Confederate haversack

[riverratmess]

We have this supposed Confederate haversack in our collection. The only haversack that I've ever seen that looks close to this would be a Richmond depot or perhaps even an officer's haversack. Any thoughts on this one?

[Chad Wrinn]

I know the English bags had the leather Buckle But i don't know about the leather shoulder strap. Let me go check some of the picture I have.

[Chad Wrinn]

Heck I lied the English Haversack has two Leather buckles and a cloth shoulder Strap. It is like some "officers" haversacks but they are usually made of oil cloth or painted canvas.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Hi,

Maybe it is a CS copy of a English haversack?

Andrew

[brown]

Hard to say anything one way or the other. I agree with Chad about the officer-like look. Hoever, the most important identifing information will be any supporting documentation you you to the CS connection because it'll be hard to prove any other way. Who's to say it isn't US private purchase, state contract, civilian bag o' a hundred uses? How many patterns of CS documented haversacks have more than one surviving example?
As an aside: are there multiple versions of the saddlebag-like haversack carried by Netherland of the Virginia Home Guard (some call it a Richmond pattern [officer's] haversack)?

[lukegilly13]

Are there surviving federal haveracks with similar closure that make use of a buckle other than the common "roller buckle"....Does the leather strap appear to be the strap originally used on the haversack? Also, just wondering if it seems to be handsewn or machine?

[riverratmess]

It appears to be machine sewn, espeically with the leather around it.

On an interesting note, there was a hole in the back repaired by hand which I did not notice before. Also while checking the stitching I have found what appears to be a name and unit but it is very faded.

What I can make out looks like this.

E. B. Skinnel
i
Co.

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Matt,

The only E. Skinnel I found using www.civilwardata.com was:

E Skinnell

Residence was not listed;
Enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant (date unknown).

He also had service in:
"I" Co. VA 1st Bn Reserves Infantry

Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:

- Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records
(c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com

There was only one person named Skinnel in the Union records who was a William Skinnel, 25th USCT.

There were other Confederate Skinnels but only one with E. anywhere in his name.

Don't know what this does (so I hesitate to say "Hope it helps."). :confused_

[riverratmess]

Actually it does Emmanuel. Thank you!

The haversack is one of two items we have from a Pvt. Stephen Wing of Co. E, 9th Vermont. The other is an 1855 bayonet scabbard. The original tag and in our records had it stating that he brought this haversack home. But after looking him up on civilwardata.com I realized that he never made it home. I began to wonder and doubt the story we had on the haversack.
Our museum has never in its past put our collection to the test like I've been putting it through in the past few weeks. For years our items have never been properly labeled or id'ed. This is the project I'm am undergoing right now. The results thus far have been way beyond my expectations. I've id'ed quite a few items. It's sort of funny and sad that no one has ever noticed soldier's names and units carved onto a items we have in our collection.
Back to the haversack, Wing was with the 9th Vermont from January 1864 until his death in October 1864. During that time his unit and its corps did battle with Lt. E. Skinnel's 1st Virginia Reserve battalion at the battle of Fort Harrison. This could explain why or how he got it. Is there anyway of figuring out where these two units were on that field? I can't find a good map on that battle.

[lukegilly13]

Matt,

There were other Confederate Skinnels but only one with E. anywhere in his name.



It is not uncommon for middle names and spelling of first and last names to be incorrect in records. Many times, the soldier himself could not write so the scribe maybe just spelled it like it sounded (or in some cases spelled it the same way locals with a similar name spelled it). Some folks gave their middle names and others did not. However, having encountered the Virginia Unit during the way that sort of links the two together...i'd say you've found him!

[Hardtack Herring]

Wow! Very good thread and artifact. Nice work linking this haversack up Emmanuel! It seems to me the info matches up very well.