The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-01-17
THE SOLDIERS KNAPsAcK.
What 1t Must Carry and How 1t Should
be Packed.


What 1t Must Carry and How 1t Should
be Packed.
In the matter of the knapsack, it's
average weight and in the obligation
to carry it, the American soldier of
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 he feels that he has carried
1t far enough, preferring any punish
ment to making pack mule out of him
self Nevertheless the knapsack is
very necessary article of the soldiers
equipment, and a great deal of time,
experiment and thought have been
given to the perfection of pack that
Will carry everything necessary and yet
BE- when packed, of the minimum
weight and size. The knapsack, as at
present in use in the service is simply
waterproof canvas bag, supposed to
contain when packed one blanket, one
complete change of Undertaking, two
pairs of stockings, one pair of shoes,
towel, soap, backing kit and comb.
10 pack these articles properly the
blanket is folded lengthwise so as to
be eleven inches wide. Roll tightly,
leaving eighteen inches unrolled, and
place in the bag until the roll
is tight against the bottom. Then
fold the unrolled part until 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. Between 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 fast
ened 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 better
being 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 overcoat roll so as just to show the
] edges, and the four she tier tent pins
7 placed between its folds SO as to show
one inch of the points projecting.
Now place the roll on the knapsack
with the tail of the coat, as rolled, to
the rear and the raw edge or hem just
above the edge of the knapsack-this
arrangement giving the best water and
dust shed. The buckle of the overcoat
strap to 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 KNAPP
sack so as to throw the roll away from
the back of the head and thus permit
freer use of the arms.
The weight of the knapsack thus
packed and arranged should not ex-
coed twenty-four pounds, good load
in itself for a man to carry throughout
days march averaging fifteen miles.
Detroit Free Press.