- 1). Lay the tent flat on the ground, centered over the ridgepole.
- 2). Secure a forked stick into the ground at each end of the ridgepole. If the ground is soft, push the stick a couple of inches into the ground. If the ground is hard, you might need to dig a shallow hole. Civil War soldiers often substituted rifles for poles. For historic accuracy, check to see what campers used during the time period.
- 3). Place one side of the ridgepole into each forked stick.
- 4). Stake out each tent corner. Pull the tent tight, but keep the tent centered over the ridgepole. If desired, stake out the extra stake-out loops on each side by pushing a stake through the loops and into the ground.
- 5). Close the doors around the forked stick. Secure the door's stake-out loops with one stake.
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