This classic Confederate cap box came out of the estate of longtime Gettysburg resident Roy Thomas and is certainly a local find. It has just about everything you look for in this essential piece of Confederate gear. The flap is square cut, with a simple, narrow impressed border line as decoration, and has a separate latch tab secured by a single line of stitching across the lower front. The fastening stud is lead/pewter, the Confederate alternative to the U.S. brass finials, and the single, wide leather belt on the rear is a labor-saving alternative to the two narrow belt loops on Union cap boxes and is secured along the bottom edge by the same line of stitching that secures the back to the body of the box. The box is made with a short inner flap with side ears, like US boxes and essential to keep the percussion caps inside from being jostled out if the soldier leaves the latch unfastened in action, but the stitching of the side ears is noticeably broader and cruder than its US cousins- construction that, again, gets the job done and done quickly.

A set of initials is lightly scratched near the upper edge of the flap that seem to be “JRW,” though a few hold-outs in the office see them as “JKW.” In either case it would seem impossible to narrow down a personal identification for certain, though a start might be made among Confederate casualties of the battle. J.R. Weathers, Co. H, 5^th Texas, who was killed in the battle, would be a tempting candidate, but there are others, including several with the initials “J.W.” whose middle initial was simply not given in the records. In any case, however, this is a nice example of a soldier personalizing his field gear. The box is untouched and the condition is excellent throughout with only minor abrasions or crazing to the finish from use and some typical loss of finish on the latch tab from flexing. The color is a blackish brown and the leather has never been treated with any polish, dressing or preservatives. This would make a great addition to a collection of Confederate accoutrements or even a specialized collection of cap pouches, and it has a solid Gettysburg connection as well.  [sr][ph:L]

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