This cartridge box is the "Pattern 1861” infantry cartridge box in well-worn and very weathered condition.

A Gettysburg battlefield pick-up that was once a part of the Shields’ Museum located on McPherson’s Ridge. This item was once part of the Shields Museum Collection, located on the First Day’s Battlefield by the Reynolds equestrian state.  Arthur “OTT” Shield’s opened a Civil War Museum west of Gettysburg along route 30 near the Reynold’s Monument in 1925. OTT would amass one of the largest and earliest collections of Gettysburg artifacts. His Museum would rival the Danner Museum and his fathers-in-law Museum, John Rosensteel’s “Round Top Museum/Inn.”

OTT and his wife Margaret (Rosensteel) the only child of John Rosensteel would raise seven children at the Museum which was also their homestead. After their father’s death in 1950, Ellen, their daughter, continued to operate the Museum and concession stand. The Museum was free of charge and was sustained financially on sales of extra artifacts, concessions and souvenirs.

In the Spring of 1974 Tom Bohon, military collector and a resident of nearby Greencastle, PA, who often visited the Shield’s Museum on a regular basis and also befriended Ellen. May 1974, Saturday morning, Tom would purchase a large grouping of relics from the 1st Day’s Battlefield that was all displayed in the Museum from Ellen. Tom realized it was his only chance to buy relics from the Museum.

The Shields family would operate the Museum until the “NPS” acquired the property in 1985. The Collection was sold by Redding Auctions in November 1985. Upon Tom Bohon’s death in the Fall of 2019, the Collection was sold at Redding Auctions in September 2020.

The leather is stiff and rigid overall with the outer flap stuck in the open position. Oval “US” box plate is secured to the face of the box with two small leather thongs and has not ever been moved.

The inner flap is stiff and is flat and in the open position like the large outer flap. This inner flap retains one of the side “ears” in place; the other is detached but present with other “loose” pieces. The leather implement pouch is present and in good condition with the thin leather remaining more flexible. The “body” of the box still retains its shape despite the tins being missing. Belt straps are sewn and riveted and show “pull” from use.  Brass finial on the bottom.  The two iron buckles that were sewn to the bottom have split from the box but are still attached to their straps, which are included with the other loose pieces.

There are seven loose pieces of leather of varying sizes accompanying the cartridge box. Three are approximately 2” wide and appear to be parts of a shoulder strap or waist belt. One is the cartridge box “ear” that was sewn to the large outer flap. One is a piece broken from the lower edge of the outer flap. The last two pieces look to be improvised belt straps. They each have sewn “belt loops” on one end and the small roller buckles (from the bottom of the cartridge box) attached to the other end.

The box and all pieces exhibit the look and condition of a Battlefield pick-up item. Leather is worn and degraded on the edges. Most notable is a chalky white coating that covers all. The brass components (box plate, finial, rivets) all share a dark patina. [jp] [ph:L]

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