A very nice example of a US militia cartridge box with wood block bored for 24 cartridges, the standard and specified minimum load under the militia act, and set up for wear on a waist belt with two narrow, vertical belt loops on the back, still in place and secure. This is made without an inner flap, but has tall side panels with arched tops to seal the box under the curve of the outer flap. The flap is decoratively scalloped along the lower edge and secured by a flat iron J-hook riveted to the flap inside that hooks into a small hasp on the bottom front edge. The flap is further decorated by a simple, small round brass box plate, fastened by two iron prongs clinched over the upper portion of the J-hook on the reverse, and stamped asterisk/star/flower stamps that form a border along the sides and lower edge of the box, and divide it into three panels using two tall T-shaped vertical rows, with the left and right panels each filled with a pyramidal stack of them – a less martial version of the stacks of cannonballs seen on some boxes -  and with the central panel containing a tall arch around and over the brass box plate.

The condition is excellent with all seams tight and the leather finish having deep brown tones, and showing just some minor scuffs to the very edges. These are sometimes referred to as belly-boxes from their appearance in that position on some soldiers. The back edge of the wood cartridge block was hollowed out somewhat in the middle, and the holes appropriately arranged, to provide a more comfortable fit, more likely when worn on the side, though it could do so for either position. There is a shallow, trapezoidal pocket sewn to the upper front of the body of the box, likely for extra flints. The wood cartridge block extends to the bottom of the box so there is no tray underneath.  [sr][ph:L]

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