16th Arkansas Infantry Equipment Standards
Canteen: Any common style is acceptable. Wooden canteens should be made of hardwood, not pine. Stainless steel usually works the best. Most colors of covers are acceptable.
Cup: Any heavy tin cup or mucket will do. Stainless steel is recommended.
Haversack: Any common issue or homemade style is acceptable. Homemade ones are cheap and easy. Haversacks carry your eating utensils and rations.
Utensils: Use tin or stainless steel! Cast iron is to heavy. Grey or black speckled enamel is fine, blue speckled is cowboy era and not acceptable. A small skillet, plate and cup should be all you need. Forks should be three prong with bone or wood handles. Knives should have a straight taper, rounded end, and wood or bone handle. Fiddle back spoons were common.
Musket: Due to the great variety of weapons issued, any documented military style musket will be allowed. 1841, 1855 and 1861 Springfield's, and 1853 Enfields were among the most common. Three-banders are preferred. Two-banders will be considered on a case-by-case situation. The inexpensive Navy Arms "Zouave" rifles should not be used, but will be considered. Bayonets and scabbards are required. Not all positions and jobs require a musket. Check before you purchase.
Cartridge Box and Sling: The following models are recommended for the Army of Tennessee: US Model 1839 .69 calibre box, US Model 1857 .69 calibre box, British Enfield box, Shelbyville .69 calibre box, .58 calibre Baton Rouge Belt suspention box. Strap should be leather or painted canvas. Brass breast plates or box plates should be avoided as they were not common. Cap Pouch. The following are models recommended for the Army of Tennessee: US early war shield front, US 1850 model, British Enfield cap pouch, CS single back strap and Baton Rouge shield front.
Arkansas Breast Plate for sling
The Cap Box is designed to hold your firing caps used to fire your musket. It is made of leather and has a closure device on the bottom to prevent the loss of firing caps.
Belt: Belts should be leather or painted canvass with the proper belt plates. Oval C.S. plate similar to the U.S. plates should not be worn. Georgia frame, forked tongue, roller buckles, Rectangle CSA, plain brass or brass Star buckles are all excellent choices. White buff is appropriate for early war impressions, such as Shiloh.
Swords and pistols are carried by officers and NCOs only.
Blankets: They should be brown, blue or gray wool. OD Green is not acceptable. Old cotton / wool patchwork quilts, or even pieces of Victorian pattern wool carpets may be used.
Eyeglasses: If you need eyeglasses, then period eyeglasses or contact lens are required.
Optional equipment: Your tent should be a "A" or wedge tents. Wall tents are acceptable, but they are expensive, heavy, and hard to pitch. A fly is a nice addition and one of the more useful pieces of canvas. It will provide shade, protection from rain, and a nice gathering spot for friends. A fly is lighter and easier to pitch than a wall tent, but does not provide any privacy; a fly is cooler than a tent in the summer, and no colder than a tent in the winter.
Cots and sleeping bags are acceptable, but they should be hidden before visitors enter the camp.
Ponchos and gum blankets are handy and serve a lot of purposes.
A campstool is a necessity. The small folding canvas types are common, but not as rugged as they should be. Most any types of folding wooden chairs are acceptable.
A wood Camp Trunk is excellent for storing personal items inside the tent, out of sight and yet look period. It can be pulled out and used to sit on, as well.
Candle lanterns make midnight trips easier and safer! Barn or railroad lanterns that burn kerosene are not correct. Incidentals like cards, bottles, pipes, housewives, combs, etc. can fit your taste and pocketbook. Just be sure they are period correct.
When in doubt Ask before you buy !!!!!