Reading James Peifers' letters home after joining the 46th Pa vol,,,,he gives a pretty good description to his sister about the uniform and gear he was issued before being loaded onto a train and sent south. He also seems to refer a lot to his "mess". I know the meaning was several soldiers parlaying thier food together and jointly cooking as to make a better meal and have it be more efficient. James seems to refer to his "mess" the way we used the term squad. Everyone in my mess was issued gloves,,my mess mates all got letters today,, I traded blouses with one of my mess because they fit us each better,,etc etc. Anyway, here is his clothing and gear issue,,
"Nov 22 1861 you must not worry about me, as I have been given clothes enough to keep me warm, most more than I like to carry"
"I think I had better give you a list of what my knapsack contains in the bottom: 4 pairs of stockings, 5 or 6 handkerchiefs, 1 pair of drawers and another pair, I wear 1, 1 undershirt, 1 on my back, thick flannel overshirt, merino scarf, my old 3 month pantaloons, blanket and gum blanket, 1 testament and 2 or 3 little books presented to me by our chaplain, Ellens ambrotype, a portfolio to keep my pen and paper, a memorandum and a little bag which mother made containing thread needles and buttons and a pair of scissors and now the pair of gloves. What do you think of that? And as soon as I receive my overcoat that must go in as well. At present I wear 3 shirts, drawers and I also own a haversack, which contains a yankee tin cup, a piece of casteel soap, an old pipe, an oil rag to clean my gun and a handful of pieces of crackers. The next, the most, but not least is my cartridge box which weighs about 6 pounds containing 40 cartridges, 1 bullet and 3 buckshot weighing about 2 oz. In another part is another oil rag made of an old neck tie, a screwdriver and what we call a wormer, to draw loads. This is on a belt. On the same belt, is the cap box on the right and the bayonet scabbard on the left. The belt is worn around the waist. Next is the musket weighing about 10 pounds. After we have all these things loaded up, it makes for a pretty heavy March. Our feet are covered in shoes, uncle Sam style with soles an inch thick. But not worth anything and much too large in every way. I have a pair. They are about 6 inches wide, wide enough to contain two of my feet, but in length they will do. There is no shape about them, being one width from heel to toe. And the heels, you would laugh to see them, are quite long and as wide as the shoe.well, they are about the size of a tea cup. the pants and blouse will do. My pants fitted me too much in the length, but they are very profitable, as I tuck them up about 4 inches. They are pretty wide too, but that makes them comfortable. The blouse will do. That fitted me in every way except it was a little short. The blouse and pants are alike, very deep blue color. The caps are blue also. I received mine about 3 weeks ago and even that was too large. On top is a letter C, and in front are the figures 46 designating the Reg't. Thus you have a statement of my whole property."
Dark blue pants and cartridges box worn on the waist belt with no shoulder sling is all new to me. Anyone know why he would have carried a spare bullet and 3 buckshot? Hunting?
"Nov 22 1861 you must not worry about me, as I have been given clothes enough to keep me warm, most more than I like to carry"
"I think I had better give you a list of what my knapsack contains in the bottom: 4 pairs of stockings, 5 or 6 handkerchiefs, 1 pair of drawers and another pair, I wear 1, 1 undershirt, 1 on my back, thick flannel overshirt, merino scarf, my old 3 month pantaloons, blanket and gum blanket, 1 testament and 2 or 3 little books presented to me by our chaplain, Ellens ambrotype, a portfolio to keep my pen and paper, a memorandum and a little bag which mother made containing thread needles and buttons and a pair of scissors and now the pair of gloves. What do you think of that? And as soon as I receive my overcoat that must go in as well. At present I wear 3 shirts, drawers and I also own a haversack, which contains a yankee tin cup, a piece of casteel soap, an old pipe, an oil rag to clean my gun and a handful of pieces of crackers. The next, the most, but not least is my cartridge box which weighs about 6 pounds containing 40 cartridges, 1 bullet and 3 buckshot weighing about 2 oz. In another part is another oil rag made of an old neck tie, a screwdriver and what we call a wormer, to draw loads. This is on a belt. On the same belt, is the cap box on the right and the bayonet scabbard on the left. The belt is worn around the waist. Next is the musket weighing about 10 pounds. After we have all these things loaded up, it makes for a pretty heavy March. Our feet are covered in shoes, uncle Sam style with soles an inch thick. But not worth anything and much too large in every way. I have a pair. They are about 6 inches wide, wide enough to contain two of my feet, but in length they will do. There is no shape about them, being one width from heel to toe. And the heels, you would laugh to see them, are quite long and as wide as the shoe.well, they are about the size of a tea cup. the pants and blouse will do. My pants fitted me too much in the length, but they are very profitable, as I tuck them up about 4 inches. They are pretty wide too, but that makes them comfortable. The blouse will do. That fitted me in every way except it was a little short. The blouse and pants are alike, very deep blue color. The caps are blue also. I received mine about 3 weeks ago and even that was too large. On top is a letter C, and in front are the figures 46 designating the Reg't. Thus you have a statement of my whole property."
Dark blue pants and cartridges box worn on the waist belt with no shoulder sling is all new to me. Anyone know why he would have carried a spare bullet and 3 buckshot? Hunting?
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