Haversacks on Parade

[MtVernon]

I am the new chairman of our local SVR Unit's Military Affairs Committee, and I plan on breaking a few hearts by compelling our members to leave their haversacks at home in the future when we are called upon for local parades. I see many claims that haversacks were generally not proper to parade dress, but can find no regs. on the issue.

As I know that there will be objections, or at least doubts as to my claim, I wish to present some textual support for this custom in order to remove future challenges to this rule.

Thank you for your help.

[paul hadley]

Darn it, Joe, don't confuse me with facts. I'm hoping folks will find that haversacks "often" were worn as opposed to regulations/preferences that say they should not have been.

For a formal parade/posting colors, &c., I guess common sense would say the haversack is not part of the dress uniform -- but I would be loathe to curtail the carrying of an accurate canteen during, say, a July 4th stroll down Main Street. Heat stroke is authentic but avoidable.

Anyway, I use my haversack for these types of parade events to tuck away a modern camera (for posed photos afterward) and fliers related to upcoming SUVCW and living history events as well as recruiting literature. Guess that would mean leaving that stuff behind or relying on someone not in our uniform to tote such things?

Btw, in the GAR-approved rituals for funerals and monument dedications, you may have noticed that knapsacks, canteens and (presumably haversacks) were to be placed at the monument as "tools of the soldier" as a sign of respect and camaraderie. Not a parade, but definitely a time and a place for it.

Good luck in your search for clarity.
In FCL,
Paul Hadley, Past Dept Commander, Neb., SUVCW

[TimKindred]

Comrade,

See, I am just the opposite. I believe that we should parade in full kit, showing the soldier as he was mist often seen while marching.

There is also the grand-daddy of all parades, the Grand Review in Washington, where the men carried all their kit as well.

Now, if you are parading as an SVR chapter, then do whatever the SVR guidelines suggest you dp. However, if I were you, and wanted to make a REALLY interesting impact, I would dress as a GAR post, with the appropriate medals, the black hats, etc, and enter the parade in that fashiom. If you unit is like everyone elses, you probaly have several who could pass for GAR veterans anyway :)

But id the foal is to shiow the soldier of the ACW, then wear all the kit. Clean up the coats, polish the brass, etc, but wear it all.

Lastly, don't carry a flag. Colours were feilded by battalion-level units, and most groups field barely of platoon or company, let alone a battalion. There will be many colour guards in the parade anyway, so leave them at home and march as a unit, rather than an over-strength colour guard.

Respects,

[Lee Ragan]

Having been Color Sergeant of my SCV Camp for nearly 15 years, I've been with color guards and units doing all sorts of parades and ceremonies. Since we're Rebs, I tell the boys to equip themselves as they please, but canteens are required. They are free to carry haverscaks and packs/bedrolls if they want, but I usually discourage the packs/bedrolls. We try to look like "light marching order", for these types of events. I do insist on all buttons buttoned and strongly encourage a clean (or nearly clean), uniform. This usually gives us a somewhat neat, military appearance and the troops have some leeway as to the amount of gear they lug around.
Formal presentations and things like that usually dictate everyone dress alike as much as possible, but these type functions have been rare.
I am intersted in reading how other units do this sort of thing so we may take some advise and adjust our look if need be.

[MtVernon]

Thanks for all your replies. In the interest of formality, I guess I have a point, but it seems like most of the SVR/SCV folks go for a less formal approach making my question somewhat moot. As our group leans to the 'diverse' side of attention to detail and authenticity, I'm just looking for ways to tighten up our appearance. Of course, none of this is often noticed by parade goers, so again, perhaps moot. My motto to the others in the group who grumble about my harping is, "We honor our ancestors by GETTING IT RIGHT." I can't say it any plainer.

Nevertheless, we don't absolutely have to all wear the same uniform, I suppose. I think it's sometimes neat for people to don the uniform of their particular ancestor. That does make for quite a hodge-podge of uniforms, but at least it's heartfelt and interesting.

Maybe the first step for me is to identify what direction our camp wishes to take, and then move forward with that information. However, I would still like to see regs. on the subject, something that up to now remains hidden from me.

Also, I understand the statements regarding carrying no flags, but I can tell you it won't fly in our camp for three reasons:

1. We are not reenactors, but the SVR (this also covers why we don't do a GAR impression. Simply put, we're not the GAR), so we have slightly different rules and a more conventional bent,
2. Our camp has invested too much of it's resources into flags and flag accessories to be convinced not to use them, and
3. The parades we march in give cash awards, and this is often very helpful, even vital, to us in the promotion of our various expenses and charitable giving.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

I have never found "the" way it was done and have concluded based on years of reading first-person accounts, period regs and handbooks, and looking at photos of dress parade, that it varied with the unit and commander.

That said, certainly a regiment that was either attending a formal review (such as a corps review) or a battalion dress parade that was to be followed by inspection (what reenactors call "knapsack inspection") required that the men attend the review or parade at least in light marching order (ordinance stores and camp equipage minus knapsacks), if not in full marching order (including knapsacks). Thus, haversacks were certainly worn at quite a number of dress parades and inspections and reviews, but I suspect some such events saw the men in ordinance stores ("leathers") only. For how the unit you're portraying did it at the time being portrayed, check the documentationincluding regimental order books and photos of the regiment at parade.

For what it's worth, guard mounting (which is a lot like dress parade) typically DID have the men in full marching order.

[MtVernon]

I have never found "the" way it was done and have concluded based on years of reading first-person accounts, period regs and handbooks, and looking at photos of dress parade, that it varied with the unit and commander.

That said, certainly a regiment that was either attending a formal review (such as a corps review) or a battalion dress parade that was to be followed by inspection (what reenactors call "knapsack inspection") required that the men attend the review or parade at least in light marching order (ordinance stores and camp equipage minus knapsacks), if not in full marching order (including knapsacks). Thus, haversacks were certainly worn at quite a number of dress parades and inspections and reviews, but I suspect some such events saw the men in ordinance stores ("leathers") only. For how the unit you're portraying did it at the time being portrayed, check the documentation including regimental order books and photos of the regiment at parade.

For what it's worth, guard mounting (which is a lot like dress parade) typically DID have the men in full marching order.


Thanks. I'm really glad I brought this up. I had been going around for a couple of years, in unofficial capacity, crowing to all that haversacks were never worn for parades. Not getting much response on the fora today regarding a specific reg., it appears you are right to say that it comes more from accounts, tradition, and custom than something you can point to in a book. At least for now.

As far as portraying 'our unit', it helps to keep in mind that of the 20 or so members who march in uniform, only 2 of us have ever reenacted/reenact now. Thus, there's very little awareness of what is proper, and uniformity is a loose concept.

Thus, as we are not dealing with reenactors per se, there's no particular unit being portrayed. Plus, just getting the guys to stay away from the cheaply bought, made, and cheap looking gear is a challenge. I just have to keep in mind that all kinds of people get into this for all kinds of different reasons, and respect and appreciate the fact that they take the time to make this effort at all. Then again, as I say, we honor our ancestors by getting it right.

[RJSamp]

I have never found "the" way it was done and have concluded based on years of reading first-person accounts, period regs and handbooks, and looking at photos of dress parade, that it varied with the unit and commander.

That said, certainly a regiment that was either attending a formal review (such as a corps review) or a battalion dress parade that was to be followed by inspection (what reenactors call "knapsack inspection") required that the men attend the review or parade at least in light marching order (ordinance stores and camp equipage minus knapsacks), if not in full marching order (including knapsacks). Thus, haversacks were certainly worn at quite a number of dress parades and inspections and reviews, but I suspect some such events saw the men in ordinance stores ("leathers") only. For how the unit you're portraying did it at the time being portrayed, check the documentationincluding regimental order books and photos of the regiment at parade.

For what it's worth, guard mounting (which is a lot like dress parade) typically DID have the men in full marching order.

The pictures and illustrations support both.....depending on whether this was a Review or a simple battalion parade prior to going out for drill. Basically if you were in winter quarters I don't think they'd pack up their tents/home for a couple of hours. Some of the diary's talk of this......Sergeant's running around telling the men what to wear. I'll have to check on it but "10 years in the US Army" makes reference to what was worn at various times (the writer is a US Regular musician). The British even have Bugle Calls to let the troops know whether to form up with full kit or in light marching order...and the US Army had an Overcoats call circa WWI to specify whether they were to be worn that day.

Guard Mount , although about 1/10th the size of dress parade (similar but not very much 'like' dress parade) of course had full marching order.....you carried 3 days rations, 60 rounds, etc. and were out for a couple of days on picket duty. Part of the reason for the guard mount inspections whilst the band played martial airs was to make sure sufficient food and ammo was being carried by the troop.....not to be confused with an interior guard/camp guard which is what most of us do/portray when we think of a reenactment and posting guards or running a formal guard mount.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

The pictures and illustrations support both.....depending on whether this was a Review or a simple battalion parade prior to going out for drill. Basically if you were in winter quarters I don't think they'd pack up their tents/home for a couple of hours. Some of the diary's talk of this.

Generalizations are often inaccurate. Yes, some regiments held inspections in winter quarters, although as you say I suspect it was rare for them to take down canvas used for their shelters, although certainly a lot of other things such as blanket packs, and waterproofs could be carried to winter quarters inspections when held. On the other hand, regiments such as John Mead Gould's Tenth Maine Infantry went almost the entire winter (in this case, that of '62-63) without doing any dress parade, guard mounting, any any ceremony of the sort, let alone inspection. It all varied with the unit and its commander. Prima donnas and strict disciplinarians probably tended to hold more such affairs than did volunteer officers in command of volunteer regiments.

Guard Mount , although about 1/10th the size of dress parade (similar but not very much 'like' dress parade) of course had full marching order.....you carried 3 days rations, 60 rounds, etc. and were out for a couple of days on picket duty. Part of the reason for the guard mount inspections whilst the band played martial airs was to make sure sufficient food and ammo was being carried by the troop.....not to be confused with an interior guard/camp guard which is what most of us do/portray when we think of a reenactment and posting guards or running a formal guard mount.

Not necessarily true. Guard mounting was used for forming, inspecting, and parading the Guard for battalion camp police guard duty (when used), as well as brigade (and larger) sized "grand guards" that were often, but not always, the basis for pickets in the face of the enemy. Most pickets, particularly during non-campaign situations, were not sent out for three days, but rather for 24 hours. Of course, there's few absolutes and I have also read more than one instance of pickets being sent out on duty for three (or more) days.

Point is, ceremonial occasioins were held for various things, but the frequency with which they were held in a given regiment varied with circumstance and the commanding officer. Many commanding officers issued specific orders what the men were to wear to dress parade and other occasions; these are plainly read in regmental order books available at the National Archives in Washington DC.