properly packed and turned over to the Quartermaster Department for transportation to Watervliet Arsenal.
There are two accepted variations of the Regulation Federal Civil War-era haversack. Without making things overly complicated, the types are broadly defined as “Early War” and “Late War.” The two styles are almost indistinguishable except for the leather closing strap, or rather how the leather strap is attached to the outside of the bag. On “Early War” haversacks, the strap and the buckle are sewn to the outer surface of the haversack. On the “Late War” haversacks, the strap is reinforced with a copper rivet.
The inside seams were flat felled, like the seams of an unlined Union sack coat. Sometimes the haversack appears to be sewn after the material was painted black and other times before. Sometimes main seams are machine sewn while others show evidence of being hand-sewn throughout. A variety of different contractors supplied haversacks to the various U.S. Arsenals over the course of the war. It is a safe estimate that millions were produced. The cost to the Quartermaster Department was about 56 cents each.
The shoulder straps were between 42-48 inches long and were often shortened on the haversack. The average Civil War soldiers were as a rule smaller, but even allowing for a height/weight differential, the shortened straps suggest the bag was worn fairly high up on the soldier’s hip. This is for comfort, so it did not bounce off the thigh while on the march. As a final point, the cloth used on original haversacks is surprisingly thin compared to most reproductions which are produced from heavier (almost tent thickness) canvas. On some surviving haversacks the material used for the outside bag is only slightly thicker than the rice bag (about as thick as a cotton shirt), although the coating of black paint and linseed oil on the surface did reinforce it.
Craig L. Barry was born in Charlottesville, Va. He holds his BA and Masters degrees from the University of North Carolina The (Charlotte). Craig served Watchdog Civil War Quarterly as Associate Editor and Editor from 2003–2017. The Watchdog published books and columns on 19th-century material and donated all funds from publications to battlefield preservation. He is the author of several books including The Civil War Musket: A Handbook for Historical Accuracy The Unfinished (2006, 2011), Fight: Essays on Confederate Material Culture Vol. I and II (2012, 2013) and three books (soon to be four) in the Suppliers to the Confederacy series on English Arms & Accoutrements, Quartermaster stores and other European imports.
Est. 1999 New 20 th Anniversary Artillery Line
Custom and Historical Museum Quality Designs Officer, Infantry, Civilian and Collectibles
160 pages of the best selection of historical reenactment items from Medieval era to Civil War era. Includes over 60 pages on our famous tents and a 4-color section.