10/11/2025
Adding it Up
For the past few weeks, we’ve shared information on a number of pieces of equipment that Civil War infantry soldiers typically carried on campaign, and sometimes into battle. Knowing what gear soldiers were working with is an important step to better understanding their challenges and capabilities on the battlefields CVBT works to preserve.
To even better appreciate their perseverance and endurance it is time to add up the weight. While the weight of each piece of equipment may vary significantly from soldier to soldier, the following weights are approximate:
Haversack (with 3 days rations) = 6 lbs.
Cartridge box (with 40 cartridges) = 5 lbs.
Bayonet and scabbard = 2 lbs.
Cap pouch and waist belt = 1.5 lbs.
Canteen & tin cup (with 3 pints of water) = 3.5 lbs.
Knapsack (with shelter half, wool blanket, & personal items) = 15 lbs.
Rubber blanket = 3 lbs.
Rifle musket = 9 lbs.
Total = 45 lbs.
When considering that the average Civil War soldier weighed about 145 lbs., it is pretty impressive that they could carry so much weight for significant distances and through all types of weather.
Image of Albert H. Davis, 9th New Hampshire Inf. courtesy of Library of Congress.
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