This
is the equipment that an average soldier in
the Army of the Potomac would have carried
during mid to late war.
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Download
the
Uniform
and Equipment
List
and
the
Vendor
List.
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Leathers
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.
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Haversack
and Canteen
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.
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Knapsack
and Blanket
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.
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Gum
Blanket
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.
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Shelter
Half
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.
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STUFF.
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.
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