Description:
Militia knapsack from the War of 1812 in dark red-painted canvas with the number "50" in a black oval surrounded by a creamy yellow sunburst on the flap and inscribed "1st REG." in cream on the body. Volunteer militia companies were the elite of the citizen army and enjoyed preferential placement in the line of march or at review. Militia-day parades were extremely colorful events; among the ornamented equipment of the men in the early 19th century were brightly painted knapsacks which were worn on the back and supported over the shoulders with either leather or brightly colored woolen tapes., This knapsack has the original inner straps and buckles.
Label Text:
Knapsacks, or back packs, provided a way for regular soldiers to carry a limited change of clothes and accessories while leaving their arms unencumbered. More practical than earlier animal hide versions, painted canvas examples like these were also more decorative. Front flaps were embellished with identifying words and numbers in coordinated colors, all of which added to the spectacle of early 19th-century militia uniforms.
Subjects:
Brass; Canvas; Leather; polychrome Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2003.37.11 |
