Civil War Backpack

[S_Wags]

I volunteer with a local museum and we have a Civil War backpack. It has multiple numbers and seems to have changed hands a number of time. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it.

 

[Salterr]

I volunteer with a local museum and we have a Civil War backpack. It has multiple numbers and seems to have changed hands a number of time. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about it.
View attachment 476057

Sep Co stands for separate company and this knapsack has a wooden frame. It's most likely a pre war knapsack that's been repurposed for the militias through time into the post war era perhaps. Many soldiers early on took the frames out of the knapsacks. They either rotted or were used as kindling. Civil war knapsacks are usually unframed tarred canvas and have multiple buckles and flaps.

If you can please share the other side of it and the inside, we'd appreciate it!

 

[S_Wags]

Yeah, Of course!

 

[Package4]

Yeah, Of course!
View attachment 476221View attachment 476222

Separate Company is a post war designation, but as Salterr has stated, your pack started out as a pre war militia pack.

Civil War packs actually had frames, but as the soldiers would toss them or use them as kindling the QM stopped issuing them with the issue double bag.

 

[S_Wags]

Separate Company is a post war designation, but as Salterr has stated, your pack started out as a pre war militia pack.

Civil War packs actually had frames, but as the soldiers would toss them or use them as kindling the QM stopped issuing them with the issue double bag.

That's really helpful, thanks!

 

[Package4]

Yeah, Of course!
View attachment 476221View attachment 476222

The number(s) on the side of the pack are most likely the soldiers number, if they were militia, their gear would have been kept in an arsenal or other such community building. These are referred to as rack numbers, the militiaman's musket would be in rack slot #50.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Sep Co stands for separate company and this knapsack has a wooden frame. It's most likely a pre war knapsack that's been repurposed for the militias through time into the post war era perhaps. Many soldiers early on took the frames out of the knapsacks. They either rotted or were used as kindling. Civil war knapsacks are usually unframed tarred canvas and have multiple buckles and flaps.

If you can please share the other side of it and the inside, we'd appreciate it!View attachment 476062View attachment 476065View attachment 476067

General John A. Logan?

 

[Salterr]

General John A. Logan?

Yes that's his post war photograph. I posted three different knapsacks that one had the picture and the carbine socket with it when I got it. Had another piece too I can't quite pin down but I think it to be more Indian war. Too bad it wasn't his right!!!

 

[Mike Serpa]

Yes that's his post war photograph. I posted three different knapsacks that one had the picture and the carbine socket with it when I got it. Had another piece too I can't quite pin down but I think it to be more Indian war. Too bad it wasn't his right!!!

His son, John A. Logan Jr, is a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine-American War at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1899. His citation reads "For most distinguished gallantry in leading his battalion upon the entrenchments of the enemy, on which occasion he fell mortally wounded."

 

[Salterr]

His son, John A. Logan Jr, is a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the Philippine-American War at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1899. His citation reads "For most distinguished gallantry in leading his battalion upon the entrenchments of the enemy, on which occasion he fell mortally wounded."

Thank you for sharing that. I wasn't aware that his son was awarded the medal. So many of these soldiers and their children went on to have amazing careers and shape the country. I have some little pieces from a father and son, it was interesting to see not only his achievements but his sons and grandson's achievements in the Spanish American war, WWI and WWII
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/joseph-sumner-rogers’-insignia.200505/#post-2624579