Keeping a fire at the home or in camp was extremely important to frontier Texans and soldiers alike. Fire provided warmth, light, and a place to safely prepare food- something especially important when food is wild-caught, like many of the rations of the Texas army as they trekked towards San Jacinto. In 1836, neither lighters nor matches existed yet, so many soldiers carried a fire-making kit consisting of flint, steel, and combustible material to ensure they could create flames at a moment’s notice.
For this demo day, watch as San Jacinto Battleground educators demonstrate how to use a flint and steel to prepare a fire, and learn how to make your own char-cloth. We’ll even show you how to create your own Texian fire making kit!