Collection M.1864 Union Cartridge Box

[James N.]

Another item I indulged myself with this Holiday season was this unissued M.1864 Federal cartridge box. As can easily be seen, it has absolutely no damage apart from normal storage and aging and no wear whatsoever on the still-supple leather. That's really not surprising, considering how late in the war these were manufactured and delivered to U. S. Government agents and their depots. Around the turn of the last century surplus dealers like the famous Bannerman's had lots of items such as this one, which I bought from IMA.

As can be seen above, these were manufactured almost exactly like their predecessors, the M.1855 boxes for the then-new .58 Springfield rifle-musket, having the horizontal strap at the top of the reverse side to secure an over-the-shoulder belt as well as roller buckles at bottom in which to fasten the ends of the belt. These belts or box straps were frequently omitted from Confederate cartridge boxes, and by this time in the war the North sometimes discarded them as well; in those cases the box was worn directly on the waist belt by means of the two vertical straps or loops which are both sewn and riveted in place.

The Newark, New Jersey maker's mark on the reverse above; below, view of the end showing the stitching detail.

I understand that by this time, the inner leather flap covering the tin inserts and their compartments was also being phased out, but this example still retains it. Below, the top compartments held twenty loose cartridges above two still-packaged bundles containing ten rounds each, totaling the proverbial forty rounds which was normal issue. The inserts are made of tinned iron or thin steel plates soldered together. (I haven't removed them from the leather box because of their tight fit.)

The only real difference between the M.1864 and its predecessor is the embossed US oval in the center of the outside flap:

For comparison, here's a photo above of my M.1855 box, showing the big oval US plate whose weight was intended to help keep the flap down and secure; below, its shoulder strap made of thinner harness leather, adorned with another handsome brass plate that normally rode centered in the chest, making it a fine target for enemy riflemen. The omission of both these showy plates was cost-cutting as well as potentially life-saving!