Proper Wearing of Gear

[flattop32355]

Re: Proper Wearing of Gear

Greetings,
For whatever it's worth to the conversation, here is an image (precisely dated 2 May 1863) of Private Garret Larew, 86th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The photo has been "corrected" due to being a reversed image.
Regards,
Mark Jaeger

Note the the hooking of the knapsack "crossing straps" to the belt. And could that be an Enfield style bayonet frog/scabbard? It seems to be sitting too vertical for the Springfield style. Not sure.

[Bill]

Re: Proper Wearing of Gear

However, I did find the following in the "Record of Events" for the 48th (Nixon's) TN:

Company E [Tullahoma, Tennessee]

On February 25, 1863 [Marcus Logan] Martin had stolen from him while on prisoner duty the following articles: one cartridge box, $2.50; one cartridge box belt, $1.00; one cap pouch, $1.00; one bayonet, $5.00; one waist belt, $.75; one gun sling, $.35; forty cartridges, $10.00 [i.e., 25 cents apiece]; fifty-two caps; five _______ equal $2.60. Was relieved from payment by recommendation [of] court martial.

JAMES C. COOPER, Captain,
Company E, Forty-eighth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers.
Regards,

Mark Jaeger

Wow,

This has nothing to do with the subject at hand, but did anybody else notice what they were charging for cartridges? In today's money, 25 cents per cartridge would mean that every round cost about three dollars. Ten rounds were worth as much as a cartridge box. It's no wonder they didn't do much target practice!

[Jimmayo]

Re: Proper Wearing of Gear

In August, 1864, there were 225 enlisted men of the 9th Va. Inf. counted in the inspection. Of this number, 2 men had no cartridge box, 1 lacked a cap pouch, and 1 man, (probably the one without a cap pouch), was without a waist belt. Only 15 men had no shoulder belt for their cartridge box. This indicates that the regiment overwhelmingly used cartridge box slings, instead of depending on their waist belt to support the cartridge box.



Research provided by James Schruefer of Co. B.