Treasures from the Museum

By Gordon L. Jones · Originally published March 2016 · p. 12

Treasures from the Museum By Gordon L. Jones The Atlanta History Center recently placed on display a rare calfskin knapsack used by a soldier in the 8th United States Colored Troops at the Battle of Olustee, Fla., on Feb. 20, 1864. It is believed to be the only example of its type in existence. In 1861 the knapsack was included in the U.S. Army’s purchase of 10,000 sets of chasseur uniforms from Alexis Godillot, a supplier of military goods in Paris, France. The uniforms turned out to be too small and the knapsacks were sent into storage. In 1863, the distinctive knapsacks were reissued to the newly-formed 8th United States Colored Troops. Pvt. Ezra Brooks, a free AfricanAmerican farmer from New York, stenciled his name inside this one. In addition to the stenciled lettering, the interior of the knapsack bears Godillot and French military markings as well as a U.S. Ordnance Department inspection stamp. At Olustee, the inexperienced men of the 8th U.S.C.T. did not unsling their knapsacks before going into battle, as was the usual practice. They suffered 310 casualties in the Union defeat. Pvt. William P. Woodlin of the 8th regiment later wrote to the AngloAfrican newspaper, “they say had it not been for the hairy-backed n___s (our knapsacks being made of calf skin), they would have cut the corps all to pieces.” Brooks survived the battle unscathed and served through the Siege of Petersburg, Va., and the Confederate surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. His knapsack can be seen in the Atlanta History Center’s signature exhibition “Turning Point: The American Civil War.” For more information, call 404-814-4000 or visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com. Gordon L. Jones Ph.D., is the Senior Military Historian and Curator at the Atlanta History Center, where he has worked since 1991. He is the author of Confederate Odyssey: The George W. Wray Jr. Civil War Collection (University of Georgia Press, 2014).