that sounds funny. now i can put on all my underclothes, overclothes and everything for myself... but when it comes to a soldiers clothing...i havent a clue!

obviously i know to put his legs in the pants (in fact he can handle that part himself!) and his arms in the sleeves of the shirt... BUT.. after that... oh wait socks go on the feet  but whats the deal with the opening in the back of the pants? is that for when you eat a good meal and you need it to stretch  

he has the cartridge box and the strap that goes to it...though its not attached. he has the cap box, US plate?? that thing is heavy, i know that much.. has 2 umm... things that stick out in the back. he has the breast plate and he has the haversack. oh and braces and waist belt. (still working on getting him a canteen!)... now where and how does everything go?

care to ask me how to properly wear a corset   im sure all you men really want to know how lol.

Dulcie

Let's keep it simple..

In order to walk out onto the drill field or battlefield, the minimum that he would need:
socks, drawers, trousers, shirt, coat (Federal or Confederate depending), hat, brogans.

With the trousers, he would need either braces or belt or if they fit him quite well he wouldn't need either.  There are photos out there that show all three options.

Once it comes to putting the gear on..
*Note there is where the Sgts / Cpls help the new guys learn how to dress themselves. *
Put on cartridge box with sling first over the left shoulder so that it sits on the right hip.  Waist belt next with cap pouch and bayonet scabbard.  Waist belt at the natural waist.

Going over the right shoulder would be the haversack so that it sits above the left hip and near his elbow in terms of height.

Then if he has a bedroll or knapsack that would go next and then his canteen over his right shoulder like the haversack.

Put on hat and pick up rifle and fall in.. and he is all set to march.  

--Last edited by lhsnj on 2007-04-11 15:30:29 --

thank you! i know it sounded like a funny question, but we were both looking at his box full of stuff and looked at each other and he goes "hope you know how to put these on"..to which i replied "nope, i only wear corsets, chemises, pantaloons, dress, apron and so on... but no clue where all this goes".

"socks, drawers, trousers, shirt, coat (Federal or Confederate depending), hat, brogans."

ohh.... we dont have any drawers... hmmm... okay searching for a pattern for them now, hopefully i can get it before we need them!!

i may haul him to neshaminy (if i can convince him to go!) with nothing on but uniform and see if someone cant finish him up lol.

how does the strap go on the cartridge box? is there a correct way for it? better yet... do you have a picture closeup of one?

Here is a representation of how he should look with all his gear on.. this is a federal impression.  The confederate version is not much different.


I will see if I can get a picture that shows the sling on the cartridge box and post that.  I typically wear mine on my waistbelt when doing confederate.  

--Last edited by lhsnj on 2007-04-11 20:52:18 --

These will help.

http://www.jarnaginco.com/box%20plate.htm
http://www.jarnaginco.com/cartridge%20box%20sling.htm
http://www.jarnaginco.com/how%20to%20put%20no%20a%20buckle.htm  

--Last edited by TheBaldYankee on 2007-04-11 16:44:56 --

Holy Mike!! I don't think I ever carried as much stuff as that Federal Private has on!!! I think he'd do that about once before he learned his lesson.  Oh, and if he'd put his overcoat straps under and through the shoulder straps of his knapsack, it wouldn't ride so it was tearing his shoulders back and off. Notice the diference:


I had my cartridge box out, drying, so, this only took a minute:






Is that what you were looking for?  

--Last edited by grumpydave on 2007-04-11 17:55:31 --

thanks all! i think i can figure it out now, hopefully

Dulcie,

FOr the plates, note the location on the pictures above. The easiest way I've found to attach them is to:

1: Locate the proper place for the breast plate while he is wearing the cartridge box. Once he has it on, hold the plate up to the sling in the location you want it, put your hand behind the sling to keep hubby from wincing, press the loods into the leather hard enough to leave a mark.

2. Do the same with the cartridge box flap layed out on a firm surface.

3. Once you have the marks (little dents) get a very sharp knife and CAREFULLY cut small slits where the marks are. The slits should just be big enough for the wire loops to go through relatively easily without being loose.

4. Run a piece of leather thong (like the laces in his brogans) through the wire loops then bend them back a bit to hold tight.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-04-11 19:27:11 --

those are great pics..thanks!

i was wondering about the leather to hold them...  going to have to check his brogan lace length!

i cant make him wince? come on..your taking the fun out of this

I probably wouldn't cut his laces. If anything just cut the holes and when you get to the event this weekend duck into a sutler and buy a length of leather. I always carry a couple of pieces with me as they come in very handy from time to time for a myriad of things from tying a blanket roll to fixing a broken piece of equipment (yes it will be OK to buy a little thing like this there ).

BTW,

Dave, I always had my sling cross behind the cart box (between the loops an the buckle); is it possible I'm doing it wrong?

I agree about the private above.....geeez louise and I thought I packed heavy; where is his cast iron skillet, dutch oven, and coffee pot? after all that's about all he seems to be missing other than a wall tent......unless of course that's what he has in that massive roll on top.    

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-04-11 21:21:51 --

Quote :

toptimlrd wrote : BTW, Dave, I always had my sling cross behind the cart box (between the loops an the buckle); is it possible I'm doing it wrong? I agree about the private above.....geeez louise and I thought I packed heavy; where is his cast iron skillet, dutch oven, and coffee pot? after all that's about all he seems to be missing other than a wall tent......unless of course that's what he has in that massive roll on top.

I have mine attached like Dave shows in his photo.  

The picture of the laden down private was the first I came to in a search for a soldier with his knapsack.  I had hoped to find that photo of a Confederate with all his stuff on.  There is a life size image of the photo at the MOC in their display downstairs about the common soldier.  And I have seen it in other books too..

On page 141 of EOG Confederate there is a nice image of Pvt Thomas Tayor of the 8th LA wearing all his gear.

Greg,

Probably not a big deal but mine is like the picture on Jarnagain's website. With the angle of the loops and buckles it just seemed to make sense.

As to the private, just had to have a bit of fun. He is loaded down though. If he was around during the war I wonder how far he would have marched before deciding to get rid of the non-essentials.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-04-11 22:37:47 --

Yep Robert, mine is crossed as well.  Dave, I have never seen it like you have it.  But who to say which is proper?

Robert

No problem.  I have a Jarnie box and sling.  And when I first got them years back, I started to put them in like that but was instructed to do it the other way by a veteran member of the group.  So I followed their advice and it has become habit for me.  

When I first saw the photo of the private, I thought man that seems like the pack is gonna pull him over and it was riding low.  I think he needs to reduce it down to the essentials and save his back some pain..



Mine stays nice and high on my back.  But then again I don't have everything plus the kitchen sink in it either.

Quote :

Ken Cornett wrote : Yep Robert, mine is crossed as well.  Dave, I have never seen it like you have it.  But who to say which is proper?

Oh Ken,

You are being so nice. Just tell Grumpy you think he's a Farb!  

All kidding aside, I agree with you guys. The angle on the cartridge box buckles lend themselves to having the strap ends cross over themselves below the sling keepers on the back of the box. At least, that's how I've got mine and you know I'm the last word on authenticity.    

Dulcie,

To make the holes in the leathers, first I tried a knife.  It takes a bit of force to push a knife tip through a thick peice of leather.  It can be very bad if you slip.  I found the safer way is to use a piece of wood (bit of 2x4 or an old cutting board) a flat head screwdriver, and a hammer.  Put the wood under the leather, take the screwdriver to the marks you made, and give it a good tap with the hammer.  Badabing!  Perfect hole for the box/breast plate

You can pick up some leather from any craft Store.  Heck you can get a whole huge spool of it if you need.  I picked up a couple of small ones from my local Micheal's Arts and Crafts.  That way, if I ever need new laces fir the brogans I got that covered too.  

--Last edited by TheBaldYankee on 2007-04-12 07:17:54 --

OK, here's the rub on my cartridge box and sling. The sling is official issue length and I'm 6'1". I can't cross the straps or the box when I wear it is up under my armpit. I used my Federal box for the pictures because it was handy. The straps are crossed on the sling of my Confederate box. So, if you run out of adjustment holes on the strap and, the sling is still too long, you cross it on the back to make it shorter.  How's that?

ohh you know what... i have a length of leather in my craft stuff with all my beading supplies! duh!

screwdriver and hammer definitely sound safer than a knife! ive been known to try to cut off several fingers or a hand occassionally!

why dont these things come with instructions? i had no clue where to put all the buckles and stuff...i had figured out the breast plate and where it went...but no clue how it was to be attached. guess its just another one of those things they expect you to know

Quote :

GrumpyDave wrote : OK, here's the rub on my cartridge box and sling. The sling is official issue length and I'm 6'1". I can't cross the straps or the box when I wear it is up under my armpit.

Dave,

A sling of the correct length is a short on me too, and I'm only 5'10" and shrinking. I think they were made a little short on purpose. A cartridge box filled with 40 rounds of live ammo is heavy; and most of the original slings, I've seen, are made from rather thin leather. My guess is, that over time, the slings stretched to fit better.

As an aside, I was repairing one of my canteens and noticed the one inch wide leather sling had stretched about four inches over time. This was an English import canteen, which is a good bit heavier than the Federal tin model.