Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

[Steve Acker]

As the men of the Army of the Potomac prepared to move out on that 28th day of April 1863, they were ordered to take on 8 days rations and 60 rounds of ammunition. Elon Francis Brown of the 2nd Wisconsin gives us how he carried his load.

Having put his knapsack into a brigade wagon, “I carried my eight days rations by procuring two haversacks and hanging one on each shoulder and tying the straps together both front and behind. Besides the strap on one shoulder was my blanket and on the other my tent, each folded tightly and tied together on the ends while on my belt hung my rubber blanket. Thus equipped my load amounted to, including every thing, not over 25 pounds, while most of the boys carried from forty to sixty pounds. “


Steve Acker

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

"while most of the boys carried from forty to sixty pounds. “

So that's how HE did it... how did MOST of the boys do it? Just sayin.

Good info though! Thanks for posting that.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

I have suspected for a long time that some of the old fellows may have carried two haversacks when going sans knapsack. Great quote, Steve! Thank you!!

To Brad's point: I also wonder what the rest of them were doing.

[Steve Acker]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

Earlier in his journal Mr, Brown states that they were ordered to put three day's rations in their haversack and five days (20 pounds according to him) in their knapsacks. That said, I think there were a lot of sore shoulders and backs, as they were weighed down by a full knapsack.

Steve Acker

[GWagner]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

Where can one find the entire journal/diary?

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

"one shoulder was my blanket and on the other my tent, each folded tightly"

Notice he said folded tightly... not rolled.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

"one shoulder was my blanket and on the other my tent, each folded tightly"

Notice he said folded tightly... not rolled.

I caught that myself. And why not "fold" them together? Not like a tent half is all that bulky.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

I caught that myself. And why not "fold" them together? Not like a tent half is all that bulky.

Perhaps weight distribution. If he was smart enough to throw his extra weight in the wagon, he was probably smart enough to spread out the bulk and weight, even if it amounted to just a couple of pounds.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

Perhaps weight distribution. If he was smart enough to throw his extra weight in the wagon, he was probably smart enough to spread out the bulk and weight, even if it amounted to just a couple of pounds.

Thats probably it, but to me not worth the hassle of having stuff all over the place. Any way its interesting to read how one guy carried his kit.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

"one shoulder was my blanket and on the other my tent, each folded tightly"

Notice he said folded tightly... not rolled.

I wouldn't read a whole lot into that. The rolled vs. folded debate doesn't really stand up. Photographic evidence for both. Clearly Mr. Brown was a "fold" man. He also appears to be ahead of his messmates on the matter.

The rubber blanket in the belt reference is solid too. i have done it (particularly in the summer) and it is much more agreeable thanhaving a black rubber blanket on your neck.

Steve, post more!

bryant/been friends with Acker since '99 mess.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

Thats probably it, but to me not worth the hassle of having stuff all over the place. Any way its interesting to read how one guy carried his kit.

It really is neat to see stuff like this. The tactics, weapons, gear, etc. have changed, but the basic premise of comfort while on campaign (or on mission) hasn't changed a bit.

[Silas]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

Worth looping the current discussion with an older one about the experiment with knapsack weight from that very campaign : http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...-by-Huck-Green

[Steve Acker]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

I found the journal on mircofilm at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Check your state historical society, They may have it. The entire journal of over 100 pages deals with his time during the Chancellorsville campaign. As I transcribe more, I'll share.

Steve Acker

[GWagner]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

Meh...we don't have a Historical Society. We have an Archives, but everything is on Alabama, and it is likely to close soon as the Governors new budget basically de-funds anything historical that was receiving state funds.

If anyone has it, let me know. I would love to read it.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Wearing gear from a soldier in Hooker’s army

Having carried gear like this before, I can attest to its comfort. It spreads the weight out very nicely.