Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

[OhioYankee85]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

I myself have always preferred using my knapsack, I find it much easier to pack, and a lot more organized

John, please sign all of your posts with your full name - Mike Chapman

[Michael Comer]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

I like my knapsack, especially in foul weather. I also like a blanket roll in winter time. It gives a little more warmth to part of my torso and it seems to have a psychological effect on me, making me feel like I'm warmer.

I was looking at that famous picture of Confederates in the streets of Frederick, MD prior to Sharpsburg specifically regarding this question. I can spot a few knapsacks but it seems the overwhelming majority of men are sporting the fashionable blanket roll. Of course, we can't apply that to all Confederates everywhere at every point of the war, but if you are doing ANV in 1862 you might want to have a few extra blanket rolls being carried in your unit.

[pops]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

Sometimes I like wearing both.

Just ran across an 1865 sketch by Alfred Waud,made on the outskirts of Richmond. this sketch shows seven confederates taking the oath of allegiance to the United States.Of the seven four do not show to have either blanket roll or knapsack,one shows a blanket roll and two show both a knapsack and blanket roll.

[BishopLynch]

Blanket Roll

Pards,
I had a question about using a blanket roll and a knapsack together. I have a smaller pritchard pack and after putting in the blanket, nothing else really fits inside of it. Would it be ok to use the small knapsack for extra shirt, etc. that is supposed to be in it, and then have my blanket and oilcloth in a roll? The picture of the 3 confederate prisoners at Gettysburg shows this, but would they have just done this because they were going to be going off to a prison camp and were bringing all they could?

[DougCooper]

Re: Blanket Roll

Greg - good question...I see no difference between a roll and a blanket tied on top or underneath a knapsack. This is one of those comfort questions - since we need this stuff, it behooves us to figure out the best way to carry it over a long distance.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Blanket Roll

Greg,

I've seen photo evidence of this practice being done as well.

I wear a bed roll and knapsack together quite often depending on the event scenario. Most of the time it's in colder weather though.

[theknapsack]

Re: Blanket Roll

Aaron, is there any way you can post these photos, or tell me maybe where I can find them? I'm interested in this but I have not seen any evidence so I am kind of reluctant to do it.
I'm trying to think of a sketch I had seen, I could swear that it had one man like that, but now I really can't remeber.

Thanks,

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Blanket Roll

Riley,

I don't have huge amounts of evidence on hand right now, but I do know of two. One is an image, and the other is a painting

As stated above, the 3 Confederate prisoner image. And Richard Norris Brooke's 1872 Painting "Furling the Flag." It shows a soldier with a knapsack and a red bed roll. I found this painting in Leslie Jensen's "Johnny Reb" book. I'll try to find more later.

I also don't have a scanner to post these pictures. :cry_smile

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Blanket Roll

To Mr. Cooper,
Could you elaborate more on tying things underneth the packs? I hadn't heard of this before. Thanks.

[BishopLynch]

Re: Blanket Roll

Here is the photo of the three prisoners.

[CJSchumacher]

Re: Blanket Roll

There is a great painting in the book "Civil War Art" (huge hardback volume) toward the end of a black soldier returning from the front. He's pretty ragged, but if you look at the picture he is wearing a federal double bag and has an overcoat tied around him, blanket roll style. Its rolled inside-out and lengthwise I suppose as you can clearly see the light blue kersey and bright red flannel or jean lining.

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Blanket Roll

Here is the photo of the three prisoners.

Well, there you have it... there is plenty of documentation that men wore blankets and knapsacks together at times...you carried this stuff however you could... READ diaries, regimental histories and look at sketches, photos to gather this info...don't rely on this forum...

Here is the painting Colonel Schwieterman refered to:



And since I am in a nice mood this morning...

Here are a few images from author/artist/veteran Allen C. Redwood's
With Stonewall Jackson;
"A Tarheel", "Passing the Rubicon", and lastly "A Back Slider"

Clearly the sketches show men w/ knapsacks & blanket rolls on campaign... and in case you don't know Redwood served w/ 55th Virginia Inf. Co. C, his sketches are proof positive on how men dealt w/ their carriage...

[hardtack1864]

Re: Blanket Roll

Well, don't forget that some people may have a lot of books and such, but there might be a few drawings/photos/journals out there they don't have in their books or with the way libarys are today "I have crudy libarys where I have lived and still live" that info might not be there. Also this is a place to share info, not a place to complain about someone not looking up the info themselves. Just my two cents.

[fidlr1]

Re: Blanket Roll

Check out the "Backslider"--is that a big ol' boiler tied to his canteen?

[GACornbread]

Re: blanket roll

This is an interesting close-up. I agree he is using twine or rope. Did anyone else notice where he is wearing his haversack and canteen? ...way down below his belt. Plus, he has no shoes and his pants are rolled up and it looks like the trousers are unlined. Great photo!

Houston White