabin, re-enactor Tim Dvorak, of Ruckersville, showed a skilled hand using the wooden lucet to turn string into tightly wound cords.

A good supply of cord played an essential part of comfort and survival in the woods and fields of wartime, he explained.

Usually Dvorak works on colonial-era re-enactments, so hes new to the Civil War unit.

I am in the future this weekend, he quipped.

Dvorak said he recalls a historian as saying living history is a societys collective heritage, and Dvorak believes events like the re-enactment preserve that.

My focus has been on the skills and crafts, he said.

Cord-making was a common activity of the 1860s, Dvorak said; so was making sashes and belts, as well as woodworking.

These are very basic skills then that most people have never heard of, he said.

Some crafters could even build chests without using nails, which are taken for granted today.

It goes back to an era when nails were too expensive and hard to come by, Dvorak noted. You have shortages and supply disruption, the blockade.

The same went for the things people wore, he said: You made your clothes last because you just couldnt replace them.

Along with interpreted supply displays, the Pallas Athena Ladies Aid Society provides soldier food and field cookery. Re-enactors offer history for children, a field hospital, textiles and dyeing, herbal medications for military pharmacies, a wagon train for refugees, and more.

The society has more events on tap in Virginia, including in October, re-enacting the Battle of Cedar Creek in Middletown.

Originally posted here:

In Appomattox, civilian side of the Civil War comes to life - Lynchburg News and Advance