Of
Battlefields Muster
Rolls Living
History Leathers Haversack
and Canteen Knapsack
and Blanket Gum
Blanket Shelter
Half STUFF.
Original
Unit
History
of the
96th Pa.
& Bitter Feuds
Field
& Staff
Officers
Regimental
Band
Co.
A
Co.
B
Co.
C
Co.
D
Co.
E
Co.
F
Co.
G
Co.
H
Co.
I
Co.
K
Regimental
Losses
Organization
Who
are We?

These
are the leather accouterments that go with the .58
caliber Enfield. The cartridge box on the left,
with a shoulder strap and a brass eagle
breastplate, holds forty rounds of .58 caliber
cartridges and is worn on the right side. The US
brass box plate on it adds weight to the flap. The
waist belt has a common US oval belt plate, and
supports the cap pouch and bayonet scabbard. The
cap box, worn on the right side, holds very small
metal caps containing fulminated mercury which
provide a spark when struck, much like a cap gun.
The bayonet scabbard acts as a sheath for the
triangular bayonet and is worn on the
left.

The
U.S. issue haversack shown is a canvas bag painted
with a black water-repellent tar. Rations, as well
as cooking and eating utensils, were kept inside
the haversack. The canteen is the U.S. model 1862
bullseye canteen, which has corrugated sides for
strength. The haversack and canteen are worn on the
left.

This
double bag knapsack is painted with the same oil
based black tar as the haversack. Things such as
the gum blanket, shelter half, extra clothing, and
personal items were carried in this pack. It was
common for regimental designation to be painted on
the outside of the pack. U.S. blankets varied from
grays to browns, like the one strapped to the top
of this pack.

Probably
the best piece of equipment ever invented is the
gum blanket. It is made of a piece of material
backed by a thin coating of rubber. This useful
piece can be used as a ground cloth, poncho, tent
flap, insulating blanket, and as a tarp to
transport straw and wood.

Each
man carries with him one half of a tent, so when
the troops make camp, two men pair up, button their
tents together, and then share the tent. It is made
of a light weight canvas material.

Here
are some cooking and eating utensils, as well as
personal items, that a soldier might carry with him
to make his time away from home all that more
comfortable.
