This group consists of a cartridge box with plate mounted on an officer’s waist belt ID’d to Corporal Julius Marvin of the 5^th Vermont Infantry. This set came out of Vermont directly from the family of the soldier and has always been together. A letter from the individual we acquired the item from accompanies the piece, attesting to its provenance.

The cartridge box is a pattern 1861 box with an oval Pattern 1839 “US” box plate attached. Outer flap has light surface crazing and slight waviness to the corners from use. Plate appears to be attached by the original leather thong. Latch tab is sewn to the flap by single line stitching only and has an extended hole for the finial but is complete.

Interior flap has both ears and is in nice overall condition. A readable maker’s mark on this flap reads “E. GAYLORD / CHICOPEE / MASS.” Flap shows light residue from a leather preservative. Interior has both tins and the implement pocket is complete.

The body of the box is good with both buckles and round finial at bottom. Reverse has both belt and sling loops. Belt loops attached by stitching and rivets. Overall the box is very nice.

Belt is the typical officer’s sword belt made of leather folded over to form a seam at the center of the reverse. Belt has a sliding leather keeper and brass buckle for size adjustment. Attached to the back is a brass keeper with loop for holding detachable sword drops. There are no drops present. The left side of the belt has a brass oval ring attached for another sword drop and hook neither of which is attached. The leather of the belt has been treated with a preservative but is I nice condition.

The plate on the belt is the Model 1851 officer’s plate with a spread-winged eagle on a stippled field with a brass oak leaf wreath. Reverse has a large wide brass tongue. The plate and the keeper have been together a long time as they match in surface dirt and patina but they are not a perfect fit.

The documentation that comes with the item states that this rig was purchased from the family of Julius H. Marvin of Company C, 5th Vermont Infantry. Born in 1840, Julius was living in Fairfield, Vermont when he enlisted as a Corporal on September 16, 1861. He was captured at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 7, 1864. He was held at Richmond, Andersonville and Millen prisons. He was paroled on February 28, 1865 and mustered out on March 25th of the same year. According to the pension documents that accompany the item Marvin was present with his regiment until after the Battle of Gettysburg. Sheldon's obituary from the July 1, 1904 edition of the St. Alban's Daily Messenger indicates that he was present at Fredericksburg, Antietam, White Oak Swamp and Gettysburg. On July 20, 1863 he was sent to Vermont on recruiting duty and returned to the regiment on April 16, 1864 and was with it till his capture less than a month later. Sheldon died in 1904 and is buried in Sheldon Cemetery in Sheldon, VT. He left behind his wife and six children.

The 5^th Vermont served in the 4^th and then the 6^th Corps of the Army of the Potomac and was part of the well-known Vermont Brigade.

Accompanied by Sheldon's pension records and other research material. [ad/ld]

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