Federal clothing

For those who don't like the story I posted, here is something a lot more historical. Ever wonder what happened to the federal clothing left by the retreating Army of the Potomac at places like Chancellorsville and the like? The 4th Alabama, on its way to Gettysburg, were issued federal knapsacks captured in the Battle of Chancellorsille. When the men opened the knapsacks, they discovered the previous owners personal effects. Here is what William Fletcher of the 5th Texas tells:

Traveling over the battlefield, I saw that our part of the line had stripped the union dead. The unaquainted would think this was done by line soldiers, but was not, only in the case of actual necessity. It was largely done by those who made it their business. The union clothing, when washed, was good stock in second hand stores and its benefit was that it supplied the wanting soldier and poor citizen at a low price. I heard of no effort to stop the practice and there was no harm in stripping the dead of the party blockading our ports and creating the need. William Fletcher, 5th Texas