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ALLEGHENY ARSENAL STYLE U.S. 1861 PATTERN .58 CAL. CARTRIDGE BOX RIG

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This is a good example of the regulation Union infantry cartridge box rig, untouched and un-messed with, in the sort of condition we used see in a box coming out of a veteran’s estate, something that does not happen much anymore. It has not been treated with any polish, dye, leather dressing or preservatives. The oval U.S. cartridge box plate is in place, secured by a leather thong. The shoulder sling is full length, with no tears or breaks and remains buckled firmly in place. The only missing element is the round eagle belt plate from the shoulder sling, which could be replaced for display or left as is, perhaps indicating the soldier had found it a rather undesirable tempting target near the heart. The sling also bears a set of soldier’s initials, so we would hesitate to add anything to the set that has not been on it forever.

The box is the 1861 pattern, using rivets to secure the bottoms of the vertical waist belt loops, but with the latch tab and sling buckles only sewn, and is the “Allegheny arsenal style,” a term derived from the placement of the waistbelt loops at the midpoint of the horizontal sling retention loops on the back, a position used by the Allegheny Arsenal and the various contractors supplying it. The box is unmarked, indicating it likely dates to 1862 or earlier, before makers were obliged to mark their products so that defects might be traced, has the early round rather than pointed brass finial for the latch tab, and by size would be for the elongated ball (Minie ball) cartridges of the .58 caliber rifle musket, the most common infantry long arm of the war. The sling is firmly buckled in place and has the soldier’s initials “G.S.” stenciled inside, legible but showing just expected wear from rubbing against the soldier’s uniform. Even if the initials are too general to permit an identification, they are still a great bit of personalization, additional guarantee of issue and field use, and a reminder that if the soldier lost the box due to carelessness or neglect, he would be charged for it.

The leather has a mix of black and blackish brown tones typical of period leather tanning and oxidation to period dyes, with flaking to the thin finish on the leather most subject to flexing and wear, mostly the outer surface of the sling and the soft leather of the implement pouch on the front of the body of the box under the flap. The outer and inner flaps, with the side ears in place on the inner flap, and body of the box show just relatively minor rubs and scratches from use on the back, side panels, upper front and flap and latch tab of the implement pouch, with a little flaking on very bottom of the box, on what would be its bottom rear corner as worn on the soldier’s right side. The flap, latch tab and its retaining loop are in place and secure. The magazine tins are both in place, with just the divider in the upper tray of one detached but present. The box plate has a good patina and shows just typical scratches and a little rubbing to the upper part of the “S.”

This would be perfect for an infantry display or to accompany a .58 Caliber rifle musket.  [sr][ph:L]

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