CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY GUNNER’S HAVERSACK

CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY GUNNER’S HAVERSACK

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$1,250.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-9488

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These were a vital safety measure in a battery of field artillery, worn by “Number 5” of a gun crew to carry an artillery round from the ammunition chest on the limber or caisson to the gun, shielding it from floating sparks and flaming debris to avoid an accidental detonation of the propellant powder charge contained in a simple cloth powder bag or of a fuzed projectile.

Both bag and shoulder strap are made of brown leather- the 1862 ordnance manual specifies “bag leather” and we show an excerpt from Gibbon’s 1860 Artillerist’s Manual describing them. The bag is formed by a gusset sewn to the heavy front and back panels, the latter extending to form the long flap, which is secured by a leather billet or latch tab sewn to the flap and fastening to a roller buckle sewn to the front face of the bag. The shoulder sling is made in two pieces, sewn to the upper rear corners of the bag with three long lines of stitching each, fastening together and adjusting with a roller buckle and retaining loop that would sit on the wearer’s chest.

This is in very good condition, solid, with no tears or missing pieces, and stitching in place. The latch tab is full length and its fastening buckle and retaining loop are secure. The shoulder sling is full length with buckle and retaining loop in place as well, and firmly secured by stitching at the upper rear corners of the bag.

The bag shows largely a medium brown color with some darker stains to the upper flap, upper back, and inner edges of the flap from use. The finish is good, showing just expected rub and handling marks from actual issue and use. The sling is full length, very pliable but  solid, with good color and no breaks or tears, though showing loss of finish in places from flexing and use.

This has not been treated with any leather dressing, preservatives or polish and would make a great, essential, addition to any artillery display. In addition to the entry from Gibbon’s manual we show a gun crew of the Keystone Battery posed for action, with “Number 5” carrying one of these haversacks, standing to the right of the gun, and somewhat apart from the rest of the crew, who were likely grateful for the elbow room since he would be carrying live artillery rounds on his hip. In addition to being a key piece in an artillery display, we note these are tough to find. They were so useful for general purposes in postwar civilian life that their survival rate is low.    [sr][ph:L]

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