carpet bag knapsacks

[myster]

Just curious if anyone has ever attempted to rig on of these up. Did you use rope or trashed straps from accoutrements? Also, how well did the freaky little thing ride? I can only assume that this is an early war phenomenon before more complex manufacturing centers arose. My curiosity arose last winter when I read Cadet Grey and Butternut Brown in reference to the Ft. Donaldson sketch of Confederate POWs. Or maybe this could have been a civilian practice before the war? Please forgive my ignorance in this latter question, for I am comparatively less than intelligent with most things concerning common folk during this period. Good evening,
Sean Harla