This is a very strong example of Civil War Union infantry cartridge box with US oval cartridge box plate for .58 caliber ammunition, the standard caliber for infantry longarms of both sides in the Civil War. The box shows signs of issue and use, but is still in great condition. The leather has a pleasing, deep brownish black finish, with no flaking, just showing some wrinkling at the corners of the outer flap from flexing in opening the box to draw cartridges, and slight stretching to the shoulder strap and waistbelt loops on the reverse from wear at various times both on a shoulder sling and on a waistbelt. The inner flap is crisply marked “W.H. WILKINSON / MAKER / SPRINGFIELD.MASS.” with Wilkinson’s idiomatic abbreviation of “Springfield” using some suprascript lower case letters.

All belt loops, buckles, and tabs are in place and secure. The outer flap has its oval US cartridge box plate in place, secured by a leather thong, used not just as an ornament but to help keep the flap down if left unlatched. The latch tab is full length and securely in place, as are the buckles for the shoulder sling on the bottom of the box and the latch tab finial. The retention loops for the shoulder and waist belt are there, secure and with good finish. The side ears on the inner flap (to better seal the box) are in place and the marking is fully legible. The thin leather implement pouch with its own flap and tab are in place, and in good condition. The two magazine tins are place, designed to carry two unopened packages of ten cartridges each in lower compartments and twenty cartridges ready for use in open trays on top, are both in place- giving the soldier the standard load of “forty rounds.”  These were fitted with a divider in the top of each tray to group the cartridge in six and four. One the dividers is slightly bent and one missing, another indication of use, but not obvious.

Wilkinson had numerous contracts, some on his own and some in partnership as Wilkinson and Cumming. The box has the improvements formally adopted in March 1864 of using a rivet to reinforce the stitching of the latch tab and the buckles, which were also made smaller. The latch tab finial, though, seems to be more the earlier round version. Bazelon notes that Wilkinson on his own had a contract in November 1863 for infantry cartridge boxes, so it is possible he began implementing some of the March 1864 changes in his later deliveries of that contract or in a state contract. In any case, the outer flap of the box does not have the embossed US mandated in July 1864, using the rather more attractive US stamped rolled brass and lead-solder filled cartridge box plate of the earlier patterns.

This is really nice cartridge box, formerly in the Texas Civil War Museum, that is a nice combination of history and eye-appeal: just enough wear to show it was issued and used during the war, but still in very strong condition, a rather rare combination of attributes. This would make an attractive addition to a collection.   [sr] [ph:L]

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