Cartridge Box Breast Plates

[Zack]

I've been watching the Historical Films documentaries as they make their way onto YouTube or History Fix and I noticed it mentioned several times that soldiers removed their cartridge box breastplates since they acted as a target. David D. Finney Jr. in an interview for the Battle of the Wilderness documentary for example said, "the soldiers would be told [by veterans] to remove the breastplates. It was for decorative purposes, primarily, but it sat right over their sternum, right in the middle of their chest, and essentially marked their heart [and] made them a target."

Any truth to this? I have no reason to doubt him I just haven't seen it anywhere else. It also seems like something that officers may crack down on.

 

[Salterr]

I have heard many people say this too. I can't speak to that but will say if you look at the late war slings and cartridge boxes from the 1864 pattern with embossed flap you'll find that it was a money saving tactic to not have to produce the cartridge box plate and therefore the eagle breast plate. The diameter of the strap also changes throughout the war slightly and many sets (box and strap) that I've been able to get my hands on don't have holes cut through them to accommodate the plates compared to earlier produced sets. I'm sure they were still produced but not everyone was issued the new pattern gear I'm guessing so some soldiers might still wear the breastplate if they were issued earlier sets before the new pattern.

 

[FedericoFCavada]

Seems they got lost too. They are held on by a pair of leather thongs poked through a brass loop or armature that fits into two holes in the leather carriage strap.

 

[History hoarder63]

I've been watching the Historical Films documentaries as they make their way onto YouTube or History Fix and I noticed it mentioned several times that soldiers removed their cartridge box breastplates since they acted as a target. David D. Finney Jr. in an interview for the Battle of the Wilderness documentary for example said, "the soldiers would be told [by veterans] to remove the breastplates. It was for decorative purposes, primarily, but it sat right over their sternum, right in the middle of their chest, and essentially marked their heart [and] made them a target."

Any truth to this? I have no reason to doubt him I just haven't seen it anywhere else. It also seems like something that officers may crack down on.

If you look at some of the photos taken around Petersburg Va in 1864-65 you will see many soldiers wearing the "eagle" cartridge box strap plate. You will also notice quite a few soldiers wearing their cartridge boxes on the belt thus eliminating the shoulder strap and eagle plate.

Eagle cartridge box strap plates were used through the war. I have had dug examples from Petersburg and Spanish Fort, both late war actions. From my unscientific observation it seems that on mid-late war battlefield areas, US cartridge box flap plates are much more frequently found than the eagle strap plates. I think this may have a lot to do with wearing of the cartridge box on the waist belt which became much more common for soldiers north and south as the war progressed.

 

[Lincoln56]

wearing of the cartridge box on the waist belt which became much more common for soldiers north and south as the war progressed.

Have read articles saying the practice of wearing the cartridge box on the waist belt contributed to medical problems, particularly back issues. Though this may be due to the soldier wearing them improperly positioned.

Speaking only for myself, while reenacting, with paper and powder only the waist cartridge box wearing was fine. Our group once did a pre-event conditioning march and I loaded up with 60 cast minie balls in addition to the paper and powder cartridges. Now this was in September outside of Houston and it was a tad on the warm side and I weas not in marching shape. I may have had the box location wrong but I found it exceedingly uncomfortable. Went back to the sling and it, while still heavy, was more easily carried.

There is this discussion in CWT:

Cartridge box question | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

My cartridge box sits too low, as the strap is too long and looks sloppy. Is it accurate for a confederate soldier to remove the strap and wear it on the belt? Thanks!

civilwartalk.com

Edit: I should correct this to state there were 40 cast mines in the cartridge box and the other 20 in my pockets.