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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