This handsome, Mann’s Patent leather accoutrement is an original Federal cavalry cartridge box complete with its metal tin and its over-the-shoulder strap. The leather cartridge box is a different style ammunition holder referred to as the Mann’s Patent box.  Introduced in December 1863 by Colonel W.D. Mann, of Detroit, MI, these accoutrements were designed and improved to replace the earlier cavalry accoutrements but only came into limited use late in the war.  Slinging the accoutrements so that the cartridge box was worn in front made this improvement and thus it acted as a counterbalance to the other equipment worn by the soldier. 

Leather of this cartridge box is very strong and exhibits slight surface crazing on the outer and inner flaps. Leather on bottom and sides is fine and exhibits no flaking. In place of the oval US brass box plate is a sharply embossed, double-bordered oval with 1” high-embossed letters “US” inside. Within the border is stamped, “COLONEL MANN’S PATENT REISSUED JUNE 7^TH 1864 CARTRIDGE BOX E. GAYLORD MAKER CHICOPEE, MASS.”  Box outer flap has the original leather closure tab that is strong and complete and fits nicely onto the original pear-shaped finial or knob at the bottom of the cartridge box. Outer flap also retains both end-pieces, a.k.a. “ears”, strongly stitched in place. Leather tool pouch is very strong and complete.  Box retains its original 40” long leather, single strap stitched and riveted to the backside with one end of the strap bearing a sewn-in brass harness hook.  No vertical belt loops or horizontal sling loops are present. The black leather is in wonderful condition with a few areas of scattered surface edge scuffing overall to the box.  The metal cartridge tin wears a mottled, dusky gray coloring and is in fine original condition. 

This very fine, maker-marked, government-inspected, leather cavalry accoutrement is a rare specimen sought after by the Civil War equestrian collecting field.