Chapter 46: Buckskin Clothing.
Extract from a letter to the editors of the Baltimore Federal Gazette, regarding the return of the Lewis and Clark expedition party; St. Louis, September 23, 1806:
“They have the appearance of Robinson Crusoes- dressed entirely in buckskins.”
If you take the time to read through the journals of Lewis and Clark, you will find many instances of them mending and making leather clothing for themselves. There are mentions of the men being quite bare because they hadn’t had the time to mend or make new clothes or the waters had ruined the leather. Most of the men carried their military garb with them on the expedition. Sometimes they would put on a piece of it, a hat, a medal. However, more often than not, the practicality of the buckskin clothing and its ability to survive the harsh environment won out over tradition. When they started the return trip home from Fort Clatsop, they had 358 pairs of moccasins, as well as shirts, overalls, and coats of dressed elk skins. They realized on the trip what would work and what would last in relation to practical clothing.
I have never learned how to tan leather. I would, however, love to try and help with the process someday. I do know that it is a lot of work to hang and stretch it, scrape it and dry it properly. There are many people who claim it isn’t hard work to tan a hide properly. I am leaning towards disagreeing with this. If it were easy, every single hunter would tan the hides of their animals, as well as every person who has ever had a cow butchered. A person who takes the time to correctly tan an animal hide is a person who is strong and resourceful. Many people use the brains of the animal to tan the hide. Clark said at their Fort Clatsop stop on January 23, 1806, “The men of the garrison are Still busily employed in dressing Elk Skins for cloathing, they fine great dificuelty for the want of branes; we have not Soap to Supply the deficiency, nor can we procure ashes to make the lye.” What a long trip these men took across the country. Stopping to make boats and clothing only made their trip take longer. They write about how they were hoping to use some skins for boat making, but they weren’t always available. If we wanted to go on an expedition like Lewis and Clark, we would probably go to the nearest REI and buy a canoe or kayak made of the newest materials as well as a raincoat which promises no leaks and winter boots that won’t allow our toes to freeze. Modern conveniences would definitely make this trip easier. What an experience it would be though, to strike off on a trip of this magnitude knowing that when your boat breaks or your clothing rots you will be remaking it in the woods instead of heading to town for a patch kit or a new raincoat. Oh to be that resourceful and adventurous!
When Lewis and Clark started off on their journey, they probably did not intend to return home with their men nearly naked, dressed in buckskin clothing, or what was left of their buckskins. No one back home probably expected to see that much of them either! These men learned what would and would not work along the way. They adapted to the environment and used what they had available to them. They allowed themselves to be transformed with the garb of the Native people, which allowed them to be so successful on their voyage. While people originally thought of the Native Americans as “savage” or “crude” because of their dress, these thoughts became clearer that they were using their resources wisely and were much more knowledgeable of the environmental conditions of their region and the practicality of their homemade clothing choices.
What may have been considered primitive is now considered practical. Choosing the right clothing for the right situation makes all the difference between comfort and misery. Many times I have been toasty warm and dry in negative temperatures, while the person passing me on the trail is miserable and cold in their lack of proper attire. When we lived in Oregon, a quality raincoat was in order. When we were in Colorado, wool and warmth were the gear of choice, in the Midwest you need breathable clothing in summer and warm layers in winter. Knowing your environment and adjusting your clothing needs to that environment will make you much more comfortable and happy in your situation. As you go along on your expedition, take the time to study the gear of the locals and adapt along with them. Maybe this means learning to tan hides and sew leather, or maybe it means buying a really great rain hat in the Pacific Northwest. Be a bit more like Lewis and Clark, not in their spelling skills, but in their ability to learn and adapt along the way and definitely with the excitement for adventure and knowledge, whether you’re wearing your buckskins or not.
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