This Confederate cartridge box was found in Harford, Pennsylvania, north of Scranton, and was certainly a Union veteran’s war souvenir. The box follows the lines of the 1841 rifleman’s box with implement pocket in place on the front, complete with its own flap and latch tab, along with inner flap, and scalloped outer flap secured by a sewn latch tab, which fits over a classically southern lead or pewter finial on the bottom of the box. The condition is very good, with tight seams and nice color and surface.

The reverse has two belt loops in place for wear on a waist belt and no provision for a shoulder belt. This was a convenient design for speedy wartime production and saved leather, but also followed the 1850s trend for lightly equipped rifle troops who would not be encumbered by shoulder belts, etc. In this case the simplicity of the box, its comparatively crude stitching, slightly pointed inner flap, simple belt loops with no impressed borders, and, of course, the finial, all point conclusively to its southern origin.

All seams are tight and the side ears of the inner flap are in place. The box is missing its magazine tin- likely a single tin with five-section upper tray for loose cartridges and two lower sections for unopened packs. Reports by Civil War ordnance officers (see Rufus Dawes,) however, indicated many troops were apparently too busy to replace these while drawing out a new pack of cartridges under fire, so this is a rather minor point. Originally found with the box was a Confederate cap box, which is not with it, and the remains of several cartridges, which are. These comprise portions of three buck and ball rounds with portions of their paper, one missing the buckshot, but with the ball still wrapped, and a typically CS two-ring Minie ball.

The different cartridges and the very nice condition of the box indicate the veteran was not using it around the farm, but likely kept the pieces as mementos of his service, perhaps placing them on display in a local G.A.R. hall. In any case, the box retains a nice brownish-black color, showing crackling to the thin finish, some crustiness, rubs and stains, but no large areas of offensive flaking. It is a great example of a no-doubt-about-it Confederate box that would make a fine addition to a collection. [sr] [ph:L]

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