Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-11-19
T4E SOLDIERS KNAPsAcN-
What Il EIust Cary and How 1t Should
BE Pacz-cd.

What Il Rust Cary and How 1t Sleoci.d
BE Pacz-cd.
In tho matter Of the Enapsack, its av-
erace weight and il the obligation to
carry it, the American soldier CT To-Day
has decidedly the advantage over his
European brother in arms. The latter
never thinks Of throwing away his
pack, no matter what its weight or the
length Of the march. To do so means
punishment, sudden and severe. The
former fires it bodily away the moment
lie feels that he has carried it far
enough, preferring any punishment to
making a pack mule out of himself
Nevertheless the knapsaok is very nee
essary article of the soldiers equipment,
and great deal Of time, experiment
and thought have been given to the per
lection of a pack that will carry every
thalg necessary and yet be, when pack
ed, OF the minimum weight and size.
The knapsack as at present in use in
the service is simply waterproof can
vas bag, supposed to contain when pack
ed one blanket one complete change OF
underclothing, two pairs Of stockings,
one pair of shoes, towel, soap, backing
kit and comb.
To pack these articles properly the
blanket is folded lengthwise SO as to be
II inches wide. Roll tightly, leaving
Is inches unrolled, and place in the
bag until the roll is tight against the
bottom. Then fold the unrolled part I'M
til the fold is even with the opening Of
the bag. The drawers, folded the same
width as the blanket, is placed next,
after which comes the undershirt. The
shoes are then placed, heels up and soles
out, between the folded blanket and the
side of the bag, one on each side. Be
tween the drawers and the undershirt
two pairs of stockings are then placed
SO as to show the double fold. The
backing kit is then placed above the
undershirt and out of sight, the toilet
articles neatly disposed in the pocket,
the flap Of the knapsack turned down
and buttoned, and the pack is complete.
There now remains the overcOat which
when rolled is fastened by straps On the
top Of the pack.
To secure uniformity the following
method Of rolling the coat has been
adopted by the war department: Turn
the left sleeve inside out; fold the coat
down the middle seam of the back, right
side out, front edges to the left, and lay
it fatty and smoothly on the ground,
tail away from the feet; pull the cape
out from under the coat and spread it
double; turn both tails of coat up about
eight inches, the upper one over and the
lower one under; fold the skirts in
from both sides until they just meet i'll
the center, which will make the roll
just the width of the knapsaclz. Then
fold the cape same width as the coat,
and beginning with the cape roll up |
very tightly and as even as possible
the tighter the better-being careful to |
keep the folded edges we'll caught. |
When rolled clear up, turn the exposed |
tail back over the roll, taking care not |
% loosen the ends, and the roll will be |
securely bound.
The shelter tent half, neatly folded |
80 as to show the company, regiment
md number, will then be rolled around
he overcoat roll SO as just to show the
edges, and the four shelter tent pins
placed between its folds so as to show
me inch of the points projecting.
Now place the roll OH the knapsacl1
With the tail of the coat, as rolled, to
he rear and the raw edge or hem just
lbove the edge Of the knapsack, this
giving the best water and
lust shed. The buckle of the overcoat
trap to be on top of the roll, the end of
he strap, if of any length, to be rolled
Up. The shelter tent poles, of which
ach man carries two halves, are carried
nder the flap of the knapsack so as to
brow the roll away from the back of
he head and thus permit freer use of the
rms.
The weight of the knapsack thus
aclzed and arranged should not exceed
4 pounds, q good load in itself for a
IAN to carry throughout daily march
veraging 5 miles.