This box may likely have been produced by the Atlanta Arsenal; the brown rain flap, general pattern of the box, the method of sewing the belt loops and use of British expense pouch finial match other Atlanta provenance boxes. The box is complete, and all original. It is constructed like the US M1855 patterns with both a cross strap sewn into the upper reverse to form loops to secure a shoulder sling and buckles sewn on the bottom to fasten it, and also two vertical belt loops on the back for wear on a waist belt. Both the loops and the buckles are secured by stitching only, with no rivets, as is the latch tab also. The bottoms of the belt loops have wonderful, pointed ends, very unlike any of their northern counterparts. Similarly, the box does not waste leather, or time in construction, by having a separate tool pouch sewn to its front, though it still uses the very practical and necessary inner flap with side ears to keep the ammunition dry. The outer flap also has a rather simple outline, with slightly rounded corners and no attempt to produce a scalloped lower edge. We note also that in finishing the box, the maker did not waste time in closing up the tack holes created when the box was fastened to a wood block for final stitching of the seams. Where U.S. boxes show the closure of these holes by stamping them with end of a metal rod, creating an asterisk mark, the maker of this one simply finished the sewing, pulled out the tacks, put the box in the pile and moved on to the next one.

The condition of the box is very good. The finish is very good for a Confederate box, showing some minor scuffs and shallow wrinkles on the outer flap, some crazing on the inner flap and side ears and some stress marks on the belt loops from field use, but good surface and color, black for the most part with some brown showing on the inner flap. The seams are good and not only is the fastening stud in place on the bottom of the box, but the latch tab is full length. The box also retains its two interior magazine tins, both in very good shape, though one is missing the upper divider. The 2 belt loops show evidence of having been torn and repaired, but the work is professional and almost imperceptible.  A possible “A” appearing after the “T” in the carved “W V T” initials on the box flap suggests it belonged to W. V. Tabb of the 2nd Georgia, wounded in the Seven Days Battles of 1862. And the fact that it is an Atlanta product strengthens the identity. However, we can’t eliminate another "W.V. T(A)" candidate such as W.V. Taylor of the 13th TN.  So, as tempting as the identification is, and the increased value it entails, we prefer to leave it as inconclusive. A great example.  [pe][ph:L]

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