This is very nice set of saddle bags for the 1859 McClellan saddle, the regulation Civil War saddle of the Union cavalry. Constructed of black leather, two bags are connected by a yoke strap pierced with a hole in the center to fit over a stud mounted at the rear of the saddle tree. Just above each bag the yoke is slotted to fit over iron staples mounted on the saddle and at each slot a sewn leather tab is mounted to pass through the staple and lock the bag in place. Each bag is fitted with a flap with sewn billet buckling into a buckle on the face of the bag. From this buckle a strap extends down holding a second buckle to secure a the long end of the strap after it passes through a loop on the lower saddle skirt so as to act as a tie-down strap. These are often found torn off or intentionally removed by cutting. Underneath the flap of each bag the mouth of the bag is divided for a few inches and given holes and laces for the trooper to tie it closed.

This set is in super condition. The leather is strong but flexible and has a nice black finish oxidizing slightly toward brown. The buckles and straps are secured by stitching alone, with no reinforcing rivets, indicating an early war set of bags, and we see no maker marks, which is also characteristic of early war accouterments made before the government insisted on markings to weed out contractors who supplied shoddy goods. We see only one or two slight scuffs, on the bottom of one bag and a couple of very small spots on the rear edge of the other. All the straps and buckles are firmly in place, although the buckle on one tie-down strap has pulled away from the leather tabs holding it, though it is still buckled onto the end of the tie-down strap. No leather seems to be missing, however, and a couple drops of glue would secure it again.

This is a minty set of saddle bags that would look great in a cavalry display and certainly improve and help complete an 1859 McClellan saddle rig.  [SR] [ph:L]

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