Here is a very rare set of Confederate accoutrements that has been together since the war. This is evidenced by the same age wear and surface dirt on each of the three pieces. Also the belt and the cap box have the same fine tooled line along the edges and are both made of the same dark brown leather.

The thin leather belt meas. approx. 1 3/8 inches wide with light crazing and surface dirt throughout. Leather is strong and supple. Belt has a sliding leather keeper with a larger one sewn to the back. The left side has two oval brass rings, one above and one below the belt. This area also has a crudely made large sword hook. There is an old piece of linen wrapped and tied around the belt behind the plate. This piece of linen acts as a keeper and has been with the belt a long time.

Attached to the belt is a wonderful two piece sandcast “CS” plate. Both pieces of the plate have an untouched matching dark patina. The letters “CS” are well cast. The top of the “C” and both ends of the “S” have serifs. The wreath is a good casting as well but the definition of the details is a little subdued. As mentioned above, there is a fine tooled line paralleling the edges of the belt.

Also present is a cap box made out of the same dark brown leather as the belt. The outer flap of the cap box shows light wear especially along the edges. The tooled edge line is visible along the bottom edge of the flap but wear obscures it a bit as it runs up the sides. Attached to the underside of the flap by a single line of stitching is a worn but complete latch tab. Opening the outer flap reveals an inner flap that is cut to a sharp point. This flap is in good condition and has both ears. There is also a deep tooled line along the edges of this flap. The interior of the box has remains of the fleece but no pick. The body of the box is in nice condition but shows wear from use. There is a pear shaped brass finial at bottom. The reverse has a single wide belt loop. Loop meas. approx. 1 9/16 inches wide. It has tooled lines along the edges and is slightly curled along each edge at center. All stitching is tight.

With the above two items is a Model 1855 socket bayonet in a leather scabbard. The scabbard is made of the same dark brown leather as the cap box and belt. The body of the scabbard has moderate surface crazing and dirt. The finial is made of tin which has rusted some. The base of the tin finial has been lost due to the tip of the bayonet repeatedly hitting against it. The sewn seam down the back of the scabbard body is tightly closed except for a half inch area above the finial. The leather frog has triangular stitching holding it to the scabbard. No rivets of any kind were used. The leather of the frog has curled some and has crazing and dirt to match the scabbard body. Frog does have a ¾ tear on one side. Socket bayonet has a dark patina throughout with a “US” stamp on the flat and a frozen locking ring.

With the set is an old handwritten ink label that reads “CONFEDERATE BUCKLE (C.S.) ON BELT WITH CAP BOX, CARTRIDGE BOX, (BELONGED TO A CAVALRY OFFICER) HAS HOOK TO HOLD SWORD, ROUND LEATHER RING FOR MUSKET-HAS CONFEDERATE BAYONET ATTACHED.”

Confederate accoutrements are usually encountered in single pieces if encountered at all. Finding them together as a set is a rare occurrence indeed. This set not only shows the signs of having always been together but they show signs of hard use as well.

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