Presented here is a North Carolina Arsenal pattern .54 caliber, leather cartridge box in remarkably well-preserved condition with almost no cracking or crazing. The black leather specimen was found at an undisclosed location on the battlefield within days of the fighting. Artifact is of the pattern box produced at a N. C. Arsenal during the Civil War and is slightly smaller than the US .58 caliber cartridge box. In very good relic condition, the box is constructed of dark tanned leather that has been machine stitched with white heavy thread and is without rivets. The outer flap, backside and vertical loops of the box are a bit distorted from storage but still strong. This infantryman's cartridge box measures 7" high by 6¼" wide by 1½" deep and has its full leather outer flap, inner flap, both 'ears', implement pouch and tab, outer flap closure tab, and lead finial. Box is missing is two ammunition tins, both iron roller buckles at box bottom, and the shoulder sling. All leather is remarkably strong and in very good condition.

Original closure tab on the outer flap is intact and show cracking and scuffing but is not ripped or distorted. A pear-shaped lead finial is securely attached to the box bottom. Two small perforations in the lower half of the outer flap exterior are visible and made to accommodate a brass oval plate, now missing. However, a slight oval imprint of the missing plate's mark is evident on the leather surface at that location. Inner flap is strong and supple and has six, small, triangular snippets cut from one corner near the ear. Backside of this box specimen has its two vertical leather loops and two horizontal shoulder sling loops intact, all strongly stitched. The left-side vertical loop exhibits a pronounced curl along the loop edges indicative that the soldier wore this cartridge box on his right side attached to a waist belt. Never cleaned, this cartridge box exhibits just light surface dirt. A super battlefield pickup just days or weeks after the fighting ended at Gettysburg, this .54 caliber "Johnny box" cartridge box is identified in John Geiselman's collection by his museum listing.

*******************

The Horse Soldier is pleased to offer a number of items from the John P. Geiselman collection, a collection that was on display for many years at the Geiselman Country Store Museum on Barlow - Two Taverns Road. Geiselman began his collecting as a child in the early 1920s, and during the pre-World II period had access to artifacts that had been purchased earlier at the estate sales of the Trostle, Rogers, Rose, Weikert, and Wentz farms - local properties that figured prominently in the battle and its aftermath. During this period he had access as well to the Hill , Plank, and Stewart collections, and was able to acquire other items that had been sold from turn-of-the-century relics establishments such as the Danner, Ziegler, and Oak Ridge Museums. Furthermore, Geiselman carefully documented most artifacts, and collectors perusing the list will be able to note, in many instances, not only the source of the relic and the date of its recovery, but also the part of the battlefield from which it came. In other words, his collection is the last major grouping of Gettysburg artifacts assembled and documented by a local resident. 

This item is on sale for 10% off of the listed price.