Early Civil War Leather Cartridge Box (SOLD)

This is another nice piece being offered, it is an early Civil War Union cartridge box. There are no visible maker marks on the box. Has the inner compartment which would have held the cartridge tins (no tins, most soldiers found it easier to get to the cartridges without them). The smaller compartment with leather strap, the brass finial, and one of the two strap buckles on the bottom. On the back is the complete leather straps which would have held the leather straps of the cartridge box sling.

This cartridge box is somewhat flattened and close to relic condition; I believe it was an early battlefield pickup, but the leather is still somewhat pliable. In the Gettysburg Battlefield collection, there are examples of early pick up cartridge boxes (see pictures). This box was not a surplus piece, but one that had been used in the war. It is an inexpensive display piece and would fit in nicely with a Civil War collection.