Equipment of the Infantryman

This page is part of The Confederate Infantry Private Website.

 

Above is an Enfield. It is a .577 caliber, muzzleloading, percussion firing, single shot rifled musket. It is over 4 and half feet long and weighs approximately 9 and a half pounds. It is fired from the shoulder. It kicks like a mule and has an effective range of 500 yards. A good soldier can load and fire this weapon 3 times in one minute. It receives a socket bayonet which has a triangular cross-section.

Photo by Rebsoldier

The equipment in the photo above are called accouterments and are necessary for the infantryman to carry in order for him to fire his weapon. A is called the cartridge box and can be carried on the beld or on a sling. it contains metal tins for protection and is capable of holding 40-50 pre-manufactured cartridges of .577 or .58 caliber ammunition. B is the cap box and contains percussion caps necessary to ignite the black powder in the weapon after the cartridge has been loaded. C is the scabbard for D which is the socket bayonet which fits on the Enfield rifle. E is a leather belt with a state or Confederate buckle and this is how all the other equipment is carried.

Photo by Rebsoldier

In the photo above A is a drum type canteen typically carried by Confederate soldiers and made from materials as varied as metal or wood. B is a Union canteen which Confederates were known to "appropriate" from Union soldiers no longer needing them. C is a tarred haversack typically used by Yankees but appropriated by Confederates and D is the canvas Confederate version. Haversacks were used to carry food but were used to carry anything from sewing kits to letters home when knapsacks proved cumbersome. He would also carry a blanket and a gum blanket (or poncho) as sleeping gear generally rolling them together with the waterproof gumblanket on the outside and lengthwise tying the ends together. He would then throw the loop over his left shoulder thus keeping his right shoulder clear for his weapon.

Photo by Rebsoldier

In the above picture, you see what a typical soldier might keep in his haversack besides food and letters from home. At top is the "Soldier's Housewife" or sewing kit which he used to repair his uniform and clothing. To the left is a corncob pipe and tobacco pouch for Johnny Reb loved his tobacco. Center is a small knife and to the right of that is a toothbrush and comb. Gambling was a favorite pastime so many carried cards which is on the bottom right. If he wasn't a gamblin' man, chances are he was a religious man and carried a pocket Testament. Some men were both: gamble until battle was imminent then throw away the cards and vow never to gamble again for safety only to take up the habit again after the fray.

Photo by Rebsoldier

The above picture shows the typical mess kit carried by the Confederate soldier: a tin plate, a tin cup, and an eating implement (in this case a folding fork/spoon made of wrought iron).

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