Need some help sorting out some items

east_beast

Corporal
Joined
Jan 19, 2023
I want to provide some info to help with identification but not enough that it might cloud judgments because that's kinda where I find myself right now. I can provide more details but I'd rather start intentionally vague to see what y'all think without more details first. Hopefully that makes sense because based solely on assignments and rank, I think one thing. Based on other details I can share later, I think another thing.

These items were found in an old taped together wooden crate long forgotten. Based on the letters, envelopes, etc. contained within the crate these items almost certainly belonged to one of three brothers who served in the Civil War. I can provide more details on the individuals later, but let's just start with unit and rank. I'm trying to figure out, if possible exactly which of the brothers these items originated from knowing that it's quite possible that they didn't all come from just one brother

Brother 1: Captain, 49th NC Regiment, Aide-de-Camp for Major General

Brother 2: 1st Lieutenant, 49th NC Regiment, envelopes specifically addressed to "Ransom's Brigade"

Brother 3: Private, 65th NC Regiment, 6th Cavalry

Now the items...

Belt:

PXL_20230119_215158187.jpg


processed-e19133b8-5e06-437b-bc78-7429482c4b61_6lynN0bq.jpeg


Haversack:

PXL_20230119_214720463.jpg


PXL_20230119_214655705.jpg


Cartridge box 1:

PXL_20230119_214048248.jpg


PXL_20230119_214116920.jpg


PXL_20230119_214135001.jpg


PXL_20230119_214054619.jpg


Cartridge box 2:

PXL_20230119_214208646.jpg


PXL_20230119_214235304.jpg


PXL_20230119_214248542.jpg


.58 caliber conical bullet mold:

PXL_20230118_135113052.jpg


PXL_20230118_135047084.jpg


M1858 bullseye canteen with cover:

PXL_20230118_161040767.jpg


Just curious to get thoughts on the items and opinions of which brother they most likely originated from.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Nice group of items. The bullet mold, saddle bags and canteen could go either way infantry (officer) or cav. But the carbine and pistol box along with the 2 piece CS I would lean toward Brother 3: Private, 65th NC Regiment, 6th Cavalry.
 
I want to provide some info to help with identification but not enough that it might cloud judgments because that's kinda where I find myself right now. I can provide more details but I'd rather start intentionally vague to see what y'all think without more details first. Hopefully that makes sense because based solely on assignments and rank, I think one thing. Based on other details I can share later, I think another thing.

These items were found in an old taped together wooden crate long forgotten. Based on the letters, envelopes, etc. contained within the crate these items almost certainly belonged to one of three brothers who served in the Civil War. I can provide more details on the individuals later, but let's just start with unit and rank. I'm trying to figure out, if possible exactly which of the brothers these items originated from knowing that it's quite possible that they didn't all come from just one brother

Brother 1: Captain, 49th NC Regiment, Aide-de-Camp for Major General

Brother 2: 1st Lieutenant, 49th NC Regiment, envelopes specifically addressed to "Ransom's Brigade"

Brother 3: Private, 65th NC Regiment, 6th Cavalry

Now the items...

Belt:

View attachment 463359

View attachment 463360

Haversack:

View attachment 463361

View attachment 463362

Cartridge box 1:

View attachment 463363

View attachment 463364

View attachment 463366

View attachment 463367

Cartridge box 2:

View attachment 463369

View attachment 463372

View attachment 463373

.58 caliber conical bullet mold:

View attachment 463380

View attachment 463378

M1858 bullseye canteen with cover:

View attachment 463379

Just curious to get thoughts on the items and opinions of which brother they most likely originated from.

Thanks!
The only thing that one could semi safely guess would be the Gaylord Cartridge Box would most likely be from the cav trooper.

The sword belt could have been the property of either of the officers as would the haversack, while the canteen could be all three. Are there any markings on the gang mold?

Also, please provide side and rear shots of the cartridge box with three tiers.

Very exciting find.
 
Nice group of items. The bullet mold, saddle bags and canteen could go either way infantry (officer) or cav. But the carbine and pistol box along with the 2 piece CS I would lean toward Brother 3: Private, 65th NC Regiment, 6th Cavalry.

Those were my initial thoughts too, specifically regarding the belt. I'll share more info about the brothers that makes me potentially doubt this here in a bit.
 
The only thing that one could semi safely guess would be the Gaylord Cartridge Box would most likely be from the cav trooper.

The sword belt could have been the property of either of the officers as would the haversack, while the canteen could be all three. Are there any markings on the gang mold?

Also, please provide side and rear shots of the cartridge box with three tiers.

Very exciting find.
Interesting about the Gaylord box.

Getting groceries right now but when I get back home I can just take a short video of the box from all angles if that would help.

Edited to add: no, unfortunately no identifying markings that I can find on any of the items that I've pictured. There is a mess kit that I'll add that has markings indicating they likely belonged to brother 2 if they are Civil War era. I'm just uncertain they're of Civil War era. I'll also add another cartridge box that I think is from a later era. Likely belonging to the son of one of the brothers who served in the Spanish American War. The documents in the crate indicate it likely originated from the mother of the brothers though there are items dating back to the Revolutionary period including some Revolutionary era currency.
 
Seeing that y'all are basically confirming my initial thoughts as to the likely origins of these items I'll just go ahead and share some additional info that makes me doubt that and see what y'all think...

Brother 1: Survived the war. Wounded at Bermuda Hundred and again specifically on October 30th, 1864. I'm assuming at Petersburg. Direct ancestor of the person who gave me these items.

Brother 2: Mortally wounded at Petersburg on June 18th, 1864. Passed one month later on July 18th.

Brother 3: KIA at Chickamauga when his unit was seemingly overrun and virtually wiped out. This is an account of his unit's experience in the battle:

Screenshot_20230120-152615.png


This makes me doubt that any of the items originated from brother three though I don't know if that doubt is warranted or not. It's easiest for me to believe the items all came from brother 1 since he was the lone survivor though it's not difficult for me to believe they could've come from brother 2 since he lingered for a month after being wounded and brother 1 was in his same unit. There is correspondence from brother 2 during his time of hospitalization between wounding and passing. I'm in the process of tracking it down.

Any thoughts on this?
 
Last edited:
The only thing that one could semi safely guess would be the Gaylord Cartridge Box would most likely be from the cav trooper.

The sword belt could have been the property of either of the officers as would the haversack, while the canteen could be all three. Are there any markings on the gang mold?

Also, please provide side and rear shots of the cartridge box with three tiers.

Very exciting find.
Video of first cartridge box:

 
I want to provide some info to help with identification but not enough that it might cloud judgments because that's kinda where I find myself right now. I can provide more details but I'd rather start intentionally vague to see what y'all think without more details first. Hopefully that makes sense because based solely on assignments and rank, I think one thing. Based on other details I can share later, I think another thing.

These items were found in an old taped together wooden crate long forgotten. Based on the letters, envelopes, etc. contained within the crate these items almost certainly belonged to one of three brothers who served in the Civil War. I can provide more details on the individuals later, but let's just start with unit and rank. I'm trying to figure out, if possible exactly which of the brothers these items originated from knowing that it's quite possible that they didn't all come from just one brother

Brother 1: Captain, 49th NC Regiment, Aide-de-Camp for Major General

Brother 2: 1st Lieutenant, 49th NC Regiment, envelopes specifically addressed to "Ransom's Brigade"

Brother 3: Private, 65th NC Regiment, 6th Cavalry

Now the items...

Belt:

View attachment 463359

View attachment 463360

Haversack:

View attachment 463361

View attachment 463362

Cartridge box 1:

View attachment 463363

View attachment 463364

View attachment 463366

View attachment 463367

Cartridge box 2:

View attachment 463369

View attachment 463372

View attachment 463373

.58 caliber conical bullet mold:

View attachment 463380

View attachment 463378

M1858 bullseye canteen with cover:

View attachment 463379

Just curious to get thoughts on the items and opinions of which brother they most likely originated from.

Thanks!
Nice things you got there!
 

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