The following image provides an excellent insight into all of the clothing and equipment that a Confederate soldier would have worn. This “kit” is an example of a sergeant of from Company A, 24th Virginia infantry circa mid-1863.
1 – Jeancloth trousers & cotton braces.
2 – Cotton civilian shirt.
3 – ‘Richmond Depot Type 2’ jacket in British army cloth, with sergeants stripes.
4 – Brogans.
5 – Civilian ‘Slouch’ hat.
6 – Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket.
7 – Cartridge box, tins & 60 rounds of ammunition in arsenal packs.
8 – Waist belt, cap pouch & bayonet.
9 – Captured U.S. haversack.
10 – Wooden canteen & homemade strap.
11 – Rations of hardtack, coffee & rice in poke sacks.
12 – Mess kit of canteen half, tin mug, knife fork & spoon & pocket knife.
13 – Personal items, diary & glasses.
14 – Cleaning implements for the rifle, tin of spare percussion caps & sergeants tool.
15 – Sewing kit, candle & matches.
All this was carried in the cartridge box, haversack & pockets of the soldier. This display is on a rubberized poncho, something he may have picked up from a Union prisoner or on the battlefield. The other things he would carry would be a spare shirt, socks, etc wrapped in a blanket roll.
Teaching Idea: Put the image up on the screen and have the students write down what they think the item is without any context or suggestions. Let them make some guesses and speculation. Then you can use “random reporter” or another method to get the answers. From there, have students pick an item and do some research and then report back on what they learned.
Used with permission from 24th Virginia Company A
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