This pouch follows the lines of the British “expense pouch” or “ball bag,” used to carry loose cartridges ready for immediate use. The practice differed from the American military in regarding the shoulder-carried cartridge box as a magazine, from which cartridge packs could be drawn and opened as needed, with the (usual) ten rounds then placed in this pouch worn on the waist belt. These occasionally show up in early Civil War photographs of Confederate volunteers, but they seems to have fallen out of use early, with some apparently being altered for use as cap pouches.

This pouch has two narrow belt loops on the reverse, and a simple latch tab fastening with a leather knot of the lower face of the pouch. The tab is sewn, with a small brass button at top that may be a later addition. These pouches were made in black waxed leather or white buff. Those closely following British army patterns often have a single, wide belt loop on the reverse that buttons at the bottom so that it can be removed easily from the waist belt. The use of the two fixed loops on the back, like the use of a leather knot for fastening the latch tab is likely a commercial variant available to British militia regiments for private purchase and for export. There is a name in brown ink near the tab on the inside of the pouch flap, but we have not deciphered it. The condition overall is very good, with nice color and finish.  [pe] [ph:L]

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