Knapsack Packing - Vol II, Ep. 13
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- How do you pack a knapsack? In Episode 13, we present our years of experience. Candidly, we are still looking for primary accounts. Help us if you know of one, please! We also review the names by which the government described the different parts of the knapsack.
This episode shows a good placement for all items. However, we recommend you split up some of the load with your messmates. One carries a hatchet, another a skillet and so on. It makes for a lighter carry, closer community, and a more authentic experience!
As a modern soldier, when i look back at this series i keep thinking how these guys were expected to fight a war with almost zero equipment
No experience, but, from what I've read, modern warfare is a war of mobility. In theory, you don't technically need all that fancy equipment. Most of it just weighs you down. The less weight you carry, the faster you are.
Formerly being in the infantry...I am jealous of the generations that went before me...they didn't carry much compared to the BS we carry now...my ammunition and grenades were all carried on my plate carrier and that was fine but my main pack was full of shit I didn't need but was required to carry
@@colestewart4205 But what they did carry was much heavier, 60lbs was the average for federal troops (including weapons and ammo), for not all that much kit.
My plate carrier alone was 60 pounds....plus 30 rocket launcher...2 12 lb rockets...and 80 pound ruck
@@colestewart4205 I'm right there with you. I was an infantry machine gunner. My pack, flak, ammo, M240G, pistol, kevlar, ect. combined was crazy heavy. I had an additional 76lbs on me. Then they'd issue another 1k rounds on top of what you already were carrying,. Ah, the good old days, lol.
Wasn't there a periodical early in the war produced by old soldiers that gave helpful insights into life on the march and how to pack your 'ruck'
I've read a number of accounts that state or hint that the men would cook up their rations as soon as they got them, eat as much as they could, then stow the rest. The meat would then take up less room and tend to last longer. Even though the haversack is meant only for your rations, I will still keep "littles" in it that I need to access quickly and that won't get spoiled by grease. I don't like to carry much in my trowser pockets as it can be uncomfortable marching and you're more apt to lose things. My .02¢.
I really enjoy your videos on the rations and how to prepare them. I think i might have an answer to why it is so hard to find a a regulation on how to pack your Knapsack. I have been in the Marine Corps Infantry for almost ten years and i have been reenacting since I can remember. In the modern day military there is no doctrine or regulation on packing your pack. We pack in accordance with unit standard operating procedures (SOP). This is dictated by the Company or Battalion Commander. Generally the idea is that everyone has there pack the same way for the sake of uniformity but it is ultimately left to the commanding officer.
The ration episodes are some of our favorite as well. We know they had pack inspections so perhaps the inspecting officer was looking for a standard along the lines you say there is today. We hope to find a primary account at some point! Thank you for the support.
According to the 1861 Uniform Regulations, "the great coat, when carried, to be neatly folded, not rolled, and covered by the outer flap of the knapsack" (p. 16).
I pack similar to this illustration, except I place my fry pan on top of my blanket under one of the four flaps. My logic is I will be in camp when cooking and will also be taking out my blanket. Great videos.
I’ve always rolled my blanket up in my gum blanket and strapped it on top. I have a County Cloth 1851 blanket, and there is no way in the world that it will fit in the “trunk”. You may ask what about access to the gum blanket as rain gear. I’ve found its better to keep that wool blanket dry at all hazards. One your clothes will dry on your person quicker than your blanket will dry. You will sleep miserable under a wet blanket, and a wet blanket weighs a ton. Plus a gum blanket really sucks as rain gear, and trying to stay dry is an exercise in futility.
If it’s cold enough for an overcoat just wear it rather than pack it. Otherwise toss it in a ditch, and draw a new one next year.
Found this in a soldiers account from the 2nd Michigan. It was written about preparing for Sunday inspections in July 1861. “…the knapsack with blanket rolled and strapped on top must contain a change of shirt, socks, and underclothing.”
My research I discovered both the 1857, and the 1861 US Army regulations do state that the greatcoat is either place in between the knapsack or on top of the role depending of what the soldiers on the campaign, in quarters or on the March.
If you want an account of knapsack-packing done very badly, look up the book "Corporal Si Klegg and his Pard" chapter 10. The book was written by a Civil War veteran, and though fictional it's based on his real experiences.
Found this from Private Ira Jeffers, Company F, 137th New York Infantry: "We have turned over a part of our clothing to the Quartermaster so that we can carry the more rations and we have got to carry eight days rations and our knapsacks with one pair of stockings, one shirt, one pair of drawers, one piece shelter tent, one rubber blanket, one woolen blanket, and overcoat."
He also adds a few days later: "I threw away my overcoat and all the clothing I had only what I had on. Only my rubber blanket and tent cloth, whitch I lost on the battlefield on Sunday together with my knapsack."
Is this in a book or where is the account kept? Cool! Also, is this getting ready for Chancellorsville? I wonder because of the note of carrying 8 days rations. Thanks for sharing! Will
So there's the original letters in the Civil War Museum in Windsor, NY. I was fortunate enough to get a copy of these letters so I can better my impression for the regiment I portray in, the 137th NY Infantry. Ira's first letter that I posted was written on April 16, 1863 near Aquia Landing. They ended up staying a month later there, and wrote the second letter I posted part of on May 11, 1863. And they engaged at Chancellorsville. He also states he had to carry 60 rounds cartridges as well as what he previously said.
@@CivilWarDigitalDigest His letters were put into a book a few years back.
Informative...thank you!
Man you had me worried there for a moment I thought maybe you were going to forget the Bible and the House Wife Sew Kit. You are set. Right On…
Thanks!
A very good channel. You put in a great deal of effort and provide good useful information.
Thanks for noticing and the compliment - we appreciate it! Will
keep up the great work
We plan too!
Thank for all the great information
Thanks for making this task easier for me. The one thing I would always dread when it came to a reenactment was packing my knapsack. Now it is going to be a breeze.
Glad to help!
I loved this because I'm a reenactors and the video gave me a lot of really good information that will help me
+Gary Turner that was our goal! Along with providing education content to anyone with interest, reenactor or not. If you didn't see it yet check out the blanket rolls episode for another approach.
Gary Turner true!
Civil War Digital Digest we want more videos like this!!!
love these video's! ...it's like doing living history without being there!! (coming from someone who has did civil war reenacting for almost 10 years! )
please, if you want to impress me, you will do the British pattern knapsack used during the war! I can't figure that one out.
Hi Jason! We will look into it! Cheers - Will
+Civil War Digital Digest Thanks! I have to be doing something wrong because I can barely fit a blanket, shirt, and socks in mine (MO. Boot & Shoe)
The blanket was folded and secured by the straps on the outside of the pack, the overcoat straps really are for the overcoat, not quite as interchangeable as the American style without adding some holes to the greatcoat straps. It gets a little sketchy with CS use, there's an example that has a blanket roll on top of the knapsack secured with some cordage. Inside the pack is just supposed to be a soldiers personal and issued items. Assuming you're referring to the P1854 knapsack, the Trotter pack is a little different.
It depends on which blanket I use. My lighter weight blankets fold up inside the IC pack. If I carry my CC “Gettysburg” blanket, I wear a horseshoe roll over the top of the pack. I don’t find that set up to be the most comfortable though.
Down In Dixie: Life in a cavalry regiment, by Stanton Perry Allen is a good first-hand account of the Civil War. Stanton P. was an officer in the Mass. 1st Cavalry and eventually served on the staff of Gen. George Meade.
From a quick perusal through the LOC photographs collection, here are some soldiers who have their greatcoat straps run through the shoulder straps. You may need to open the large TIFF version to get enough resolution to clearly see how their packs are set up.
1. www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2013645724/ Granted, not a Federal Issue knapsack, but the strap arrangement is super obvious.
2. www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/civwar/item/2013648432/
3. www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/civwar/item/2012646980/
4. www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/civwar/item/2010648376/
There are many more photographs that I've seen over the years where the soldiers appear to have their straps configured this way.
Caleb - Thanks for sharing this research with all of us!
No problem, thanks for putting together the great videos! BTW, here's another photograph on this topic: files.grovedesign.co/drummer_boy_cannon/
great video
What about a musket cleaning kit, both for reenacting and in the Civil War? Did they have a .58 cal brass brush? I assume they had patches from rags. What about a jag or slot for the patches? I would think each soldier was individually responsible for a clean weapon. Personally I carry a 4 piece cleaning rod. Too many times when not paying attention I ram a cleaning patch down on the end of the ramrod which you use for ramming the bullet down and the ramrod gets majorly stuck.
We did a separate project on field cleaning per the manual. Check that out over there! It is definitely something you should have on your person, both by what was issued, and to care for that major investment of a firearm.
thanks it was a great video
Thank you for watching and providing feedback.
Much appreciated~
No problem!
Great video.
Did Union troops ever pack pemmican? It seems that would have been an ideal for the march.. . .
It certainly would make sense but I have yet to run into a reference to it.
@Civil War Digital Digest , Wouldn't it make more sense to roll the greatcoat into the gum blanket and stick both on the top of the knapsack? My theory is: Wool gets pretty heavy when wet, the gum blanket would prevent the greatcoat from getting wet.
Also, wouldn't it make sense to ditch the blanket and just have the greatcoat? You wouldn't possibly need both, would you? Having both the blanket and greatcoat is just extra weight. A greatcoat and blanket are roughly the same size, so in theory, couldn't someone just utilize the greatcoat as an impromptu blanket?
To your first point, if the gum blanket is tucked between the two parts of the knapsack, it's easier to get out when it starts raining and drape over yourself like a poncho, keeping the whole thing dry - blanket, great coat, uniform coat, all that wool is now protected, rather than just the great coat.
To your second point, yes, absolutely. In fact, that's what a lot of soldiers did after they had been on campaign for a while, they would ditch everything they didn't absolutely need, including the knapsack, and just roll up their blanket or great coat with some extra socks and a shirt and wear that as a blanket roll across their shoulder.
Um am I missing something, I always did a blanket roll and tied it to the top of the knapsack, giving me more room in the actual bag
There are certainly drawings and photographs that show it that way. As we mentioned in the episode, we were dealing what is recommended in the regulations. You definitely have one way that is totally historically valid of doing it.
Can you guys make an episode on how to roll the greatcoat?
As soon as we get good documentation on a method, we will! We'd love to. There is a drawing floating in the living history community. Some research on our part found it was re-purposed out of a WW1 manual. We want to share good history here, not just "how we've always done it" so we've restrained until we find better documentation. We hope to!
@@CivilWarDigitalDigest I think it is in a cavalry manual. My apologies as I have been retired from the hobby for a few years and have forgot the actual manual that it is in. If I find it I will post.
put it on let's see how it rides.
What are your thoughts on wrapping the greatcoat in the shelter half to keep it dry if it rains on the march?
The raping the greatcoat in the shelter half would complicate things when you want to wear it. Also, if you have a ground cloth or rubber poncho you could drape it over the greatcoat as well as yourself. (Sorry if I come across as cranky, it's unintended.)
My $.02: keep your housewife in your pocket so you don't have to open the pack to make a quick repair like a suspender button.
Where would they put days rations? How many days worth could they have carried with this type of pack? I love your videos by the way. I share these with my classes when I cover the Civil War.
Rations go in the haversack as the general rule. Commonly you read of 3 days being issued out however there are plenty of examples of more or less. I have seen accounts detailing extra hard bread going into the knapsack that would not fit in the haversack. Thank you for the support!
Does anyone know where I can get a pattern for a Confederate-style, single bag knapsack?
Thanks for this informative video.
What is the knapsack made from? It looks like the gum blanket's material...
Okami Dai They were constructed of painted cloth, primarily cotton drill or duck.
Some knapsacks, like one I own, are tarred
Well done, but what about the shoulder straps how do you connect those on the bottom of the knapsack? There seems to be absolutely no videos on how to do that.
Do you mean the two straps of leather that hang off the should straps when worn? They were to connect to an earlier pattern of belt which wasn't used by the Civil War. Hope this helps!
@@CivilWarDigitalDigest Yes that helps. But makes no sense as to why suttlers would sell them if they don't have a belt. Maybe I am missing something. Anyway thanks for the advice.
Did you check out the HARDEE CORP MANUAL ?
I’m not familiar with that one for knapsacks.
I have the model 1864 one like you do, but I cannot get my Shelter half and emergency issue blanket to fit inside of it, the flaps are so short and can't reach over, can you tell me how you folded your blanket and tent half?
Where is another place then to get a high quality Gum blanket.The websites I have looked at don't have Gum blankets or they are not good quality.
Check out Leder Arsenal.
I'm curious on the total weight of the pack including all article placed in and on the pack, great job by the way.
+Kevin Grohs we did not put the pack on a scale. My guess would be in the 20 pound range. Here is a great article on knapsack weight.
www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?1095-An-Experiment-with-Knapsack-Weight-by-Huck-Green&highlight=Knapsack+weight
Where can I get a high quality shelter half.
Check Wambaugh and White who have done episodes with us.
where did you get your gum blanket
That is one from when Nick Sekala had them. It was bought at the 145th G’burg so it’s been a bit, Lol.
No rations on this pack.
Haversack
i usually put my gum blanket in my belt
Hi
Hey Lion.