Blanket Bag & Heavy Marching Order - In 1878 the Watervliet Arsenal modified the individual equipment to include a
rectangular blanket bag made of drab cotton duck for the bedding and spare clothing. It was worn on the back with detachable black leather
shoulder straps and double-wire brass hooks for support. Each Soldier carried a shelter tent, poncho, overcoat, blanket, extra shoes and
clothing, and toilet articles inside the blanket bag. The total weight of the blanket bag and heavy marching order was 24.9 lbs (full).
Tin Canteen - The water canteen was a pre-Civil War pattern that was modified in 1878. The canteen was made of sheet tin
and equipped with a leather shoulder strap. It measured 7 inches in diameter and was 3 inches thick. A tin-capped cork was used to close the
rimmed mouth piece. The cork was riveted with an iron wire stem and loop and attached to the canteen by a brass 3-inch chain. The leather
shoulder strap attached to a wire loop that was soldered to the tin loop on each side. Dampening the gray Petersham (wool felt) and the drab
cotton-duck outer cover kept the contents cool. The total weight of the the tin canteen was 1.2 lbs empty and 4.2 lbs with 3 pints of water.
Haversack & Mess Equipment - The Soldier's meat can, tinned iron spoon, steel knife, and fork with cast iron handles
were carried in the cotton-duck haversack. It also contained loose, hard bread crackers called hardtack, a detachable bag of bacon, and
cotton-drill drawstring bags of coffee, sugar and salt. The haversack ration was much like that consumed during the Civil War. The total
weight of the haversack with rations was 3.0 lbs.
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This page was last updated on April 30, 2006 5:09 PM.
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