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Short Rounds
A “Walk-a Heap’s” Load, 1877
While it was the cavalrymen who garnered most of the glory
during the Plains Indian Wars in the late nineteenth century, it was the hard
marching infantry who often did much of the work, the men whom one of the great
Indian warriors – Sitting Bull seems to be meant – reportedly nicknamed “Walk-a
Heaps.”
And while the troopers had their mounts to help them carry
their loads, the foot soldiers had to tote it all with them, and that for the
same $13 a month
| Item |
Weight (pds) |
| Uniform with
shoes |
c. 8.50 |
| Overcoat |
5.25 |
| Blanket (wool) |
5.13 |
| Rubber Blanket |
3.00 |
| Springfield
rifle, with sling |
8.40 |
| 60 rounds with
ammo belt |
5.40 |
| Spare Clothing |
2.00 |
| Quart canteen
(full) |
2.00 |
| Five Days’
rations |
8.75 |
Now this assumes that the infantrymen – who often might be
“dismounted” artillerymen – were traveling
“light,” putting all their gear in a blanket roll, leaving some unnecessary items
behind. Two items were almost always
left behind as useless, the “Merriam Pack,” the army’s standard knapsack, an uncomfortable
contraption that weighed several pounds [see CIC No. 155], and the bayonet with
its scabbard, saving another pound or so.
Napoleon and the Woodcutters
One day, while hunting in
the Forest of Compeigne, Napoleon dismounted and
proceeded on foot, accompanied only by the Baron de Caulaincourt. As the two trekked through the woods, they
came upon a pair of woodcutters, plying their trade. Tired from their labors, the pair were taking
their ease. As Napoleon approached, one
of the men recognized the Emperor and promptly got to his feet, hat in
hand. The other, not knowing what was
going on, hesitated.
Caulaincourt cried out “Fool! Don’t you know your Emperor? Get on your
feet!” But Napoleon spoke up, “No, no,
don’t you see that they are tired?”, and indicated that the man who had stood
up should sit down again. The Emperor
then sat down beside them, leaning up against a tree trunk, and engaged them in
conversation.
It soon transpired that both woodcutters were veterans of
the Egyptian Campaign. Moreover, as the
Emperor and the two veterans swapped war stories, Napoleon learned that one of
the men had not yet been awarded a pension for injuries received while in Egypt. At that, the Emperor instructed Caulaincourt
to inform the appropriate bureaucrats that he had granted the man a
pension. Then, giving each man ten napoleons
– about 20 francs – the Emperor took his leave.
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