Tweet
Re: Improving Artillery Uniforms
"Detailed Minutiae Of Soldier Life In The Army Of Northern Virginia (Part 1)
BY CARLTON McCARTHY,
Private of Second company Richmond Howitzers, Cutshaw's Battalion. "
I think it has been well proven that the generalities McCarthy makes are not proven out by the vast majority of the evidence, both written and photo. He joined the army in 1864 and yet waxes philosophic on many things he could only have heard from others or embellished on his own...and somehow became an expert on all things infantry. Some of it is hyperbole, but much of it just plain wrong.
The knapsack vanished early in the struggle. It was found that it was inconvenient to "change" the underwear too often, ...Certainly it did not pay to carry around clean clothes while waiting for the time to use them.
The haversack held its own to the last, and was found practical and useful. It very seldom, however, contained rations, but was used to carry all the articles generally carried in the knapsack; of course the stock was small. Somehow or other, many men managed to do without the haversack, and carried absolutely nothing but what they wore and had in their pockets. The infantry threw away their heavy cap boxes and cartridge boxes, and carried their caps and cartridges in their pockets. Canteens were very useful at times, but they were as a general thing discarded.
The enclosed photo is among hundreds that refute McCarthy's nearly naked, unencumbered big pocketed superman who needed neither clothes or equipment, nor much food nor much water, but could whip all hell.
"Detailed Minutiae Of Soldier Life In The Army Of Northern Virginia (Part 1)
BY CARLTON McCARTHY,
Private of Second company Richmond Howitzers, Cutshaw's Battalion. "
I think it has been well proven that the generalities McCarthy makes are not proven out by the vast majority of the evidence, both written and photo. He joined the army in 1864 and yet waxes philosophic on many things he could only have heard from others or embellished on his own...and somehow became an expert on all things infantry. Some of it is hyperbole, but much of it just plain wrong.
The knapsack vanished early in the struggle. It was found that it was inconvenient to "change" the underwear too often, ...Certainly it did not pay to carry around clean clothes while waiting for the time to use them.
The haversack held its own to the last, and was found practical and useful. It very seldom, however, contained rations, but was used to carry all the articles generally carried in the knapsack; of course the stock was small. Somehow or other, many men managed to do without the haversack, and carried absolutely nothing but what they wore and had in their pockets. The infantry threw away their heavy cap boxes and cartridge boxes, and carried their caps and cartridges in their pockets. Canteens were very useful at times, but they were as a general thing discarded.
The enclosed photo is among hundreds that refute McCarthy's nearly naked, unencumbered big pocketed superman who needed neither clothes or equipment, nor much food nor much water, but could whip all hell.
Comment