Let's first start with the cardinal rule, dogs are better than cats... but here's one area where cats do have the advantage.
Today we're talking about shot bags- well: shot bags/pouches, hunting bags/pouches, shooting bags/pouches, rifle bags/pouches you get the idea. What, did you just suggest "possibles bag"? Naw fam!
Anyways frontier Texas stood at a unique crossroads in history, bisecting the continued exploration of America and being in the limelight of romantic preservations of this legendary world to outside audiences. This spotlight lent itself well to the preservation of culture within the trifecta of historical documentation- written, pictorial, and extant. Let's dive into what has been preserved by the past and if I have you wondering where the closest bobcat is then I think I've done my job. This list will try to follow a timeline progression roughly to help you follow along.
Let's start with the Father of Texas himself, Stephen F. Austin. His watercolor portrait was made by William Howard in 1834 and his spotted cat bag immediately jumps off the page. Its petite and simple elegance certainly is different than what most of the muzzleloading community strives for in their bags.
Up next we have Benjamin Lundy, a saddler and harness maker by trade he came to Texas in the mid 1830's to pursue his life's mission- the abolition of slavery. While in San Antonio he learned his calling wasn't a practical one to pay the bills and he couldn't have a full saddle shop with him so he took part in a time honored part of his craft; making shot bags instead.
12th. In addition to making suspenders I have now started a new branch of business, viz., the making of shot bags from panther and deer skins. Any thing for an honest livelihood, and to keep my spirits from sinking while I am pent up here.
I have sold to-day a shot bag and a pair of suspenders at 31 each. Thus I am quite in funds again !
17th. I sold yesterday, two shot bags, and to-day I sold one to the slave-hunter Williams, before I was aware that he was the person who had shot the black man. Was it providential that this wretch should thus contribute to my support while I was engaged in the cause of freedom ?
8th. I was called on to-day to visit another sick man; also a sick woman. They persist here in considering me a doctor. I still, work away, however, at suspenders and shot bags.
Ben was a busy guy, but so were his suppliers in panther skins; one skin he even began using as a sleeping mat.
Moving on we have this unique segment from this newspaper. Keep the ethnic designator in mind for a later post.
“While on the frontier of Texas, several years since, I stopped at a small town and put up at a tavern where the luxury of the table more than compen. sated for the smallness of the house.-My supper was prepared and I seated myself to partake of it. I had hardly done so, when the door opened and a huge mass of a man entered. His head was bound by a check handkerchief of cotton tied in a bow knot in front, and from beneath its edge behind stuck a rough, bristly mass of jet black hair.
His body was protected from the weather by a tight fitting buckskin hunting shirt; while leggins and moccasins of the same material enveloped his legs and feet; a belt of undressed deer hide buckled about his waist supported two pistols of huge dimensions, and from it was suspended a leather scabbard containing a knife, the handle of which was a fearful token of its length. placed his rifle in a corner and took off the belts which hung over his brawny shoulders, suspending his shot pouch and powder horn, which were curiously wrought and told of a Mexican artist. Martinsburg gazette. [volume], August 11, 1836
Moving forward again here's an account from the Texian War, San Jacinto to be exact
This was a gigantic captain, the upper part of whose body was clothed in an Indian hunting-coat, his head covered with what had once been a fine beaver hat, but of which the broad brim now flapped down over his ears, whilst his strong muscular legs were wrapped from knee to ankle in thick crimson flannel, a precaution against the thorns of the muskeet trees not unfrequently adopted in the west. His bullet-pouch was made out of the head of a leop-ard, in which eyes of red cloth had been inserted, bringing out, by con-trast, the beauty of the skin, and was suspended from a strap of brown untanned deer hide. The Ottawa Free Trader, May 08,1846
Our next stop is a bag supposed to have belonged to the intrepid Deaf Smith. although there are some discrepancies I thought it would still be good to add to the mix.
Moving into the 40's is this runaway ad to start us off.
200 in gold or silver will be given for the delivery to me in the city of Austin of my negro boy John, he left about the 1st February. Said negro is very dark in his com-plexion, and of a heavy build, -stands about 5 11. 8 inches, is about 34 years of age, and smiles when he is conversed with; he was captured by a detachment of the 1st Regiment Regular Infantry. When he left he carried with him a new plain stocked rilfe-calabre 60 to the pound, percussion lock, a pouch made and fringed with buckskin, and a powder horn; on the pouch strap there was a pecan handled knife with three copper rivets. One half of the above reward will be paid to any person lodging said negro in any jail in the Republic, and all expenses paid. Feb. 91, 1840 John H Harry
Progressing another year is this description by William Kennedy.
Mounted on a favourite horse, armed with the trusty rifle, and accompanied by their dogs, they can explore their way through the woods by the sun and the bark of the trees. Clad in their usual homely dress, an otter skin cunningly folded and sewed, is the depository of tobacco, ammunition, and means for kindling a fire
Texas: the rise, progress, and prospects of the Republic of Texas, Vol.1
1842 saw much unrest and even as the men of Texas moved towards Mier and their fate, one man in his journal noted that "some of the men possessed shot-pouches made from the skin of an ounce or leopard cat." -Journal of an Expedition against the Southwest
We'll take a pause from the reading material to view these extant bags housed in Texas museums.
We'll end off with this unique descriptor from the Mexican war, its honestly the only one of its kind I've seen from any example.
His bullet pouch hangs On his right side with his powder horn. The strap that suspends these is broadened over the left shoulder, or has a small pad attached to it to relieve the wear and pressure of a rifle barrel. Sunday dispatch. [volume], May 23, 1847
There you have it, a glimpse into the past, and a beneficial use for cats! Next post we'll examine some of those Mexican and Native shot pouches.
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