Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

[Yellowhammer]

Re: Blanket Roll

Sean,

I would refer you to Curt Schmidt's series of articles on research. I suspect you will find that enlightening.

Not every question about material culture can be answered by "Echoes of Glory" and the AC Forum. No matter how "crudy" your library is, they will still have interlibrary loan. Through this service, you can borrow almost any book you want. The library is free and researching on the Internet is free. All it takes is time and a desire to learn.

Yes, this forum is a place to share information but it is not the place to come to be spoonfed information. Doing the research yourself is the most important part! If you only do "call and response" research, you will NEVER get a complete picture of anything.

By reading books, whether they are bios, regimental histories, or general histories, you will get a much more complete understanding of this period and you will fill your mind with all sorts of information. For example, you may read "Rebel Private Front and Rear" because you are interested in the 5th Texas for an event or specific impression. Later, perhaps years later, someone may ask about ANV troops at Chickamauga or CS use of knapsacks and you will be able to remember that William Fletcher picked up a Federal knapsack and Chickamauga and slung it over the knaps he already had on. Often, a fact that seems trivial now may be critical later on.

Long story short, if you go looking for a widget, you will only ever find widgets. If you cast your net wider and read and research in a general way, you will have a broader understanding and will be logging away facts for future reference.

[DougCooper]

Re: Blanket Roll

I have experimented with making a short roll of your blanket and then attaching that under the knapsack (tied off through the knapsack straps). It sets against the small of your back and provides a bit of support, plus it does not appear to pull one backward as they tend to do ontop. I then put the gum blanket rolled on top for easy access. Never seen a photo of this and it may be that it would interfere with the cartridge box but we pull those around front/side when firing anyway. The whole load bearing ergonomic science appears to have been not quite mature in the CW, Short's patent knapsack notwithstanding.

I suspect the reason you see blanket rolls and knapsacks together is simple.

1. Need to get to the blanket quickly, without removing/unpacking knapsack
2. Blanket won't fit and of all the things in there, it is easiest to carry outside
3. When the order comes for "drop packs" it usually means you are about to go into combat or something requiring the double quick...and you may never see the knapsack again...so you want to at least save the blanket/gum blanket.
4. No overcoat straps

just some ideas

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Blanket Roll

Here is a portion of a painting showing the original usage of the "Mexican War" Knapsack. Note how the blanket is rolled on top.




James Walker, LSM, For educational usage only, all rights reserved.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Blanket Roll

Here is the painting Colonel Schwieterman refered to

Ryan,

Thanks for posting that painting.

Sincerely,

Colonel A.T. Schwieterman

[shortstreet]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

I don't really have a preference either way although I voted for blanket roll. In my case, I'll see what other guys in my company are wearing, and try to balance out the look of our unit. If there's a majority of knapsacks, I'll go with the blanket roll and likewise.

Joel Busenitz

[KentuckyReb]

Re: blanket roll

Hoo, Jaysus! Stompin' around in a railway bed in your bare feet. Boy's tough enough he don't need a musket.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: knapsack vs. blanket roll

"In my case, I'll see what other guys in my company are wearing, and try to balance out the look of our unit. If ther's a majority of knapsacks, I'll go with the blanket roll and likewise."

Joel,

Some photographic evidence exists of soldiers wearing the same exact gear as the rest of the unit, including knapsacks and bedrolls. You don't always have to be different all the time. This is something that's under represented in our hobby today.

So, depending on the SCENARIO, I would say it's OK to mirror your buddy next to you in line, every once and a while.

If it were me, I would go with what the majority is wearing instead of your theory.

[theknapsack]

Re: Blanket Roll

Thank you everyone for the photos, sketches, and paintings! That helps me quite a bit. Do you know what side the sketches are attributed to? It looks to me as though all are Confederate soldiers. Is there any photos for Federal usage? Or do you think it would just make sense that both sides would have done this?
Any input would be great.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Blanket Roll

Do you know what side the sketches are attributed to? .

All the posted images drawings and paintings have been of CS or prewar troops.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

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.

Sean

I went so far as getting permission from a museum in Louisiana to use an image from there collection to help ansewer your post. There libraries in SoCal that house some of the finest collections of primary souce letters diaries and unpublished memoirs west of the Mississippi. Even small town libraries have a fairly good body of the basic CIvil War books. Dont be afraid to do a little legwork for yourself.

[hardtack1864]

Re: Blanket Roll

Yes, I'm sorry and I know the error of what I said now.

[bonniegreenflag]

Richmond Depot Ground Sheets

Did the groundcloths issued by the RD have grommets? All I could find was that civilian ones dont.

[pvtbordonaro]

Making a horsecollar blanket roll

Friends,
At the time of the Civil War, horse collar blanket rolls were used by many soldiers, but no formal instruction was given by the Army. But, by the time of the Spanish-American War, about 30 years later, the Army did officially approve of the blanket roll and taught its recruits how to make one. This description is from a book called "The Little War of Private Post", by Charles Johnson Post, page 60. I thought it might be of interest to y'all, especially the part about leaving the middle of the blanket roll loose:
"In the business of making a blanket roll, you lay the blanket on the ground, put into it your tent pegs and your half of the two tent poles- for each man carries but one-half the tent-and then arrange your towel, socks, shirt, and extra underwear and roll up the blanket. Then, turning your attention to your half of the tent, fold it lengthwise. This you lay on top of the blanket roll, fasten it at the ends and the middle, much as if reefing a sail, then bend it until it takes its horse-collar shape, fasten the two ends- and there you are, ready to stick your head through and sling it. It is excellent. But- and this we learned on our first march to the transport-the blanket roll must be made sloppy, not neat. A hard, neat horse collar will bear into the shoulder like a steel bar; so roll it loose and floppy for the part that lies over the shoulder and with no baggage inside the center section- just at the two ends. It looks like a clumsy, amateur sausage lying out straight but it is soft on the shoulder.
-Joe Bordonaro

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Making a horsecollar blanket roll

"It looks like a clumsy, amateur sausage lying out straight but it is soft on the shoulder."

Indeed many Span Am reg'ts didn't have proper knapsacks so the blanket roll was the only mode of carriage for gear. (Capron's Batt'y, 71st NY, 9th US Infantry, etc.) Therefore, there would be a bit more 'regulation' to there usage...


9th US Infantry at Montauk Point, NY
from www.spanamwar.com

These later rolls also tie off VEEERY low toward the end...

I have yet to see a sketch, drawing, painting, or photo of the CW period when supports this "horseshoe" style of blanket roll... they are seen most in SpanAm photos/references as you mentioned.

The CW sketches of Allen C. Redwood (55th VA veteran) show a "twisted" blanket roll (my fav), a much different looking style of blanket roll than a 'horse shoe':

See this thread & attached pics, then compare rolls:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2584

also compare w/ this Winslow Homer sketch:


Infantry Column on the March
From: The Smithsonian Inst.

http://www.civilwar.si.edu

Drawing: Graphite on tracing paper, 1862
10 1/4 x 23 ½ ins. (260 x 597 mm)
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Gift of Charles Savage Homer, Jr.
1912-12-204 A

There are obvious differences between CW rolls and those of the 1898 / 1917 period...

[DougCooper]

Re: Making a horsecollar blanket roll

Mark Timms did an interesting variation on tieing off the roll at Mansfield. He used a length of twine that was knotted around each end of the roll with about 5 inches of twine in between the ends. All items were secure and it was easier to twist the roll and maintain it as the ends rotated on their own. The extra space kept it away from the cartridge box and allowed some air underneath - more comfy on the long marches.