In very good condition, this identified Civil War artifact is an original, twill-canvas cloth haversack typical of the accoutrements carried by soldiers, both Confederate and Federal, while they were in the field.  This haversack was carried by a young South Carolina soldier named Isaac Meek Hope of the 17^th South Carolina Infantry during the war.  Isaac Hope, a farmer from York, SC, enlisted in Company F, 17^th South Carolina Infantry as a private on Nov 27, 1861 at Columbia, SC. He subsequently served with the unit in various operations until he was severely wounded at Jackson, Mississippi in the Vicksburg operation where he was left on the battlefield until July 14, 1863.   Hope was absent from duty until January 1, 1864 when he rejoined his company.  Once in service again, Hope became sick and was admitted to the Florence Hospital on April 18, 1864 and remained there until he died on May 6, 1864.

Hope’s large, identified haversack is constructed of a one-piece section of heavy twill/ canvas cloth material with a body that measures 13½” wide x 11½” high and a flap cover 13½” x 5”.  Haversack measures 16” when fully opened. Main haversack body has a single, ¾” diameter, civilian gutta-percha button with a thin-lined face sewn 3” down from the lip and centered on the exterior surface.   Flap or lid has a corresponding crudely cutout button hole. The soldier’s ID is visible on the exterior’s upper surface with his name “ISAAC HOPE” stenciled in an arc pattern with ¾” high block letters in black ink.   Ink has faded to a reddish-brown color.  The unlined haversack is in good condition but it does suffer from scattered tears, rips, nips, holes and shows a period repair to a large hole at the base of the sack.  Similar cloth material was used as the patch with crude hand-done stitching for the repair.

Over the shoulder sling is a period length of what appears to be bed ticking that has been rolled into a thick string with its ends sewn and tied to the haversack’s upper edge corners. No rivets or leather used.  Exterior pouch surfaces exhibits no decoration but is heavily spotted with surface grime and dark staining on both sides and cover flap / lid. Missing is the haversack’s leather shoulder sling.  Haversack specimen displays side edge stitching that is frayed, loose and missing in few areas. The artifact comes with the soldier’s military records from the National Archives in Washington, DC.

This Confederate-identified wartime haversack, in good honest overall condition, is a used veteran from the Civil War, and would make an ideal addition to any rebel soldier’s personal display.