Where to Wear Your Haversack & Canteen?

[yohahn]

haversack seams

Hello.

I'm making a Moses Alexander haversack and have a few questions on the construction. In the picture of the original, the side seams look to be flat felled. Is this correct? And if so, then it's whip stitched on the back, right? Also, does anyone know exact dimensions of the bag and width of the strap and does the strap have a center seam?

Any info. on this haversack would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,
John Boyd

[Michael Semann]

Re: haversack seams

I posted this exact question last year, and the consensus among those who had examined the interior, or had information pertaining to the inside seams of the Alexander haversack, was that they were FRENCH felled. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, please share it with us.

[Michael Semann]

Re: haversack seams

John, check your E-mail.

[bqbowden]

Officer's Haversack

Did officer's carry a haversack that may have been different than a private's haversack which would have been used to carry reports, papers, writing material and various other items used to conduct company (or larger) business? Would they have simply carried two haversacks - one for food and one for papers?

Thanks ...

Barry Bowden

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Officer's Haversack

Many officers carried privately purchased haversacks, with divided compartments, flaps, pockets, etc. etc.

Many officers also carried enlisted bags as well.

Look in TimeLife's Echoes of Glory series to see examples of each.

Good luck,

Did officer's carry a haversack that may have been different than a private's haversack which would have been used to carry reports, papers, writing material and various other items used to conduct company (or larger) business? Would they have simply carried two haversacks - one for food and one for papers?

Thanks ...

Barry Bowden

[markj]

Re: Officer's Haversack

Hi Barry,

The short answer to all your questions is "usually, yes." Given that officers on both sides usually had to purchase their own uniforms and gear, many did acquire tooled-leather haversacks of various styles. Depending on their duties, they also used "dispatch cases." Simple logic is that they did NOT use such items to carry both papers and food items together due to the possibility of staining.

"Echoes of Glory" contains illustrated examples of various officer haversacks. Indeed, some officers (particularly Confederates) did carry enlisted-style items: The haversack shown for 1st Lt. Hamilton Branch, who served in a Georgia regiment, is one such example.

I recently examined and photographed a leather "haversack," identified to an officer of the 18th Indiana, currently in the collections of the Indiana State Museum. It is still in fairly good shape and has an "enameled" interior with an exterior pocket on the flap (like a modern "key pocket"). Close examination suggests it was more likely a "dispatch case" than something used to carry food.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Adjutant]

Re: Officer's Haversack

Barry,

Officers did in fact carry private purchase haversacks. These bags were usually made of oilcloth or leather, usually with an adjustable leather strap and run the gamut from utilitarian to very fancy. As with their uniforms, officers bought their own equipment, this accounts for the great variety among these items. Some of these haversacks have removable food sections or meat tins to prevent the mixing of documents and rations. From reading most original officer's accounts it quickly becomes clear that officers (especially field or staff) often did not carry their own rations, but depended upon their servant to come up with food for them. An example from Elisha Hunt Rhodes diary from Spottsvania, where he served as the 2nd RI's Adjutant:

"As I entered the woods I met Major George Clendennin, Asst. Adjutant on Gen. Wheaton's staff. He had his servant with him and invited me to take breakfast, which I did under fire. We had some hot bread and broiled shad which some one had caught in one of the streams. Notwithstanding the Rebel shells I enjoyed my breakfast."

And this was on the front lines! Another thing to remember is that most officers who had access to horses used them to carry their extra gear. During the '64 Shenandoah Valley campaign Rhodes relates another story. He was captain commanding of the 2nd and witnessed the following:

“A Rebel Battery enfiladed our Brigade and a shot striking the hors of Captain Kempf commanding the 5th Wisconsin Vol., then bounded down the line of his Regiment… The Captain jumped to his feet and shouted: “There goes my…..horse, my…..haversack, my…..blankets, my…..canteen” and so named over all of his traps that went off on his horse. (The blank spaces above may be supplied with adjectives.)”

These elements often make it hard for those of use who reenact in officer roles. I do not yet own a horse (or the money to rent on every event), nor have I been able to find someone willing to act as my servant! To this end some reenactors have found evidence that some officers did in fact carry two haversacks, a private purchase for food and an enlisted man’s for rations and follow this practice. Feel free to email me offline if you have any other questions on officer’s equipment. I have been spending a lot of time (as have many others on this forum) researching it in order to improve my own impression! I am…

[Iron Scout]

Re: Officer's Haversack

Sir,

Here is an example of a CS officer's haversack that was for sale on the private market a while back. This is a very common version seen in the ANV at least with the "crow's foot" straps. Even the rivets are lead. It doesn't appear to have a divider inside. Hope this helps with your question.

Regards,
Neill Rose
PLHA

[79th N.Y.S.M.]

Were to wear-Haversack & Canteen?

I wear my Haversack and Canteen above my waist. How authentic is this? To me it does not seem like they would be any lower that the waist. Can others tell me were you wear your Haversack and Canteen?

[BrianHicks]

Re: Were to wear-Haversack & Canteen?

Perhaps the better questoin would be.

What does the period evidence show as to were the actual soldiers wore their Haversack and Canteen?

There are numerous original images of soldiers, with many of them wearing their Haversacks and Canteens. If I remember correctly, in the previous incarnation of these forums, this very matter was discussed.

I'll leave it to someone else who is more knowledgeable of this than I am to recount what the photographic evidence is on how soldiers wore these items.

[KentuckyReb]

Re: Were to wear-Haversack & Canteen?

I wear my haversack, mmm... high, I guess you'd say. The bottom of it lies just a hair above the bottom of my trouser pocket. Took some cutting & re-sewing of the strap, being somewhat--ahem--vertically challenged. My canteen rides a little above the bottom of my haversack, but I didn't have to do anything to the strap on it since I wear it above my blanket roll and that kinda artificially shortens it.

[NY Pvt]

Re: Were to wear-Haversack & Canteen?

Try this:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/8577/habba.html

It can be found in the Links section of the site along with many other fine articles.

[BrianHicks]

Re: Were to wear-Haversack & Canteen?

Mr. Utter,

Thank you, that is the information to which I was referring in my previous post.

While it is nice to know what other reenactors are doing or how they are wearing their gear... I think it is far more imperitive that we concern ourselves with what the actual soldiers were doing, and how they were wearing their gear. The information provided by the link offered by Mr. Utter goes a long way in helping us to understand how the soldiers in the 1860's actually wore their gear.

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Were to wear-Haversack & Canteen?

The longest strap that I ever measured on an original was 44 inches. If a haversack is made from original specs then it don't ride very low. I wear the canteen around the same level simply because that is where it rides comfortably. Now I think I will go look through all my books and do another photo study.

[PrettyBoyDonovan]

Re: Were to wear-Haversack & Canteen?

I seem like a wierdo. I actually prefer to wear my gear down at my waist. I hurt my ribs a few years back, and found it more comfortable to wear them at the waist.