$895.00 SOLD
Quantity Available: None
Item Code: M26302
Box and sling are in overall good condition and is named to William F. Wilson of Company F, 38th Massachusetts Infantry.
The sling is of buff leather, dyed black and still has the original Pattern 1826 eagle breast plate attached by a leather thong. Leather is slightly stiff but otherwise nice and strong.
The sling is attached to a .69 Pattern 1864 box with embossed “US” on the outer flap. The leather of the box flap is lightly crazed and has a good “US” stamping. The latch tab is crazed from use but solid. The tab is attached to the flap by a copper rivet and stitching. The underside of the flap shows residue from an old paper label that is now gone.
The leather of the inner flap is very nice. The flap has both ears as well as a strong sub-inspectors mark and a good maker’s mark of “R. NECE PHILA.”
Inside the box are both tins. Inside the tins are two modern labels giving Wilson’s history which we will cover shortly a well as the remains three paper cartridges to include a buck and ball round and minie ball.
The implement pocket and the body of the box is also in nice condition with only light signs of wear. The pear shaped finial and both roller buckles are present on the bottom and the reverse has both belt and sling loops.
The box is identified by a faint period ink marking on the underside of the sling that reads “WM WILSON 38 MASS.” One of the notes with the box also states that it was purchased from an estate auction in western Massachusetts
William Forbes Wilson was a 22 year old printer living in Boston when he enlisted as a Private in Company F, 38th Massachusetts Infantry in August of 1862.
The regiment served in the Middle Department until 1863 when it was transferred to the 19th Corps in Louisiana. Wilson was promoted to Corporal September 25, 1862 and to Sergeant June 4, 1863. While in action at Port Hudson on June 14, 1863 Wilson was hit twice in the assault on that day. As he lay wounded he raised himself up to give water to a badly wounded New York soldier and was shot in the head receiving his third wound. He eventually returned to his regiment until February of 1864 when he received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 77th US Colored Infantry.
With the 77th Wilson served in the defenses of New Orleans. In October of 1865 the 77th was amalgamated with the 10th U S Colored Artillery. Wilson received two brevet promotions in March of 1865 reaching the rank of Captain. Sadly he died of disease at Fort Macon, Louisiana on May 19, 1866.
Very nice cartridge box with a solid ID. [ad]
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