This is a rarely encountered Confederate cartridge box.  It was used in conjunction with the cavalry carbine which was a .50 caliber breech-loading gun made for the South Carolina state militia. The Morse carbine was one of the most technologically advanced weapons used in the Southern Confederacy. George Woodward Morse, originally from New Hampshire, perfected a metallic, center-fire, pre-primed cartridge. The U.S. War Department tested Morse rifles and cartridges prior to the beginning of the Civil War and contracted with the inventor to produce the weapons at Harpers Ferry Armory. However, when the war began, Morse a southern sympathizer was determined that he could sell more of his guns in the South. The South Carolina State Military Works produced Morse's carbine and also modified muskets, made brass cartridges, cartridge boxes, and other military accoutrements. The armory ultimately produced only about 1,350 Morse firearms of all types.

This leather box is about 11" by 4". Inside are 12 leather covered tin tubes. Each tube held a Morse cartridge. The box would have been suspended with another identical mate on a canvas belt. This belt was secured by a pair of cast brass belt loops still firmly in place. These brass loops ended in balls that facilitated closure by a pair of closing tabs which are intact. Leather age shrinkage prevents it from being closed using these tabs. The cartridge box has a heavily tarred 1-piece flap that extends to the back. The box exhibits crazing on the stiff flap while the interior exhibits very minor loses and flaking around the tin tubes. The condition is solid, and it is really fine for this rarity. It was displayed in the Texas Civil War Museum. [pe] [ph:L]