This regulation percussion cap box is deeply marked on the inner flap, “E.GAYLORD / CHICOPEE / MASS.” Collectors will be familiar with Emerson Gaylord as one of the largest makers of accoutrements for the Union army. This a very good example of the regulation box for percussion caps carried by literally every soldier with a percussion weapon, worn on the waistbelt and carrying loose percussion priming caps as they were emptied from simple paper “twists” included with every pack of cartridges as the soldier opened them to place individual rounds ready for use in his cartridge box.

The box is the one-piece flap type with the latch tab an integral extension of the cover flap that replaced the earlier two-piece squared flap with a separate, sewn latch tab.  The brass fastening stud is in place on the bottom of the box. The inner flap with sewn half-circle side-ears is fully intact, as also is the strip of sheep-skin fleece sewn inside the upper back edge of the compartment that was to keep the loose caps from being jostled out if the soldier was moving and neglected to securely fasten the cover. Marking this as an early version of the pattern is the use of two narrow belt loops that are secured at the bottom by stitching alone, without the later employed reinforcement of a rivet.

The box was actually issued and used. The belt loops are slight pinched together at the top indicating the box was hanging on a belt for some time and there is a little bit of wear on the bottom of the latch tab from use, as well as rubbing on the lower front of the body of the box from unfastening the tab and raising the flap, as well as some of the usual crackling to the finish from flexing and use, but no serious areas of finish loss.

This is a nice example from a very well known maker that merits a place in a display of early to mid-war accoutements, or even in a specialized collection of cap pouches.  [SR][ph:L]

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