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MODEL 1878 HAVERSACK INK STAMPED “USS” FOR “UNITED
STATES SCOUTS” AND “A T” FOR ARIZONA TERRITORY – VERY
RARE HISTORICAL PIECE IDENTIFIED AS USED BY THE INDIAN
SCOUTS: Introduced in 1878 along with other
improvements to the soldier’s equipments as developed by
Col. P.V. Hagner, and continued in service during the
Indian Wars and through the Spanish American War, this
standard Model 1878 Haversack is in very good condition,
and bears ink stampings that identify its issue to
Indian Scouts in the Arizona Territory during the period
of the Apache Wars.
In addition to the “US” stamped on the outer cover, the
front panel of the body is legibly ink stamped “USS”,
the well known designation for United States Scout, and
“A.T.”, the common designation for the Arizona
Territory. While it is well known that the Indian
Scouts employed or enlisted by the U.S. Army during the
Indian Wars were issued various pieces of uniform and
equipment, very few of the issued items were identified
specifically to the scouts, and all of the equipment was
subjected to the extremes of heavy campaigning making
survival limited at best. Finding such a rare piece
that is identified as having been issued to the scouts,
and more importantly, one that has survived intact, is a
notable discovery.
This haversack is in very nice condition. The “US”
stencil on the outer cover is very legible, and though
faded, the “WATERVLIET ARSENAL” stamp on the interior of
the outer cover, stamped immediately above the seam with
the body of the haversack, is still present and
discernable. All of the rings, seams and closing
billet are intact and there are no rips, tears or
holes. The interior pocket, the meat can pocket, and
both utensil pockets are all intact.
This is a nice complete example of a piece of equipment
that was necessary to every soldier, with the added
historical value of having been issued to the famous
Indian Scouts during an active period on the Western
Frontier.
SOLD
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