I'm on a research mission and maybe I'm heading for disappointment.
Is it possible to find out what kind of equipment was issued to a regiment?
I'm looking for information on uniform style, knapsacks, haversacks and the like for a particular regiment.
Long story short, I belong to an light artillery regiment and for years they've carried on what I believe to be a false story, perpetuated by the person who originally started the current orginazation, that our particular regiment wasn't issued things like knapsacks or haversacks and if they were they didn't carry them but put them in the battery wagons. And since all their equipment was on the Battery wagons they also had access to A frame tents which they used for shelter.
My argument is that while on campaign if their knapsacks and haversacks were on the wagon train they ran the risk of not seeing their stuff for day's on end. How would they have gotten to their rations and personal items if they were on the battery wagons?
My thinking is that since they were a light artillery regiment and they were considered foot soldiers like the infantry then they would have at the very least put their knapsacks and haversacks on the limbers and cassions, if they didn't have them on their backs, so their rations and personal effects would have been with them all the time.
I've read Hardtack and Coffee by John Billings who was part of a light artillery regiment during the war and he mentions knapsacks and haversacks in the book. But I don't remember him mentioning how they transported them, on their backs or on wagons. So I know artillery was issued at the least knapsacks and haversacks. I also know from this source that the light artillery was more than likely issued shelter halves.
So I guess my question is how do I find out what personal equipment a particular regiment was issued - if I even can?
and
How would I find information to support my theory of how a typical light artillery regiment would have transported this equipment?
Thanks ahead of time.
Jay
Is it possible to find out what kind of equipment was issued to a regiment?
I'm looking for information on uniform style, knapsacks, haversacks and the like for a particular regiment.
Long story short, I belong to an light artillery regiment and for years they've carried on what I believe to be a false story, perpetuated by the person who originally started the current orginazation, that our particular regiment wasn't issued things like knapsacks or haversacks and if they were they didn't carry them but put them in the battery wagons. And since all their equipment was on the Battery wagons they also had access to A frame tents which they used for shelter.
My argument is that while on campaign if their knapsacks and haversacks were on the wagon train they ran the risk of not seeing their stuff for day's on end. How would they have gotten to their rations and personal items if they were on the battery wagons?
My thinking is that since they were a light artillery regiment and they were considered foot soldiers like the infantry then they would have at the very least put their knapsacks and haversacks on the limbers and cassions, if they didn't have them on their backs, so their rations and personal effects would have been with them all the time.
I've read Hardtack and Coffee by John Billings who was part of a light artillery regiment during the war and he mentions knapsacks and haversacks in the book. But I don't remember him mentioning how they transported them, on their backs or on wagons. So I know artillery was issued at the least knapsacks and haversacks. I also know from this source that the light artillery was more than likely issued shelter halves.
So I guess my question is how do I find out what personal equipment a particular regiment was issued - if I even can?
and
How would I find information to support my theory of how a typical light artillery regiment would have transported this equipment?
Thanks ahead of time.
Jay
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