Federal in Full Gear

[FootsoreFederal]

Hey everyone,
I was looking through a book and found a pretty nice picture of a a Federal soldier in full gear. Looks to me like he'd been campaigning for a while before this picture was taken by the stubble and worn look to his coat. Well anyway, I just thought it was an interesting picture.


Source: The Complete Civil War by Philip Katcher, p. 57

[markj]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

Hi Zach,

Please refer to my note about potential copyright infringement underneath your other posted image.

Best wishes,

Mark Jaeger

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

Looks to me like he'd been campaigning for a while before this picture was taken by the stubble and worn look to his coat.

That's an interesting conclusion Zach....

Without mentioning any specific history behind this image, and if we went by appearance alone, I would say he's a "raw recruit."

Gee, Haw...

Mr. Muleskinner

[coffee boiler]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

The leathers look too new to have seen much service.

[rogue]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

VERY wide haversack strap, no?
Note rear sight on his Enfield, raised to its max. Also has a Springfield sling, as, of course, there were no Enfield slings.
String (cord) or chain on the canteen?
All of his gear is pushed to the front, he knew we would appreciate that, 140 some years later.
Also, no blanket on the knapsack, are there blanket straps?
A great deal of detail.
Steve Sullivan
46th Illinois
Co. Mil. Hist.

[markj]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

Bob Braun, of the 33rd Wisconsin, has written an interesting article about this image. I believe it is (or was) on the 33rd WI website.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Lone_Rebel87]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

I would lean towards the new recruit idea more...notice the large knife sticking up out of his belt on the left side above his cap box
couldn't quite make out the stopper attachment though.


Jordan Davis

[FootsoreFederal]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

You know, the more I look at your guys' reasons the more I see how wrong I was. The new leathers, the knife in the belt, the dazed look on his face. I suppose this is why you shouldn't judge things to be true just on how they look to you. (sorry, didn't mean to rhyme) Oh yes, I'm convinced now that this guy's new.

[Masked Battery]

"Enfield" slings?

[QUOTE=rogue]"VERY wide haversack strap, no?
Note rear sight on his Enfield, raised to its max. Also has a Springfield sling, as, of course, there were no Enfield slings."

There were slings recovered from Enfield rifle packing crates on the sunken blockade runner Modern Greece. Would these be considered "Enfield slings?"


Thanks.

Neal

Don't know much about leathers.

[rogue]

Re: Enfield slings and dog tent ends...

Neal,
It is my understanding (researchers of merit fill in this gap please) that the Federal government issued musket slings, one size fits all. Reenactors asked for and received Enfield and Springfield length musket slings. Sort of like the "end pieces" some have on their shelter tents, reenactor driver but not present in the original enactment. I base this on the work of Don Rademacher, perhaps out of date now, but it made sense thirty years ago that a QM sergeant would not have to stock multiple length musket slings.
I missed the knife on the newbie, also missed mentioning the Enfield appears "bright".
Steve Sullivan
46th Illinois
Co. Mil. Hist.

[rogue]

Re: Enfields again

Neal,
After I read my posting thoughts continued.
I am speaking of Federal slings. The Modern Greece Enfields may have come with British/English slings, buff leather with tie-ons. A whole different animal. I am not aware of photographic evidence, or collection evidence, of the use of Brit slings over here.
The Enfield I got from Lewis Leigh from the Modern Greece before the wreck was dynamited was a two band model 1858, the type that would have taken an issued Federal sling. Were three band model 1853 Enfields on the Modern Greece as well?
Has any work been published on the Modern Greece save for a few magazine articles?
Steve Sullivan
46th Illinois
Co. Mil. Hist.

[Lone_Rebel87]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

Ya know the more i look at it and have it blown up I think the stopper in the canteen is attached via a cord or string...you can see the line coming down from the cork-ring and then it appears to loop back up from just behind the rifle and attach to the canteen again...but correct me if I'm wrong :)

Jordan Davis

[Masked Battery]

Modern Greece Enfields w/ Slings

Steve-- I'll see what I can dig up when I get home. I'm going on the report published by the archaeologists who worked on the wreck.

Neal

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Federal in Full Gear

Neal,

You are correct. Leslie Bright excavated the wreck and he says there were distinct patterned slings. I have asked him to dig up an old report for images.


Buff ''tie ons'' sound too early. Were they around in the middle period?

[Masked Battery]

Modern Greece Enfields

Steve and Garrison--
The report that I have by Leslie Bright refers to Enfield "rifles" and "carbines." Due to the accompanying illustrations and the dimensions given, I think that today we would probably refer to these weapons as "rifled muskets" and "rifles," respectively. [This report came out in 1977.] Bayonets for both types of these guns were recovered.
I don't know any more details about the slings. What can you tell us, Garrison?

Neal