"I am just an ordinary soldier. To start off, the pants I wear are blue and made of wool. My standard issue shirt has worn out, so mother has made and sent me a new one. On top of that, I wear a blue wool vest buttoned to the top. During the summer I often wear a blue coat, also wool, buttoned to the top. The summers are hot, especially because I still must wear the full unifrom. My bag that I wear on my left hip is what i keep all my rations in. It has been coated in tar to it stays dry on the inside. I keep my case of rounds on my right, along with the case of caps (for my gun) on my belt. Both are also heavily waterproofed, because if the contents were to get wet than my gun wouldn't work right. I keep my pants tucked into my wool socks so I don't get ticks. My blacks boots I was given are not very comfortable. Hanging on my left side is my canteen. It basically is two bowls soldered together with lead. My rifle I carry is a standard Enfield, given to all recruits. If I want to, I could take money out of my pay to get a Spencer rifle, which is an upgrade, because instead of firing one shot and then having to reload, it has seven in the stock to shoot before reloading. To reload my standard rifle, I must put the power cartridge and ball in, and then shove them down with the ramrod. After that, I put a cap (similiar to a match head) on and I'm ready to shoot. My hat is the same as everone's on my level, issued when we enlisted. Some of my officers and some cavalry men have swords, but they don't use them much at all. During the winter, I get a heavier, longet blue wool overcoat. If I were to need more or replacement clothes, I write home to my mother or my girlfriend."