Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

[Civilian_Soldier]

Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

Pards,
I have been reenacting for little more than a year now and am seeking to further my campaign impression. What is your take on a packed knapsack with a rolled bedroll over that? Pictures would be greatly welcome.

Thanks

[AZReenactor]

Well crafted questions are as useful as well crafted answers...

Luke,
First I pulled this thread from over in the authenticity forum since it is probably about as basic and unresearched as a query can get.

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking for here.

I suggest you check out this how to wear a knapsack discussion.

You may also want to check out the knapsack articles in the AC research articles section on Uniforms & Gear.

Then once you've done a little homework comeback here and clarify exactly what information you are looking for.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

Why would a soldier, who had to march sometimes 20 or more miles a day, carry both a knapsack and a blanket roll? Even in cold weather, only one of them is necessary. Heck, at Rich Mountain 2006 about 120 of 180 total Federal participants came to the startling realization that they COULD survive for most of an event without either a blanket roll or a knspack... like real soldiers often had to do.

[ContinentalMorganGuard]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

I'm not trying to stir things up, but I guess the question I have is where did and why do some reenactors carry both the blanket rool and knapsack? I've not seen much documentation to do this and I don't, but I did remember that the picture of the three Confederate prisoners at Gettysburg, the guy in the middle wears both what appears to be a Federal double bag and a sizeable bed roll. I could be wrong but the image seems pretty clear. Does anyone have any clue as to why he is dressed in said manner. I know that elsewhere on the forum we discussed this picture, and we noted all the apparently "new" Federal gear they were wearing. My disclaimer is this I submit this photo as evidence that it happened at least once, but I am NOT suggesting everyone go out and do this based on one photo.

[Secesh]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

John Jackman of the Ninth Kentucky Infantry, CS, states in his diary / memoirs that he carried blanket, overcoat, and knapsack throughout the War, as did Marion Hill Fitzpatrick from Georgia ( "Letters to Amanda" ). I think it would boil down to a matter of preference, both then and now. Thanks.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

I tried to find a bigger version of this pic, but no luck.

check out the soldier on the right. Looks like he could be wearing an I&C pack, but there is certainly a blanket roll over the top of it.


I don't think this is the only AC Redwood sketch showing this practice.

[J_V]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

Reply to Mr. Ambrose:

Echoes of Glory offers a plausible explanation to the three Confederates wearing knapsacks and blanket rolls upon their capture, and the key word is capture.

Per EOG "...probably in preparation for a long captivity..."

So that is at least one possible reason - though not an entirely conclusive one - for those fellas wearing both.

Context is everything.

Regards,

Jonathan Vaughan

[BrianHicks]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

No doubt, the carrying of both a Blanket Roll and a Knapsack occurred. (reference the above posted images) but how prevalent was this?

Soldiers were issued one blanket per man, as well as a knapsack. For most, the blanket went into the knapsack, as it was designed for. Others may have acquired a second blanket, or simply had other items in the knapsack, and wore their blanket as a roll along with the knapsack.

How many out there have carried both a blanket roll, and a knapsack?
How comfortable was this?
And for how many miles for how many consecutive days?

I have tried it... once, and found it very uncomfortable. I have also carried a knapsack, with a blanket inside, and a second blanket rolled and tied to teh bottom of the knapsack (LBL , March 2003) for a two day distance of 19+ miles and found it tolerable. But I dare say, that a blanket worn as a Roll, and the knapsack on top of that roll, would not have been intolerable for me, for that same distance.

Some folks can tolerate what others may deem intolerable. And what you can endure for a three day period with just a few miles, may not be the same if you had to cover 20+ miles per day with the same load configuration.

Now... let's think this through down another line of questioning.

Why would a soldier, who has a knapsack, not place his blanket in the knapsack, or roll it and tie it to the top (or bottom) of said knapsack?

-Perhaps it is winter, and he has a second blanket already in the knapsack?

-Perhaps he has numerous other personal items in the knapsack, and there is no room left for the blanket?

-Perhaps he has a kibbler, or MexWar style knapsack, and after placing a ground cloth, a shirt, socks, rations, etc. in the knapsack, that heavy blanket just wont fit into the knapsack.

-Perhaps the soldier hates packing his blanket into his knapsack each morning, but prefers to keep it simply as a roll, and therefore he can use the blanket more easily each night, and be ready to move quicker each morning..

-Perhaps he gets chilled easily, and has dropped knapsack previously, only to find that the knapsack never made it up the Mtn. to them, and if he had only had a blanket roll across his shoulders, he would have avoided the chills after he was separated from his knapsack.

For me... it's a matter of what was most common. Although there is evidence that this type of wearing of Blanket roll and Knapsack occurred, it is mentioned rarely, and seen rarely in photos and sketches when compared to the wearing of one or the other (but not wearing both).

[Joe Walker]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

I have seen at least one other Redwood with a sketch of a Reb "headed to the rear" with his pack and his horse collar bed roll. Hanging from this pack or bedroll is his coffie boiler. I will stick my neck out and tell you that I think...........the knapsack wansn't meant for packing blankets around! It was to carry other clothing items. OK, we all have carried out bankets in the knapsacks and I have for 20 years but many times I carried my blanket around the knapsack. OK, you Yanks and Rebs carry the US double bag with the blanket sandwiched in but in lieu of the greatcoat, the top of the knapsack comes in handy- yes?. And you have seen US soldiers with just the bed roll too. So- if you got stuff, too much you don't want to roll it up in the bedroll/gum blanket, you got your good old knapsack (a suitcase no doubt). I have a repo French knapsack (ala Thomas Taylor with the side/top straps (see also dead La boys along the fence at Sharpsburg) that really is handy. OK, put the blanket on top, around, or over your head. I will stand by and let the comments roll in.

Joe Walker

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

Anyone ever try stuffing a properly reproduced 5# Fed blanket (one that actually weighs 5#, made to the proper dimensions) into a properly reproduced (e.g. correct dimensions) Fed knapsack? ...and acutally buckle it into the lower bag, not stuff it between the bags! How much fun was that?

Now, try adding in all the stuff many reenactor articles say you should pack in a knapsack: extra shirt, socks, drawers, huck towell, housewife, writing kit... &c. Good luck!

This article references rations going in, as well!

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8551

My first post may have been a misinterpretation of the original question. However, I think Mr. Walker might be on to something here. Packing a knapsack for 36 hours (typical weekend event) is one thing. But packing it cuz you live out of it would appear to be something quite different (I wish I'd have gone to BGR!!).

So, to tie this back with the Redwood sketch, those fellows were crossing the Potomac and could've had all manner of goodies in those knapsacks that could have easily displaced their blankets. Just a thought.

I've pondered trying this at an event just to see what its like and if it helps me manage my load any better. In packing a knapsack with a blanket inside, I find myself getting it folded "just so" in order to close the pack and have it fit comfortably. Maybe this is the wrong approach?

...and to extend the caution on context and referencing photos and sketches: Don't use that sketch as an excuse to go to your next event without your trousers! :wink_smil

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Re: Going Campaign - Knapsacks

Anyone ever try stuffing a properly reproduced 5# Fed blanket (one that actually weighs 5#, made to the proper dimensions) into a properly reproduced (e.g. correct dimensions) Fed knapsack? ...and acutally buckle it into the lower bag, not stuff it between the bags! How much fun was that?

My repro blanket is a 4+ pound Wisconsin Veterans' Museum blanket (later 1990s) highly accurate to the original from which it was produced. My knapsack is a fairly good reproduction based on the originals I've seen and handled. I've never had much of a problem packing my knapsack with things like,

* Blanket, inside
* Gun blanket, inside.
* Shelter half, inside.
* Extra shirt.
* Extra socks.
* Small canvas bag of "stuff" including sewing kit.
* Small journal book, and some extra papers and pencils.
* Overcoat strapped on top.

Yes, that's a bit of a bulky knapsack, but it packs and I've carried just that load on quite a few marches.

The only repro blanket I'm aware of that weighs a full 5 pounds is County Cloth's blanket. I suspect a number of originals didn't weigh quite 5 pounds, either.

[DougCooper]

Re: Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

The key to federal knapsack blankie stuffing, even a Childs 5 lb, is to fold it like an accordian, not folding it over on itself multiple times. This way it preserves the length and width and simply adds to the height, and is easier to flatten as well.

As for wearing both a blanket roll and knapsack, and documentation - who cares? The soldiers did whatever worked born of experience. The small size of a I & C knapsack makes it tough to fit a full size blanket inside. At BGR (23 miles up and down hills) many of us with Brit knapsacks did just that and it worked great. Taking the blanket out of the knapsack and making a roll of it is very light, and makes nary an impression on one's shoulders. Stuffing it inside a small CS knapsack puts more stress on the shoulder straps and more stress on you. Everything else, including skillet or coffee pot, etc, went inside the knapsack. Life was good - I felt like I could carry it for hundreds of miles in that fashion, as indeed many of them did.

In order of dressing:

Accouterments
Haversack
Knapsack
Blanket roll - over left shoulder
Canteen - over right shoulder resting on roll

See photos - first is day 4, second is at the end, day 5

[tmdreb]

Re: Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

Why wear both a knapsack and a blanket roll? Because it's more comfortable? Because it can make better sense to wear your gear that way? Because your blanket's too big / knapsack's too small / etc....

I'm lucky enough to own one of the FHW double woven civilian blankets. I believe when I bought it they were advertised as being 6.5 lbs. Whatever it truly weighs, the only way it will fit in my Mexican War style knapsack is by making it so thick as to set my center of gravity much farther up and to the rear than is practical. Plus, it's impossible to maintain a proper interval with the man behind me.

Before I had the aforementioned knapsack, I borrowed one based on the Pritchard example. There's really no place to fit a decent blanket in one of those. This is not the only knapsack of the 19th Century that cannot contain a blanket inside of it.

Theoretical generalizations aside, there are quite a few good reasons to carry both a knapsack and a blanket roll. Also, from the illustrations posted previously, we know it was done. Why knock a documented and sensible practice?

[Longbranch 1]

Re: Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

Not to initiate anything other than rational discourse on subjects mentioned in this thread;

To J.V . and respondents: As per the image of captured Rebs referenced to EOG. Blanket rolls and Knapsacks,
The inference being that having both was in preparation for a long imprisonment .
And that either or both the knapsack / Blanket roll were obtained after capture in anticipation of that imprisonment.

From whom were they obtained? And how?

My ultimate questionwould probably be this: ( Excluding Officers)

(1 When would a Prisoner, even under force of arms, be allowed to appropriate
sustenance from a battlefield?

Just a thought,

Kevin Ellis

[Rob Weaver]

Re: Knapsacks & Blanket Rolls Redeux

A consideration for sketches, prints and paintings that's worth remembering. Although the artist might very well be accurately portraying something he saw, he may be incorporating a model, or something he particularly liked in his work. John Trumbull, American Revolutionary War painter, liked dragoon uniforms, and painted them accurately. But he also painted the same dragoon helmet repeatedly. It may have been a model he possessed or he simply liked. James Walker liked red blankets and incorporated them so often that they're signatures. He also liked tucker rolls, and accurately depicts how soldiers wear their equipment. AC Redwood also has a distinctive look about his soldiers. Artwork is a little different from photography, in this respect.