The soldier’s dark blue jacket with un-piped epaulettes was worn by Eastern and Midwestern troops in 1861-1862, but was emblematic of New York. Gray gutta percha knapsacks make occasional appearances in period photographs, such as the above tintype. Lazelle also contracted for 10,000 tent blankets and 10,000 ponchos on Aug. These included 20,000 waterproof blankets on Jan. The president of the firm from 1861-64 was listed as Emory Rider, although Warren Lazelle secured most of the government contracts. was listed in the New York City directory from at least 1861-1866 at 139 Broadway, with an additional address at 338 W.
Sixth plate tintype by an unidentified photographer. Early war photograph of federal soldier with Gray knapsack. The Gray knapsack contains a circular stencil mark on the inside of the top flap, which states:ġ39 Broadway N.Y. The shoulder strap buckle and D-ring are jappened iron, or metal finished in lustrous black. Tinned iron Kelsey patent buckles were widely used and can be found on commercially made officer’s leather haversacks of the period. 34,429) is stamped on the three flap closure and two blanket buckles. Author’s collection.Īlthough the Gray knapsacks carry patent dates of 18, surviving examples of the accouterment were made in 1862 or later, because “Patented Feb. Leather is used for the flap closing straps, and to attach the buckles for the shoulder strap and closing straps to the bottom of the knapsack. The shoulder straps each have an extra strap with a hook designed to fit into the complimentary brass stays on the Model 1855 Rifleman’s belt (seldom issued). The right shoulder strap has a brass hook, which connects to a D-ring on the bottom of the knapsack, for quick attachment and release. The tops of the shoulder straps are attached with rivets, and the bottom of the left shoulder strap is attached with a buckle. While the standard issue knapsack had leather shoulder straps, with additional removable leather straps to hold a blanket on top, the Gray knapsacks’ shoulder and blanket straps are made of the same gutta percha as the body of the knapsack. Flap down, flap open and back views of Gray’s knapsack. The gutta percha was firm enough so that the knapsack sides remained square without the need for the four wooden slats used in a box knapsack. Copper rivets held the major pieces of the knapsack together. The raw edges of the back flap were covered with a cloth binding, which was painted blue. While the standard Civil War issue knapsack of 1858 was made of linen or cotton sewn together and painted with a black tarry solution, the Gray knapsack had an unbleached cotton exterior and interior that sandwiched a sheet of vulcanized gutta percha. One such item was the Gray gutta percha knapsack.
CIVIL WAR KNAPSACK FREE
10,977) built on Rider’s by adding a preliminary step of heating and injecting small quantities of sulfur to better drive out impurities, “which gives to the article thus treated more solidity, ductility, and tenacity than the gutta-percha has when the sulphur is not incorporated therewith.”Īlthough the Army ultimately adopted only gutta percha talmas (raincoats), gum blankets (ground cloths), and rubber ponchos as issue items, state militia units and individual soldiers were free to purchase other rubber and gutta perchas items from military goods dealers. 8,992) describes a three-step process of heating and curing gutta percha with sulfur. Imported into Britain around 1842, gutta percha was found more flexible than un-vulcanized India rubber, and served as an excellent insulator of telegraph wires and other purposes. Gutta percha differs chemically from India rubber and comes from the latex of trees on the Malay Peninsula and nearby regions. 1,090) spurred the development of the rubber industry by demonstrating that the introduction of sulfur and heat increased the durability and rigidity of India gum-elastic rubber, making it suitable for manufacturing. The items included canteens, holsters, haversacks, knapsacks, ponchos and more.Ĭharles Goodyear’s patent of Feb.
War Department experimented with a variety of military accoutrements made with rubber and gutta percha.
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