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Thread: Packing a Civil War Knapsack

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    Cadet 13th Illinois's Avatar
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    Default Packing a Civil War Knapsack

    Now maybe I'm just not looking in the right place or maybe I'm just not seeing it. I am looking for any information on how to pack the infantry knapsack. For information on what rations I need to have in it and my haversack.
    Thanks,
    Richard
    13 Infantry Man

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    Sergeant (500+ posts) Mark Wadsworth's Avatar
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    First what kind of knapsack are you going to be packing? Each kind of knapsack has it it's own packing style.
    Mark Wadsworth

    www.mwadsworthtailor.com

    Criminals obey "gun control" laws in the same manor politicians follow their oath of office.

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    Head babysitting Mod;CotM johan_steele's Avatar
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    http://www.sykesregulars.org/

    Take some time on this site; one of the best out there w/ good info for everything from properly wearing the kit to properly packing it.

    Good Luck
    Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour

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    Cadet 13th Illinois's Avatar
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    its the soft type tared knapsack.
    13th Illinois Infantry Man

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    Sergeant (500+ posts) Mark Wadsworth's Avatar
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    Is it a double bag knap sack? Once trick is to slide your pack straps through your blanket straps. By doing this it will keep your blanket roll on top of your pack. If you don't the blanket will lean back pulling you off balance. It's quick and easy to do.
    Mark Wadsworth

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    Criminals obey "gun control" laws in the same manor politicians follow their oath of office.

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    Private (25+ posts) rock city guard's Avatar
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    if a soldier is is on the march in the summer months, you don't have to haul the great coat. do or could you put the blanket in where the great coat go?I usually have problems with the blanket roll riding back.
    Jay Cantieri
    2nd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
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    Head babysitting Mod;CotM johan_steele's Avatar
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    Some men preferred their greatcoat to a blanket and hauled that instead... though most sent them home for the summer or into storage... or onto the side of the road.

    I prefer a blanket roll so I have never tried that w/ a knapsack. I would suggest trying it to see if it is even feasible.
    Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour

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    Rations should remain in your haversack.

    Knapsack should have the other iteams like the following, this assuming you have a double knapsack

    Extra pair of socks
    Shirt
    Bar of soap and maybe a rag
    Knight cap (If you have one)
    Candle
    Shelter half and blanket be folded and place inside.
    Poncho or ground blanket should go between the to bags as you fold it together. This will make it easier to grap in case of rain.
    If you have a great coat that should go on top.
    JG

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    Private (25+ posts) rock city guard's Avatar
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    soap? what kind of soap would they have used? I usually put my blanket in the one side and an extra shirt, socks candles and my sleaning stuff in the knapsack. It dosent seem to have enough in it.
    Jay Cantieri
    2nd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
    Blacksmith of Dixie forge
    In Memory of my best friend
    1994-2006


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    ole
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    soap? what kind of soap would they have used?
    Bet you're a treat to share a tent with on a July weekend. Welcome to the board.
    Ole
    A good friend posts your bail. A really good friend sits with you and says, "Dang, that was fun."

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    Private (25+ posts) rock city guard's Avatar
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    Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by ole
    Bet you're a treat to share a tent with on a July weekend. Welcome to the board.
    Ole
    I have my own soap for reenacting, but I don't think Irish spring was used by confederate soldiers.Click here to enlarge
    Jay Cantieri
    2nd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
    Blacksmith of Dixie forge
    In Memory of my best friend
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    Sergeant (500+ posts) blue_zouave's Avatar
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    Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by rock city guard
    soap? what kind of soap would they have used?
    Soap was issued to Union troops (when available). I am not sure about Confederates. I know somebody who makes lye soap and I got a bar from him. Before that, I went to the health food store and got a bar of some natural olive oil soap and trimmed it up a bit so it didn't look commercial.

    Zou

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    ole
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    I'd guess a bar of Kirk's Castile would be about as authentic as you could get if you shave it a bit with a potato-peeler. Be careful though, it's hard stuff and may clean off a bit more than you want.
    Ole
    A good friend posts your bail. A really good friend sits with you and says, "Dang, that was fun."

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    Sergeant (500+ posts) Mark Wadsworth's Avatar
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    I tend to bring a bar of unscented lye soap. The stuff I get is hand cut so it ready to go on the spot.
    Mark Wadsworth

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    Criminals obey "gun control" laws in the same manor politicians follow their oath of office.

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    2nd Lt. (2500+ posts) gary's Avatar
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    I've seen soap made at Boonesboro. Looked just like Ivory soap (white blocks). If that's the case, shave a bar of ivory and you may be good to go.

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    ole
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    Somehow, I suspect that the soap they used wasn't 99-44/100% pure. But far be it from me .......

    ole
    A good friend posts your bail. A really good friend sits with you and says, "Dang, that was fun."

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    2nd Lt. (2500+ posts) gary's Avatar
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    Ole, for once I suspect that I'm older than you. Years ago a gubmint machinst taught me the saying, "Good enough for government work." I live by that lesson.

    I'd carry a carved bar of Ivory if I wanted to play sybil wa-oh soljer. I'd also stuff a pillow in my knapsack to simulate weight too (Cleburne did that when he was a corporal in the British Army). I'd sneak out of camp and sleep in a motel where I have a hot shower and clean sheets. I'd shirk from marching and would even forge a note from my doctor. I'd even bring my own "blue pills" in the form of Almond M&Ms (yummy). Do you know how many bags of Almond M&Ms I'd have to eat through to gather enough blue pills for myself? What work! Little wonder why I'd be thrown out of a unit if I tried to play reenactor.

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    Cadet Self-Contained Infantryma's Avatar
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    Default Knapsack vs. Haversack

    Personally, in my knapsack (the overrepresented double bag) I carry my poncho and blanket in the compartment closest to my back, I buckle them in and place a coverlet on top of them and strap the second strap to hold it in place. In the second compartment, I keep a couple shirts, a writing kit, toiletries, night cap, and a couple other essentials. It depends on how I pack for the weekend, i may switch the poncho and coverlet, if it may rain being the reason I can eaisily slip the poncho out!

    In my haversacks, I carry nothing but rations and tinware. I keep the newspapers, knife, wallet and other 'haversack stuffers' in my pockets, depending on type of event and what unit Im with.

    Corey O'Connor

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