Johnston & Dow received patents #33,393, #34,061, and #35,687 dated October 1, 1861, January 7, and June 24, 1862 for their cartridges. Using paper or fabric that was treated to make it combustible, the cartridge case was rolled and pasted to the bullet. It was then coated with collodion to make it waterproof. The fact that so many of the “J&D” cartridges are still recovered in near complete condition attests to the "waterproof" claims of the inventors. These are often called “skin” cartridges due to improper identification in an early 1970s reference book.

This .58 caliber cartridge features a typical 3-groove “minie” ball. All but the tail of the cartridge case remains and the whole piece remains generally covered in dirt. Reference, “Round Ball to Rimfire” Part Two, page 108, #853.

This was recovered on the back side of Little Round Top in 1970 by Maryann Rosensteel (now Rider), the granddaughter of Mrs. Iva Rosensteel. Iva was the sister of George Rosensteel, who started the Electric Map Museum in Gettysburg. Sold to The Horse Soldier in 2025.  [jet][ph:L]

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