Original Civil War Gear

[Kyle422]

This thread is for posting original pictures of civil war gear, the open discussion of how it was properly used and or made.





- Kyle

[thomas aagaard]

The danish arsenal museum (Tøjhusmuseet) in Copenhagen got a unique collection of US military gear from 1858.
That year the danish and US armies did an exchange of one complete set of infantry gear and one set of cavalry gear. (no weapons)

The danish items have been lost... but the US items are now part of the permanent exhibition in Copenhagen.
(the "raincoat" is missing since the rubber didn't age well and fell apart when they took the items out of storage)


The collection is unique since we are talking items from 1858 and they where a set of standard items that the quartermaster had in stock and they just packed one complete set of items.
(the items owned by Smithsonian was received one at a time when each new item entered service.)

There are a few differences to gear from the civil war.
The trousers are plated, the canteen got a leather sling and there is type of "hat" for the infantry that is not the usual forage cap. (+ a Hardee)

A few years ago I took some pictures of the items. they can be found here:
http://musket.dk/acw/us-uniformer-paa-toejhuset/

Just one picture of the plated trousers.
8009

[TrustyJam]

The danish arsenal museum (Tøjhusmuseet) in Copenhagen got a unique collection of US military gear from 1858.
That year the danish and US armies did an exchange of one complete set of infantry gear and one set of cavalry gear. (no weapons)

The danish items have been lost... but the US items are now part of the permanent exhibition in Copenhagen.
(the "raincoat" is missing since the rubber didn't age well and fell apart when they took the items out of storage)


The collection is unique since we are talking items from 1858 and they where a set of standard items that the quartermaster had in stock and they just packed one complete set of items.
(the items owned by Smithsonian was received one at a time when each new item entered service.)

There are a few differences to gear from the civil war.
The trousers are plated, the canteen got a leather sling and there is type of "hat" for the infantry that is not the usual forage cap. (+ a Hardee)

A few years ago I took some pictures of the items. they can be found here:
http://musket.dk/acw/us-uniformer-paa-toejhuset/

It's a great collection indeed. If anyone is in the general vicinity, Tøjhusmuseet is certainly worth a visit. Upper floor is all about the small arms and uniforms while the basement is focusing on artillery throughout the ages.

- Trusty

[thomas aagaard]

And their "Afghanistan" exhibition is also worth a look. (/even if it is mordern warfare) Giuve e good idea about the conditions for ISAF soldiers.

[MajesticBiscuit]

Nice! I can't wait to get my gear and start reenacting. It is an expensive hobby.

[Dutchconfederate]

https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/filestore/9/4/2_14e590a245e2812/942scr_479b56bc8c20b8c.jpg

Richmond Howitzers Knapsack
White stenciled lettering on the leather flap of this Civil War–era knapsack identifies the owner as being a member of the Richmond Howitzers. The knapsack belonged to John Henry "Jack" Vest, a farmer from Louisa County, who enlisted as a private in Company H of the 1st Virginia Volunteer Regiment on April 21, 1861—four days after Virginia seceded from the Union, and the day that Colonel John B. Baldwin, of Staunton, the state's inspector general of volunteers, mustered the unit into state service. When the Richmond Howitzers were expanded into a separate battalion just weeks later and divided into three companies, Vest was assigned to the 2nd Company. By February 1863 he had risen to the rank of sergeant, but he died the following October of typhoid fever. Vest had brought to camp with him a slave named Aleck Kean, who served as his body servant and as a cook in the company mess. Kean remained with the Howitzers after his master's death and until the end of the war.

The back of this knapsack is made of painted black canvas atop a pine frame. Though the leather straps are dry and broken and the steel buckles are rusted, the lettering on the front of the knapsack remains vivid. The official uniform of the Howitzers, which had to be purchased by every member of the unit, included a gray frock coat and trousers with black and red trim, and a gray fatigue cap trimmed in red. Other accoutrements included white trousers for summer dress uniform, white gloves, an overcoat, and a knapsack