CS Knapsacks

[cosgood]

Guys,

As soon as I finish up some frocks and haversacks for EJ Thomas, and a couple CS jackets for some guys, and a bunch of other stuff, I plan to make myself a CS knapsack.

I have yet to decide on what pattern to make. I have 4 choices with the Issac and Campbell, Johnston "Mex" war pack, Pritchard pack ( In EOG), and a CS Soft pack ( in EOG, 25th SC).

What is ultimately holding myself back from making a choice is a few things.

1.) I used to have the notes on the Pritchard pack, and have made one. My biggest question on the pack is were these used later in the war say in 1864. I remember the original being dated in 1862, there are probably others that exist, but I dont know of them. So would these be acceptable for an 1864 impression? I like the packs, but my impression is ultimately late war 1864-1865

2.) the CS Soft Pack ( 25th SC bag in EOG). This is an interesting bag by the pic in EOG. The pack appears to have no leather work on it, and has painted cloth straps with suspender buckles. This knapsack is not in the MOC, so in order to reproduce this pack I would need some sort of worksheets etc.. to go on. I dont have a copy of the MOC's list of worksheets. Does anyone know if they have a knapsack like this one in their collection?

Obviously for any of the packs above I need to get the worksheets, I lost the pritchard ones, have a pattern. But its been so long, I need to re look at things. So either way I look at it, I need to buy the worksheets. However either dating on the pritchard pack or the availability of the worksheet for the soft pack is going to impact my descision. Any help to the dates or if worksheets exist for the soft pack would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Casey

[mississippian]

The 25th SC pack is interesting. Do we know anything else about it's history? Because the 25th spent most of the war in the Charleston area, it's possible that the knapsack is a product of a C.S. shop in that city.

Will MacDonald

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

1.) I used to have the notes on the Pritchard pack, and have made one. My biggest question on the pack is were these used later in the war say in 1864. I remember the original being dated in 1862, there are probably others that exist, but I dont know of them. So would these be acceptable for an 1864 impression? I like the packs, but my impression is ultimately late war 1864-1865

So if the soldier was issued the knapsack in 1862...this means that he would have thrown it away before 1864??? I'd say modeling this pack would be fine for a generic mid-late war impression...


2.) the CS Soft Pack ( 25th SC bag in EOG). This is an interesting bag by the pic in EOG. The pack appears to have no leather work on it, and has painted cloth straps with suspender buckles. This knapsack is not in the MOC, so in order to reproduce this pack I would need some sort of worksheets etc.. to go on. I dont have a copy of the MOC's list of worksheets. Does anyone know if they have a knapsack like this one in their collection?

This knapsack is privately owned...to the best of my knowledge, it is the only one of it's kind...no the MoC does not have anything like this within their vasts, but limited collection.

Wayne Hutzel of the Dirty Back Boys and partner in the new Gettysburg shop The Depot, reproduces this pack, and has seen the original...


Paul B.

[cosgood]

Guys,

Thanks for the responses. On the Pritchard pack, there are 2 that I know of, and both are from 1862 battles. So I was curious, if it may have been an early war production knapsack that could have ceased production by 1863 or 1864. Not saying someone would have kept it around, but with the wear and tear on uniforms and equipment, its highly unlikely for a pack to last 2 years of hard field service. If you ever held an original pack, there's not a whole lot to them.

thanks,
Casey