Knapsacks in the 4^th Texas

Knapsacks were not universal among the infantry in the Army of Northern Virginia. Carlton McCarthy claims that

The knapsack vanished early in the struggle. It was inconvenient to "change" the underwear too often, and the disposition not to change grew, as the knapsack was found to gall the back and shoulders, and weary the men before half the march was accomplished. . . .

However, like many of artilleryman McCarthy's comments about the infantry, there's a lot of exaggeration here. (His often-quoted view on bayonets is another example.)

Austrian military observer Fitzgerald Ross wrote of Lee's army en route to Gettysburg,"...Very few carry a knapsack, but most of them have a haversack, and almost all blankets....", suggesting that knapsacks were present in small numbers. Col. Freemantle noted that in McLaws' Division of Longstreet's Corps, "...The knapsacks of the men still bear the names of the Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey or other regiments to which they originally belonged....", but of Hood's Division, he said, "...They carry less than any other troops; many of them have only got an old piece of carpet or rug as baggage...."

Accounts by the Texans themselves give testimony to the presence of occasional knapsacks. For example, newly-joined Pvt. John West of the 4th wrote home in May 1863 that upon reporting for duty he was issued only two haversacks ("...miserably weak and sleazy, made of thin cotton cloth....") and commented later that month "...there are no knapsacks...We cannot fight and carry baggage..." Yet in his description of going into battle at Little Round Top, he says "...Off went blankets, knapsacks and all surplus baggage..." One definite knapsack owner was Sgt. Joe Polley of the 4th, who wrote home in October 1863 of losing his on the train trip from Virginia to Chickamauga.

In summary, it would seem that a few knapsacks were always present among the Texans. In addition, it appears that the knapsacks in use in the First Corps during the period in question were a mixture of Union and Confederate