How did cavalry carry everything on their saddle?

The average civil war cavalry trooper had to carry more than just his weapons. He had to carry his bedroll, shelter, canteen, poncho, picket pin, lariat, haversack, and much more! How and where did they put all of it when riding on campaign?
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[@wmsollenberger8706]

Always been fascinated with U.S. Cavalry "how they did it" and this tutorial was most enjoyable! thanks!!

[@57WillysCJ]

The practicality of keeping your canteen and haversack on you shows if you had to leave your saddle in a hurry to take cover. Long hot day with no food or water. Maybe more of a concern patrolling the plains and western desert.

[@alunderwood5903]

Spot on regarding the pin and lariat just drop em in the nosebag! Pointy end down against the leather base of the nosebag....and in a pinch and your saber breaks, you have an instant ready pointy sharp thing accessible.

[@alunderwood5903]

My 35 years of cavalry reenacting and years in the US Army horse cavalry units alwaysed me to fold my gum blanket broad enough to cover my great coat (to keep it dry) and on the pommel for easy access if caught in a coming storm. You could undo the coat straps, remove the gum blanket and put it on while on the move. NEVER roll you blanket or great coat up in the gumblanket...defeats the purpose of having it.

[@olddammike]

My two cents on the canteen. Never put it on your horse. If you attach it to the saddle in any fashion that does not beat on the horse or some item of your gear, you cannot access it. Cavalry should be prepared to fight on foot. You don't want to get stuck in an extended firefight in the sun with your canteen 100 yards away on your horse. I tie the strap up short. Just long enough to get it to my mouth without taking it off, the carbine sling will have to be over top of it. It rides under my left arm, clear of the saber, and controlled by the elbow of the rein hand.

[@richrich685]

Understood, keep my cloths out of the dirt but not my rifle. Lol!

[@richardliles4415]

I have read many books on the silver war, but I don’t ever remember reading all of this very important information. Thank you, I find it very interesting.

[@kidhammer2567]

Not desiring to sound like a broken record, again, this very video and the previous one on how to place your saddle have aided me and my understanding of Congdon's with how to become not just a reenactor, but a living historian and better trooper. I'm on my way to practice with my gear as you've shared with us via your video. Again, a superb lesson on all counts. My many thanks to you and the 11 OVC.

[@INeverMetAGunIDidntLike]

Thanks for showing how to roll the straps.

[@ahall1459]

No need to tie up the middle strap when fitting the poncho...it secured and ready for use

[@stevelipke827]

Very good demonstration and practical examples of how to stow your gear. Thank you.

[@michaelkrick9524]

I am not a reenactor but I do enjoy your videos on how all of these cavalry functions were accomplished. One thing that caught my eye early in this video, during the great coat and bedroll segment, was where your carbine was lying. If your horse had taken a step back and stomped it's hoof it would have snapped the stock off right at the wrist. It seems a bit nitpicking but it would be a nearly impossible field repair to make while on maneuvers.

[@joebuchanan3808]

I noticed the carbine lying there as well. No way to treat a firearm. FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED , even if they're not!

[@rafterL78]

It made me cringe so bad I could hardly listen to what he was saying 😊

[@danieljosiahcotton]

As a proud Union Infantryman, I know nothing of how cavalry carry their equipment. This has been fascinating.

[@Boomhower89]

Beautiful Palomino.

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

Thank you for this video I have been trying to find some extra visual aids for a fictional war story I've been writing this helped me visualize calvary saddles

[@NSYresearch]

I thought your horse eas gonna stomp on your carbine at one point ...phew!!!

[@MegaTsali]

Thank you.

[@CarolanIvey]

Your horse is very patient. :)

[@HemlockRidge]

Not the greatest place to leave your Sharps. Horse could break your stock.

[@josephgonzales4802]

I love your videos even though I am a infantry reenactor. A lot of your videos carries over. Keep up the good work. 💣

[@NSYresearch]

It carries over to WW1 British cavalry too.. the horsemanship at least

[@annamalin123]

you are right it does carry over especially for infantry

[@alunderwood5903]

On the canteen, keep it on you and had a little strap to buckle it off to my Saber belt or if on the saddle I out it on rhe OFF side and tucked it into the top of the feed bag and it didn't bounce at all.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

How was the pickett pin typically driven into the ground. Some soils can be quite hard.

[@Tomatohater64]

As a monumental Civil War buff, I love all these videos. It's great to actually see the primary sources and realize that no matter what era we look at, soldiers are soldiers and they will always improvise.

[@brianmoser260]

I wish I had someone to help me packing my saddle like this or videos like this when I was doing civil war cavalry had to learn on my own and when I was just camping with my horse when I am away from the trailer or home base for the weekend

[@josepsp15]

Where did you get that canteen ?

[@AustrianTommy]

Excellent Video again. What about showing and explainig all the horse equipment (saddle, brushes, bridle...) and their official use? Was there a specific manual for horse care?

[@11thovc]

Okami Dai, sounds like great info for another video. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@SLOROB55]

I’d love to see a video on the saddle size and seat. I do not re enact, but I’d love ride in one. Also I’d love to see how felt is glued and shaped on the saddle to fit the horse. There is currently a carbon fiber saddle on the market with multiple velcro pads that looks very similar to a McCellan to me.

[@bustersmith5569]

@@11thovc I thought McClellan saddles were not very good at all for rider or horse 🤔 i have a very nice one from ww1,,,,

[@milesofhope-sn1ty]

The Cavalry Horse and His Pack covers all of this and much much more...

[@micmacpole]

Where do you show hooking the carbine thimble?

[@mmcleod8148]

How long does this take to pack the horse? What about when an emergency situation occurs, like a surprise attack?

[@SlickSixguns]

What material is the poncho made out of?

[@seandahl8441]

Vulcanized rubber on cotton drill, though I am not sure of the weight of the drill

[@pmae9010]

How is the Sabre carried, I have one that I want to give to my son, I want to know what to tell him about how it was carried, Please and thank you.

[@11thovc]

P MAE, It was held on by straps that connected it to the belt. You can see in this video how the straps were oriented: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5vXZWlqhMSmY6s And in this video you can see how it hung: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnW4o5aZmN5lfbc The straps would connect through the rings on the scabbard of the saber. I hope this helps. If not, let me know and I'll try to get you better pictures! Thanks.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

How do you keep the canteen from flopping on the horse's shoulder when riding?

[@11thovc]

Gary, I personally wear the canteen on my person, thus I don't have a problem with that, but when you do attach it to the pommel or cantle, it does bounce off the horse a bit. It just takes practice for your rig to figure out a way that rides the best.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@11thovc Should do a video on Cavalryman breaking army regulations, and what types of punishment they got? Court martials ?

[@richarddick1842]

Were yall at Shenandoah 1864?

[@11thovc]

Justin, yes we were! Had a great time.

[@TheEriefan]

Would the shelter half go with the blanket?

[@jonathangomez9548]

TheEriefan did Calvary use shelter half’s?

[@TheEriefan]

@@jonathangomez9548 Yes each mounted soldier would have been issued a shelter half.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

A bit off topic..........but could you please tell me why some US Cavalry saddle bags do not have the oval and US stamped into the leather?

[@11thovc]

Gerry, unfortunately, I am a bit ignorant on those specifics. Maybe in a future video but at this time I don't know enough to answer. Thanks!

[@henryachey1441]

Poncho should be rapped around blanket to keep dry

[@juniorslothsix5562]

I’m hella late here but, what would happen if the cavalry were to get ambushed while riding with all their stuff mounted up?

[@11thovc]

Juniorslothsix, it would be no different as if they didn't have all their stuff. Once you ride with all your gear for a few hundred hours, you get pretty used to it. They would react just the same. I strongly recommend you read any number of great regimental histories of Federal Cavalry during the war. They are a fun read!

[@robertallen9095]

Ideally your vendettas would spot potential ambush sites

[@robertallen9095]

Videttes

[@alunderwood5903]

God videos

[@tantogoldstien6851]

Well im glad i live in these covid times....if i need to move all my gear , clothes ,ect i just put it all in a trash bag.....its water proof ....it comes in black or white and sure makes a good pillow.

[@ThrashingBuddha]

Is this all that you carry? What if you go further distances and are solo? I mean, how do you survive on the trail with that little equipement?

[@olddammike]

First off, Cavalry don't go 'solo.' Just as with the Infantry, they would be issued rations, typically three days worth, and ammunition. Hopefully supply would catch up with them for ammunition and food as needed while on campaign. Tentage was not typically carried on campaign. If it rained you got wet. If supply failed, you went hungry.

[@darylmorning]

IIRC, each company has a company wagon with regiments and brigades, each having additional wagons. Plus, the QMs are running a line of wagons as well.

[@jonathangomez9548]

What’s a good source for coat straps I need some?

[@Hopkinsg1]

Try border states leather works. You can find them online.

[@jillatherton4660]

👍

[@robertcole9391]

Just a question.. but why no breast collar, running martingales and crupper?

[@11thovc]

Robert, that is answered in the next video in the series which talks about why many troopers dropped items or didn't use them. As far as a breast collar, it wasn't an issued item, thus each soldier would have to determine if he wanted to buy one for himself. Many of the ones you see in photos for the rank and file are surcingles used under the quarter-straps and around the front of the horse. No crupper because it was an excess item that was issued but for many was deemed non-essential (per "Lessons of a decade" book). As to running martingales, those were very common but it was not an issue item, thus each soldier would have to determine if he wanted to buy one with his own money. They seem to be popular for NCO's and officers, but the average rank and file didn't seem to have them in large numbers.

[@robertcole9391]

@@11thovc True, many did drop gear they didn't need. But with a McClellan saddle. And I had used one for years... breast collar was so critical. Anyway.. Thanks for the reply.

[@olddammike]

@@robertcole9391 It is more important on some horses than others. I used a surcingle for years as a breast collar. Ran the billet under the quarter straps, and pulled the buckle end around the front, so only canvas was on the horse (looks better that way). Worked perfect, and looked pretty good too.

[@robertcole9391]

@@olddammike When it comes to a McClellan, I always use a circingle, breast collar and crupper. It's just for safety. As for the 'running martingales' it's in case I drop the reigns for reloading, etc. Something I learned doing pack trips in Colorado. Most groups say they don't need them for the show. But you do. As it is historically accurate. Things can get a bit extreme without notice. So best to have them. Thanks for the reply. Happy trails to you.

[@Number-ft8il]

don't leave your rifle under your horse.....pointing at your knee. secure your firearm FIRST.

[@ahall1459]

Yes

[@robertbrawley5048]

Well if I ever get near a horse I can now speak to the owner or instructor like i know what I'm talking about

[@morganbeasley]

dude, never put your rifle where the horse can step on it. I cant tell you how many hunting clients Ive had to repeat this endlessly too. one step is all it takes to ruin your day. Interesting, you see modern horse people putting everything behind the saddle and I think that is not the best for the horse