This is the regulation Civil War artillery fuse pouch, intended to carry some of the essential tools for a gun crew and worn on a simple belt with a roller buckle. This is constructed of russet leather, as many are, with two belt loops sewn to the upper rear of the box and a latch tab secured to the inside of the flap by a single line of stitching. The exterior finish is deep reddish brown. The face of the body and inner flap show more tan.

The finish shows crackling and some wear spots from use, but the box is solid. Belt loops, finial, latch tab and inner flap with side ears are all firmly in place. The box is unmarked, which may indicate an early arsenal product. Belt loops are sewn and not reinforced with rivets. Asterisk-shaped stake marks, used to close up tack holes made by the leather worker tacking it to a wood block for sewing, are visible.

This is a good example of a basic artillery accouterment often seen in period photos of Civil War gun crews around their field pieces in action poses for the photographer. It is a key piece for a Civil War artillery collection and display. We attach a photo of members of Knap’s battery of Pennsylvania taken on the Antietam battlefield shortly after the battle and have marked the box as worn by one of the gun crew.  [sr]

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