Confederate Infantry Marching with Bedroll Wearing Depot Jacket, No.2

While Civil War soldiers may have viewed their uniforms, weapons, and shelters as commonplace, these items serve as fascinating relics for all Civil War enthusiasts today. One such item, and a commonly embraced alternative to the heavy backpack or “knapsack,” was the bed roll: a blanket wrapped into a cylinder and draped over the shoulder. The heavy blanket was prone to chafing the wearer. It would be stuffed with a number of personal items and necessities and then secured with a small drawstring around both ends ensuring the contents remained inside. Since the bedroll was made of blanket or carpet materials from home, a large variety of color variation could be seen in all the various armies of the Confederacy throughout the entire civil war.