Haversacks were essential for soldiers and are extremely rare for collectors. This is the standard wartime federal issue pattern of tarred canvas with a fixed shoulder strap and a flap secured by a long leather billet and small roller buckle. The strap, as is correct, is folded tarred canvas as well and is firmly attached to the rear corners by stitching. The buckle is in place on the front of the bag, still firmly attached to a short billet with standing loop, sewn and not riveted. The fastening billet with holes for the tongue of the buckle is also firmly attached, secured by stitching alone, no rivet, to the lower edge of the flap. Not only are these straps complete and in place, which are usually torn or missing, the three tin buttons are still in place inside that once held a removable liner, which often met its fate at the hands of soldiers needing a cleaning rag or material for a small drawstring bag for coffee, sugar, tobacco, or some other essential.

This haversack is in very good condition, with a nice surface showing none of the usual cracking or tears that most have. The bag shows just one small narrow, three-inch long line on bottom rear of the flap, along its crease running between the shoulder straps, that has a bit of shininess to it indicating a collector may have applied a line of thin transparent glue close a slit.

Even though every soldier was issued one of these, and most probably went through several during his service, it is hard to overstate how rare they are in any condition. Most suffered careless treatment during the war and even if they survived a messy combination of greasy pork, spilled coffee and other rations, and mess utensils poking through them, they were so useful later in civilian life as general purpose bags, satchels, and school book bags that even fewer survive. Even when surplus dealers like Bannerman had literal rooms full of knapsacks squashed flat in tall piles, haversacks were hard to find.

Weapons and ammunition were necessary in battle, but for day-to-day survival on the march and in the field, soldiers relied much more on his canteen and haversack. Veteran soldiers constantly advised new recruits to be on the lookout for food, and were themselves on the lookout for haversacks unwisely discarded on a march by an over-burdened novice. This is a necessary accouterment to fill out any collection of Civil War military gear and a great example that would be hard to upgrade. [sr][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!