Some Notes on Sixteenth Century military baggage, considering ways to carry in group and personal gear to the Riley's reenactor event in November. . The hauling of all the soldier's impedimentia has been a problem since before Roman times, and right up until the present. It's not just weapons, it's all the other stuff: clothing, food, camping gear, cooking gear, and so forth that gets to be such a load. Soldiers of our period would, on an extended march, most likely have a train of carts or wagons to carry much of this clutter, but there would be very little security there, from raiding cavalry from the other side, to thieving cart drivers. Thus, the soldier would still be carrying anything valuable or at least necessary on his person. Aside from the wallet, scrip or other waist belt pouches, the rest needs to be in some manner slung about the soldiers body. As cavalry, we would have the advantage of attaching some of this to the horse's saddle, etc, but horses can only carry so much, so this would still not allow a lot of extra personal gear. Given our current situation, we may actually be at a disadvantage from the norm, as now we've got to carry all the stuff.
Getting down to cases: the sixteenth century soldier would have no uniform issued baggage, there would be a wide variety of equipment. Haversacks of the usual style have existed since Caesar's time, slung over the shoulder by a cloth or leather strap, these would be of fabric or leather, most likely in natural colors and probably patched, sewed up here and there and pretty ratty. There is a type of baggage peculiar to the time, referred to, by the English Civil War, 60 years after our time, as a "snapsack". Early versions are basically a cloth or leather bag, open at the top, with a drawstring or a flap, with a strap to carry this slung across the back. Other gear could be lashed to or slung from this at need. By ECW times, and possibly before, there were some of these with openings along the length of the bag, secured by buttons. Another option is to roll up as much as possible in bedroll or rolled plaid, over the shoulder. This method has been used since ancient times and as recently as in the Red Army during World War II, and most likely right up to now. This may be the fastest cheapest way of getting your baggage together for the Riley's event. It's also a good way to hide non-period extra blankets, etc being hauled in for the event. Another option for our group would be a pair of saddlebags, slung over the shoulder, a sure sign of a recent change in status for a light cavalryman!