This is a great example of the regulation Union army infantry cartridge box complete with its cartridge box plate, all buckles, loops, tabs, and the interior magazine tins for the cartridges in place, and crisply marked on the inner flap, “WATERTOWN / ARSENAL / 1863” with the typical asterisk “stake mark” overhead used by the leather worker to close up a tack hole. Both the horizontal and vertical belt loops are in place on the back for use with a shoulder sling or waist belt. Both small roller buckles are still secure on the underside of the box for fastening the shoulder sling. The latch tab is full length, with no tears or breaks and brass finial is secure. As is correct for the pattern the tab is secured with a single, straight line of stitching to the outer flap.

Both side ears are still secured to the edges of the inner flap. The implement pouch, with its own flap, tab and loop are in place on the face of the body of the box. Both tinned iron magazines are in place, in excellent condition, with the dividers still in the upper trays, each separating the cartridges from an opened pack into a group of six and four, while an unopened pack was kept in reserve in the tin’s lower compartment. The cartridge box plate is in place, showing a pleasing, medium bright patina and correctly fastened with a long leather thong on the underside of the outer flap.

The outer flap shows only some minor scuffs at lower left, lower right corner and a couple of very small spots on edges of the top. The side ear on the right shows rubbing loss of finish. The one on the left is good. The latch tab shows some flaking from flexing. The back of the box shows two small rubs on the horizontal loops, maybe from resting on another box. The inner flap shows a nice deep brown tone from oxidation of the black, something that occurred quite rapidly in the field- just weeks according to modern experiments- and the exterior of the box was then re-blacked and continued in use, as wear to that finish indicates. There are some traces on the inside of the flap that are not from a modern collector’s misguided attempts with show polish.

This is an excellent example of a Union infantry regulation cartridge box with a great mid-war date showing production in time for use in the climactic battles of the war in both the eastern and western theatres.  [sr] [ph:L]

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