ooden pins. This makes some defense against
the weather, and was the only shelter enjoyed by the mass of the French
army in the Crimea up to October, 1855. For a permanent camp it is
usual to excavate a shallow basement under the tent, and to bank up the
earth on the outside in cold weather. It is designed that upon marches
the _tente d'abri_ shall be taken to pieces and carried by the
soldiers.

A tent has recently been prepared by Mr. John Rider, 165 Broadway, New
York, which is called the "_tent knapsack_." It has been examined by a
board of army officers, and recommended for adoption in our military
service.

[Illustration: TENT KNAPSACK.]

This tent is somewhat similar to the _tente d'abri_, and is pitched in
the same manner, but it has this advantage, that each separate piece
may be converted into a water-proof knapsack.

The following extracts from the Report of the Board go to show that
this tent knapsack will be useful to parties traveling on the prairies
with pack trains:

"It is a piece of gutta-percha 5 feet 3 inches long, and 3 feet 8
inches wide, with double edges on one side, and brass studs and
button-holes along two edges, and straps and buckles on the fourth
edge; the whole weighing three pounds; two sticks, 3 feet 8 inches long
by 1-1/4 inches in diameter, and a small cord. When used as a knapsack,
the clothing is packed in a cotton bag, and the gutta-percha sheet is
folded round it, lapping at the ends. The clothing is thus protected by
two or three thicknesses of gutta-percha, and in this respect there is
a superiority over the knapsack now used by our troops. Other
advantages are, that the tent knapsack has no seams, the parts at which
those in use wear out soonest; it adapts itself to the size of the
contents, so that a compact and portable bundle can be made, whether
the kit be entire or not; and, with the cotton bag, it forms a
convenient, commodious, and durable receptacle for all a soldier's
clothing and necessaries.

"On a scout a soldier usually carries only a blanket, overcoat, and at
most a single shirt, pair of drawers, and a pair of socks, all of which
can be packed in the tent knapsack in a small bundle, perfectly
protected from rain, and capable of being suspended from the shoulders
and carried with comfort and ease during a march.

"2d. As a shelter. The studs and eyelets along two edges of the tent
knapsack are for the purpose of fastening a number of them together,
and thu