Forging History

Over the Back Fence Magazine | Fall 2000

The hammer's clang against a cold steel anvil rings in the morning's crisp air by campfires near a cream-colored tent encampment. The small portable forge smokes as a rich red iron metal comes from what is seemingly dead coals. The glowing metal is struck as sparks fly under the hammer's beat.

The horses are ready and cannons are drawn into posi­tion.   "So rapidly were the guns worked that they became too hot to lay the hand on," Commander F. C. Gibbs of Battery "L" noted. The setting seems like 1860, but the time is present and the encampment gives one pause for the living dimen­sion of historic time.

Dan Hinton of Waterford, Ohio, wears a smudged leather apron to protect white cotton pants.  This is a working day with numerous visitors who, for the first time, are seeing his abilities.  His work and presence    authenticates the Civil War reenactment, Thunder In The Valley, held at Portsmouth, Ohio.

During the Civil War, a battery forge was the most commonly used forge.   It was on a standard limber frame with 57" wheels and it had a bellows box built on the back with a rounded copper top.  The forge was mounted in front of the bellows box with a firewall in between and the anvil was mounted on the trail (tongue) of the frame.

For a four-cannon battery, there would have been approximately 100 men (varied by infantry) and 80 to 100 horses, to be efficient and effective. Four teams of six horses were needed, which meant that the blacksmith was a core element to the battery's survival and mobility.   The battery's blacksmith participated in the shoeing of horses and maintained the cannon wheels for transport to other locations.

"A battery of field artillery is worth a thousand muskets," General William Tecumseh Sherman once stated, know­ing how vital artillery batteries were to winning the Civil War.

Dan Hinton reflects this image of history as he works his small portable forge. The forge is free standing with a small snail blower (centrifugal blower) located at the bottom, which he pumps with a wood handled lever. This acts as a bellows, pushing air up through the base to the coke fire, which rests on a grating.

Dan begins his day as he creates the forge's fire with small kindling on which he piles coke (lightweight coal that has been fired) from his previous firing.  Then he piles fresh coal around the fire.

"I enjoy going out and talking to people and the Civil War is my favorite time period."  He douses the flames on the forge with a bundle of straw that rests in a wooden bucket of water.  The dousing keeps the fire down in the cen­ter of the forge called a coke fire.     The smoke rises, filling the air while the fire dies to a red glow beneath black coke of burnt coal. The coal bedding is about 1600 to 1800 degrees. The forge is pumped and the iron that is to beshaped or cut is placed in the coke bed and then extracted when it has a cherry red glow.

With over 20 years of blacksmithing, Dan began doing reenactments to be with his son, Jacob.   "We shared a com­mon interest in history, the Civil War in particular."   He strikes the red iron to score it for a cut.   "It was something we could do together. He's much older now, but we still go together and have a good time." Dan began incorporating blacksmithing with reenactments about three years ago.   His son, Jacob, became old enough to carry a rifle and now goes out with the troops while he remains at the encampment.

Dan was taught by his grandfather,Clifford, who became a blacksmith's helper at the age of twelve.   His grand­father re-steeled stone cutting tools (bits and picks) at the stone quarries. Experienced in the horse-drawn era, he passed his time-learned techniques and knowledge down to Dan. His skills are shown by his display of utilitarian craft. "I make just about everything, mostly camp equipment."   His craft reflects the time and the needs of the troops from lamp hangers (shepherd staffs) to fire tripods used for cooking on open campfires.

"When I became interested in black-smithing, I bought a 1901 Champion orge blower, built a small portable forge and collected or made the basic tools I needed to get started."    He strikes another blow to the red metal. "Grandpa watched me burn up a lot of metal and contin­ued to offer his input."

Blacksmithing is a knowledge that is learned and is tried and true, one that is mastered only by experience. Equipped with anvil, hammer, tongs, chisels, cut­ters, and swages, the Battery "L" encampment has the ability to repair and keep the artillery in motion. Dan's blacksmithing ability is an at-home hobby at present.  He has worked for over 24 years at the American Municipal Power plant. "I will one day make this full-time when I retire.   It will be my retire­ment income. I am constantly trying to improve and perfect my 'impression' of a 19th century (Civil War) blacksmith from a historical perspective."   He cur­rently attends two or three reenact-ments a year and will be seen at this year's Thunder In The Valley.       

As a member of the 91st Ohio Company "B," Dan's craftsmanship of blacksmithing brings the past to the present and gives authenticity to the time and reenactments.   His skills and knowledge lend to the moment and the forge smoke and anvil's ring gives life to the time period.

More information can be found by contacting Dan Hinton at hinton22@sprynet.com. Information about the reenact­ment, the history of Battery "L," and the possibility of participating in the Thunder In The Valley, which is scheduled for September 29, 30 and October 1, 2000 can be obtained at the web site http:// www.zoomnet.net/-jamburg/) or by contacting Charles "Chip" Horrat 740-355-8702.