Original U.S. WWI 3rd Division Unit-Marked M1904 Horse Saddlebags with Horsebit & Belt - HQ Battery, 76th Field Artillery

Original Item: Only One Available. The tack (harness, saddles, bridles, halters, etc.) used in World War 1 had changed little since the U.S. Civil War in the 1860s fifty years before. For that matter, there have been few changes in the hundred years hence, though saddles and tack are much more padded for both horse and rider, and synthetic materials, not yet invented in 1917, may be used for padding or in place of leather.

This is a heavily service-worn set including a set of M1904 Saddlebags which are clearly unit-stamped on both sides and on the top. One marking reads

HDQS BTRY
76 FA

This denotes the Headquarters Battery, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Division. The regiment saw extremely heavy fighting during the First World War, receiving campaign credits for Champagne-Marne; Aisne-Marne; St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; Champagne 1918.

The saddlebags show very heavy wear and tearing in the leather on one of the bags, but they are still connected well. There is a faint maker’s mark for BOYT with no date.

The set also includes an interesting leather belt with a Civil War style buckle with a small Federal eagle, a design we’ve never seen before. There is a maker mark but it is too worn to read. 

Also included is a horse bridle and horse-bit set with good rosettes. The leather on the straps is crazing but overall in good shape. 

A great 3rd Division unit-marked set, ready for display.

One of the Regular Army units used to create the newly activated 3rd Division, the 76th Field Artillery was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX, when assigned to the division's 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, and deployed to France in the spring of 1918, initially occupying training areas at Camp Coetquidan, France. On 5–6 July 1918, the 76th Field Artillery led the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade into positions supporting the division in the Marne sector, on the right flank of the French XXXVIII Corps. During operations from 31 May – 13 August, the regiment supported the division during the defense of several sectors, and the Aisne-Marne Offensive, sustaining 104 wounded and 19 killed. Reassigned to the newly activated First United States Army, the regiment participated with the division in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives from 12 September – 27 October 1918, and also supported the 5th Division with the rest of the 3rd Field Artillery Brigadefor part of the operation, sustaining a further 174 wounded and 21 killed before rejoining the 3rd Division on 14 November 1918 at Champlon, France. The regiment served with the division as part of the Army of Occupation around Coblenz, Germany, before returning to the United States in August 1919.