MASSACHUSETTS HAVERSACK

$495.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2024-1382

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These smaller white canvas haversacks fastening with two bone buttons usually show up marked with an ink stamp as “inspected and accepted” by Massachusetts. This one was most likely so marked as well, with the stamp simply lightly done, faded or worn off from use, but it does show a nice large, slightly light, regimental ink marking on the back “5 / A /25” indicating issue in Company A of a 5th Regiment, with the 25 as the soldier’s “rack number.”

This last number is repeated twice on the internal, removable liner, indicating the bag and liner belong together, and they match well in color and condition. The bag shows wear and use, but is complete. The fabric is solid, with no holes or tears, and shoulder strap is secure and has no fraying. Both bag and liner are an off-white, cream color overall with some small stains. Both buttons are present that fasten the flap of the bag, as are the two inside that secure the liner. The buttonholes on the flap are good, but show stretching from use and the binding of the one on the right shows fraying. The buttonholes of the liner are better. The liner is very good also, not as discolored as the external bag and not buttoned in place, but clearly marked twice with the same “25” rack number.

This pattern has been the subject of some study in recent years, but there seems to be no  conclusive documentation that dates them firmly, at least any that has been published, so we refer it broadly as simply a Massachusetts pattern. We have seen them attributed to Massachusetts militia, national guard, cadets, some assertions about an 1861 contract and some with soldiers’ stencils that looked just fine and others that gave us pause. There is room for a lot more research on these.  [sr][ph:L]

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