Civil War pocket compass.

[major bill]

This is a Civil War pocket compass on display at a museum.

While small, these pocket compasses were useful items for officers.

 

[major bill]

This compass is pre Civil War design, but still used during the Civil War here in Michigan. In parts of Michigan the iron ore deposits make a magnetic compass useless. This solar compass was designed and patented by William Austin Burt in 1836. It can not fit in a pocket.

 

[BCS1973]

It can not fit in a pocket.

Is that a compass in your pocket, or ...

 

[bobinwmass]

This is a Civil War pocket compass on display at a museum.
View attachment 543150

While small, these pocket compasses were useful items for officers.

Just my guess, but I tend to doubt that compass is original to that container. Seems awfully big for a rather delicate instrument to be rattling around in.

 

[major bill]

Just my guess, but I tend to doubt that compass is original to that container. Seems awfully big for a rather delicate instrument to be rattling around in.

You may be right. I do not know how Civil War era pocket compasses were carried.

Would most officers carry a compass? It would seem like company grade officers would not necessarily need one.

 

[Trooper "D"]

This is a Civil War pocket compass on display at a museum.
View attachment 543150

While small, these pocket compasses were useful items for officers.

I get a little brass flip top compass from Blockade Runner some years ago and put it on a watch chain for my other vest pocket. Portraying a US Cavalry Lt. or a CS Cavalry Major I found it useful to work with. Mounted excursions up in the mountain forests where I live, one can get discombobulated. As soon as the sun sets though it is as useless as my timepiece since the sudden darkness is such that seeing your hand in front of your face is difficult.
I think Artillery would use a compass often. Just not at night.
We used to just let the horses go because they knew where to go and could see better. Laying low over the pommel and horses neck is a good idea in that situ. Branches in the darkness can put and eye out. I kept holding the compass forward for the horse to see but I was ignored. Horse sense won out.