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Today, as I came into camp, I was handed my uniform: a blue cap with a black leather visor, a dark blue, loose flannel sack coat, blue woolen trousers, and heavy, black, leather ankle-high shoes called gunboats. On top of my knapsack, I have a rolled wool blanket, and inside my pack, I have half of a two-man wedge tent, a groundsheet, an overcoat and personal belongings. In addition, I have a rifle, a 40-round cartridge box, a sheated bayonet, a cap box, a haversack, a cloth-covered tin canteen and a tin cup. I also carry personal belonging such as a photo of my wife and my jew's harp. I'll bet that altogether it weighs at least 40 punds. All this is held on by leather straps criss-crossing my torso. It makes me feel like a harnessed animal. I'm surprised that many of my companmions are Irishmen of Germans, whom many people have strong feelings against. However, they are as patriotic as anyone else and are proud to serve the Union. |
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