Booth's visit to the Surratt Boarding House after the assassination

[BettyO]

(10-24-2012 12:59 PM)J. Beckert Wrote:  Sure they had gun belts then, Laurie. Here's Corbett wearing one.



Wearing a gun, even with a holster, is uncomfortable. Any soldier issued a sidearm in the Civil War would wear one, but how Booth had his on is unclear from that brief statement. I would think he just secured them to his body as best he could. Wearing a gun belt (garrison belt) would be quite a burden if Booth's back hurt as badly as he said it did. I also wore a Sam Browne belt, which fastens to the back of the holster and over the shoulder, across the chest and back to the front of the holster. Any time I threw my back out, it was very uncomfortable to wear those belts.

Gun belts were available for men. They just didn't hold up their trousers with them! Scabbards were also attached to belts over the soldier's tunics/blouses.