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SCARCE U.S. REGULATION ISSUE CIVIL WAR HAVERSACK

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This is in good condition, with the shoulder strap full length, with no tears or holes, still firmly attached by sewing to the upper rear corners of the bag, showing just a little raggedness to the edge of one of those corners. The top fold of the bag shows some separation lines from the hardening of the tarred canvas but little if any missing fabric. The body of the bag is in good shape, with no holes, but dirt and stains on the back and some wrinkles and folds on the front. The tin buttons for securing a liner are still in place on the inside, showing some rust. The long billet with adjusting holes is in place and full length, showing some brown color from finish loss from flexing. The small, blackened buckle with standing loop is also intact and in place. The interior shows some dirt, rust and grease stains. This is untouched, with no repairs or patches.

Haversacks were used for carrying food, mess utensils, and personal items. Along with the canteen were certainly used a lot more used by a soldier than his weapons, and likely regarded as more essential. This is the standard issue wartime federal pattern made of painted, or “tarred,” canvas, with a fixed shoulder strap of the same material and a flap secured by a long leather billet and small buckle. The shoulder strap, as is correct, is made in one piece, folded lengthwise, attached by stitching to the upper rear corners of the bag.

This pattern was developed about 1858 and replaced not only the uncoated cloth haversacks of the Mexican War, but various trial pieces coated with India Rubber or gutta percha. They were so successful, useful and produced in such quantity during the war, that the army did not have to think about changing the pattern and making new ones until 1872. But, even though every soldier was issued one of these, and most probably went through several, they are uncommon in any condition. They were carelessly treated 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 that few survive. Even when surplus dealers like Bannerman had literal rooms full of knapsacks in tall piles, haversacks were hard to find.

During the war veterans 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 would look great in a display of Civil War messgear, canteens, and personal items. It is a simple and rather unsophisticated piece, but one absolutely necessary in any collection or display of Civil War military gear.   [sr][ph:L]

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