Civil War Artillery Gunner’s Haversack

Civil War Artillery Gunner’s Haversack – This is an excellent example of an inherent accoutrement utilized within each six-man, field piece battery. Constructed of heavy, non-dyed bridle leather, these haversacks were utilized by the No. 4 gunner to transport live ordnance from the limber chest to the field piece. These accoutrements were quite sturdy in construction, with the front and back of the pouch joined by gussets, creating the ends and bottom of the pouch; this mode of construction allowed the haversack to be folded flat when it was not in use. The front flap and back of the haversack were constructed from a single piece of leather and fastened by a lighter gauge, leather closing strap and roller buckle, affixed to the front body of the pouch. The front, pointed style flap exhibits “tooled” furrows, as does the shoulder sling, outlining their outer edges. The shoulder strap remains in strong condition; it has a large roller buckle for size adjustment; the strap is sewn to the back of the pouch. Of interest, is the “ghost” of a New York state shako plate on the front flap cover, over the stitching of the closure strap – the imprint of the shako plate is bordered by small holes indicating that the plate was pinned to the haversack. There are no maker’s or arsenal markings on the pouch; there is some minor crazing on the folding area of the closure flap and a small number of small, period use scratches; overall, both the pouch and shoulder strap remain in excellent condition.