The army bureaucracy issued very detailed instructions on how the soldier was to fold up his bed and lay out his field kit for inspection. As shown here, J. Ross was soldier number 1835 in the 53rd Regiment. Some of his clothing was apparently issued in April of 1861. The holdall contains his shaving and grooming equipment, eating utensils and button stick (the instrument, next to the comb, which was slipped under buttons to prevent button polish soiling the uniform). The corkscrew-like implement stored in the mess tin was used to clean his rifle. The pocket ledger listed the soldier's service record: dates of enlistment and promotions, and changes in level of pay, and items of clothing he purchased. Very few regiments permitted the men to have many personal possessions and all of their clothing had to be army issue marked with the appropriate regimental number. The owning of civilian clothing (termed "coloured clothes") was illegal as it would facilitate the successful flight of a deserter. The only possessions not shown in this engraving are the fur hat, gloves and boots issued specially for troops serving in Canada during the winter.
