Iowa Haversack Carried at The Hornet's Nest, Shiloh

[CompanyWag]

Minor Hupp, of Trenton Iowa, enlisted in Co G., 8th Iowa Infantry in 20 September, 1861. At Shiloh, he fought with his regiment alongside the 12th and 14th Iowa at the center of the Hornet's Nest. Surrounded, many of the regiment smashed their arms against trees before surrendering. Hupps went into captivity and was held until exchanged in 1863 when he returned to the 8th Iowa and served out the remainder of the war until mustered out on 15 March 1866.

Hupp's haversack is an entirely hand-sewn example of the unpainted variety of haversack. Now missing its shoulder strap and closing buckle, the dimensions and construction otherwise match the standard federal painted haversack and show evidence of an inner liner held in by standard tin 4-hole buttons. For some reason, there are a number of careful alterations and repairs to the body consistent with someone having time on his hands.

The outside of the haversack is stencilled in 1-1/4 inch tall letters:

8th IOWA
G. 30
M. H.

(On the muster-in roll, Hupps name corresponds with No. 30)

See below for a front view of the haversack and a comparison with an original standard painted haversack. Notice that the closure strap has been carefully removed. Very faint trace of it remains. The front reinforcement panel has been removed and the material has been used to repair a hole in the bottom of the haversack. Note the corrosion from the tin, 4-hole button that was previously sewn to the panel to hold the liner bag in place.

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: Iowa Haversack Carried at The Hornet's Nest, Shiloh

Paul, that is awesome! Thank you for sharing. I'm guessing they are in your own private collection?

[CompanyWag]

Re: Iowa Haversack Carried at The Hornet's Nest, Shiloh

Yes, I've had both haversacks for a number of years. The Minor Hupp haversack came out of a family from Rock Island, Illinois...across the river from Davenport, Iowa.

[Slewis316]

Re: Iowa Haversack Carried at The Hornet's Nest, Shiloh

Very Nice. Thank you for sharing. Steven Lewis

[rpierson]

Re: Iowa Haversack Carried at The Hornet's Nest, Shiloh

Paul,

I note striking similarities between the painted bag on the left and the old Artifakes repros. Did that serve as the model?



-Randall Pierson

[CompanyWag]

Re: Iowa Haversack Carried at The Hornet's Nest, Shiloh

Randall,

I have one of the Artifakes repros and it is indeed a close match to the original I pictured above. However, Rademacher had evidently used another surplus haversack as a prototype as he never had taken the opportunity to handle mine.

Incidently, the painted haversack I show here still has the liner bag and buttons intact. I'm sure it sat out the war as a "depot queen" unlike the Hupps haversack.