Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-12-07
THE soLDIER'S KNAPsAcK
What 1t Must Carry and How 1t Should
BE Packed. :

Dt 1Atheus
In the matter Of the knapsack, its aY-
erage weight and in the obligation to
carry it, the American soldier Of today
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 tho moment
he feels that he has carried it far
enough, prefering any punishment to
making a pack mule out of himself.
Nevertheless the knapsack is very nec-
essary article of the soldier equipment.
and great deal Of time, experiment
and thought have been given to the per-
lection of a pack that will carry every
thing 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
Undertaking, two pairs Of stockings,
one pair Of shoes, towel, soap, backing
kit and comb
To pack these articles properly tho
blanket is folded lcngthwise so as to DO
II inches wide. Roll tightly, leaving
IS inches unrolled, and place in the
bag until tho roll IS tight against the
bottom. Then fold the unrolled part un-
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 arc then placed heels up and soles
out, between the folded blanket and tho
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
blacking 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 oyercoat, 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 in
the center, which will make the roll
just the width OF the knapsack. 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 bctter-bcing careful to
keep the folded edges well caught.
When rolled clear up, turn the exposed
tail back over the roll, taking care not
to loosen the ends, and the roll will be
securely bound.
The shelter tent half, neatly folded
so as to show the company, regiment
and number, Will then be rolled around
the oyercoat roll so as JUST to show the
edges, and the four shelter tent pins
placed between its folds SD as to show
ono inch Of the points projecting
Now place the roll on the knapsack
with tho tail of the coat, as rolled, to
the rear and the raw edge or hem just
above tho edge Of the lnap-ack, this
arrangement giving the best water and
dust shed. The buckle of the oyorcoat
strap 20 be on top Of the roll, the end Of
the strap, if of any length, TO be rolled
up The shelter tent poles, Of which
each man carries two halves, are carried
under the flap of the knapsack SO as to
throw the roll away from the back Of
the head and thus permit frocr use Of the
arms.
The weight Of the knapsack thus
packed and arranged should not exceed
24 pounds, q good load in itself for a
man to carry throughout daily march
averaging . miles Exchange