This is a very good example of the scarce, classic Confederate cap box with a single wide belt loop on the reverse, a two-piece cover, and a lead/pewter finial. This has a nice deep brown color with a good finish to the body and both inner and outer flaps, showing just typical crazing along the top of the outer flap from use and minor scuffs and spots. The single wide belt loop is firmly in place, its bottom secured by the same line of stitching used to secure the back and flap piece to the piece of leather forming body front and sides, which saved time in the manufacture. There is a small missing piece of leather missing at the upper left on the reverse that is not very much bigger than the tip of a pencil eraser and not very noticeable. The inner flap is intact and in place. The side ears, as is usually the case, are long gone: opening and closing the inner flap a few times probably got rid of them soon after issue. There is even some of the fleece still inside, usually a meal for long-dead moths, that was used to prevent the percussion caps from being jostled out if the soldier was moving fast and left the cover unlatched.

The box follows the prewar and early war U.S. pattern in using a slightly shield shaped rectangular outer flap that is held closed by a separate latch tab, secured by a single straight line of stitching across the lower front of the box. As is not uncommon with Civil War leather latch tabs, this broke across the thin edges bordering the fastening hole. The upper part of the tab, however, is still firmly in place and the lower portion is with the box as well. Some collectors will prefer to leave it as is; others may regard repairing it as minor, and if well done, easily disguised. We have left it as it came to us.

The cap box was an essential piece of gear for any soldier armed with a percussion arm, as most Civil War soldiers were. In fact, some collectors focus on this one piece of equipment, which has numerous makers and variations, both northern and southern. This would be a nice addition to collection of field gear, but is the classic Confederate form, recognizable from a across the room and would be perfect for a Confederate cavalry or infantry display, especially next to a CS cartridge box, belt, or canteen.  [sr]

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