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RARE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR MUSKET CARTRIDGE
BLOCK – VERY GOOD SPECIMEN OF THE “BELLY BOX” WORN ON A
WAIST BELT: Predating the larger cartridge
boxes that were introduced ca. 1779 in the midst of the
American Revolutionary War, this cartridge block is a
frontier-militia version of a style of Musket Cartridge
Box was in use by the British Army from the early
1700’s. Well documented with featured examples in
Kochan and Troiani’s Soldiers of the American
Revolution and in Robert Reilly’s article, “Together
for Two Centuries…” (Military Collector and Historian,
Journal of The Company of Military Historians, Vol. 45,
1993, pages 84-86), this basic pattern of a cartridge
block was issued to regular army units and militia
alike, to include the militia units located in the
English Colonies in North America that would eventually
constitute the Continental Army.
The basic design of this block consisted of one or more
pieces of leather, depending on the particular maker’s
pattern, which were fitted together around the front,
back and sides of a wooden block, often fashioned of
poplar or beech wood, and an additional piece of leather
over the top of the block which provided a protective
covering of the cartridges. The wood block was drilled
with holes which carried the paper cartridges, with the
number of holes varying considerably from 10 to 29
depending on the size of the block, the diameter of the
holes as determined by the caliber of the musket or
carbine with which the box would be issued, and the
number of cartridges the army or the soldier thought he
would need at hand. The box was then fitted with a one
or two piece shoulder sling or waist belt of linen or
leather – the two piece slings and belts joined with
either a plain, hand forged iron buckle or a metal
adjustment hook.
There is a difference in the terminology of the period
that was used to describe these cartridge blocks that is
germane to this particular specimen. While the British
Army used the term “cartridge pouches” to describe these
ammunition carriers, the American Army preferred the
term “cartridge boxes”, and these terms seem to be used
without regard to the design of a particular pouch or
box. To further muddy the waters, while many of the
cartridge carriers – pouches and boxes – were fitted
with a shoulder sling, and were intended to be carried
over the soldier’s shoulder - the strap passing across
his chest and back and the carrier resting on the
opposite hip, - there were those carriers that were
referred to by the troops as “belly boxes” which were
worn on a belt around the soldier’s waist with the
carrier, or box, positioned to his front and across his
stomach, hence the name. This “belly box” method of
carrying the cartridges appears to have been quite
popular with a variety of units and the preference is
understandable. The box worn on a waist belt was more
secure and would not continuously bang against the
soldier’s back and side on the march, it was less prone
to snag on underbrush or other obstacles on the
battlefield, and was less likely to be out of position
or tangled in other equipment when reaching for a
cartridge in the heat of battle. Because it was snugged
into position on the soldier’s front waist, he knew
exactly where it was at all times.
This cartridge block was apparently originally made to
be worn as a belly box. The wood block is covered on
the front, back, bottom and both ends with a single
piece of finished russet leather. Under the leather
covering the front of the block, a ¾” wide leather belt
was anchored in place across the face of the block
before it was covered. The belt is broken off on both
ends where it emerged from the leather covering, likely
the result of wear and age, and is what is left of the
waist belt that secured the block to the soldier’s
person. The position of the belt across the front of
the block rather than attached to the rear of the block
would keep the block from being pulled away from the
soldier’s body by the weight of the cartridges – a
design feature that shows some good thought and
experience on the part of the maker.
The flap is particularly interesting and it is
definitely original to the period of use of this block.
It is made of a thin piece of what can only be described
as native tanned hide – either a hide tanned at a
frontier homestead or settlement, or one obtained from
Native Americans in trade. The top edge of the flap is
stitched to the top of the leather covering the rear
face of the block. Either to tailor the flap to the
curvature of the block or to affect repairs during the
period of use, there are two seams running across the
width (front to back) of the flap. I am more inclined
to think the seams were by design rather than repairs in
order to shape the flap to the block due to the
triangular shaped piece of leather sewn between the two
seams which would have drawn the two ends of the flap in
to conform to the curve of the block. There is a
closure loop sewn to the inside surface of the flap
which would have engaged a leather button at the bottom
of the front panel which is now missing. The flap has
suffered some localized wear on the right end, probably
where the soldier’s arm or a piece of his equipment –
powder horn, canteen, etc. – wore against the flap while
he was on the march. This wear has resulted in some
small loss of the flap leather, but overall the flap
retains its shape and profile. The flap is still
supple, and while it definitely has an old feel and
appearance, it can be easily raised to view the
cartridge holes.
In very good condition and showing only minimal evidence
of aging, this Revolutionary War Cartridge “Belly” Box
measures 11” long around the curve, 2 ¾” high, and 1”
deep. The wood block is covered with a single piece of
finished russet leather formed around the block. The
covering flap, as described above, is sewn to the top
edge of the back panel. The block is drilled with 12
holes, each approximately
2 5/8” deep and .66” in
diameter – likely intended to carry .62 caliber
cartridges.
The billet which kept the flap
closed is still present, stitched to the inside of the
covering flap. The leather button which mated to the
billet is missing, but the balance of the button’s strap
is still present through a slot in the bottom of the
leather covering and on the back of the block where it
was secured with small iron tacks. The leather covering
the rear face of the block is shaped to the curve of the
block with several small iron tacks. The leather
covering the block is overall smooth with some light
scuffing along the squared edges and at the bottom
corners. All of the evidence of wear and age is well
within the bounds one would expect to find on a
Revolutionary War piece. The covering leather is supple
and still very strong with no significant weak points or
notable damage.
The leather accoutrements dating from the earliest days
of our Nation had several factors working against their
survival in order to be available to modern collectors.
At the risk of stating the obvious, by virtue of the
fact they were the first accoutrements of their kind
carried in North America, they have had to survive over
200 years of wear and tear and many have been subjected
to less than ideal storage. They were also produced and
available at the time of issue in smaller numbers than
later generations of accoutrements. Whether the
accoutrements were issued to the pre-Revolutionary Army
militias, captured from the British, or produced in the
colonies, the numbers never reached the level of
production witnessed during the Civil War that resulted
in so much unused surplus. And finally, the
Revolutionary War accoutrements were likely to have seen
continued use after the war whether it was in a regular
army or local militia unit, taken home by the soldier to
defend his farm, or carried out on to the frontier as
the country expanded west, and in any of those
circumstances the accoutrements were simply used to
destruction, leaving the very few that exist today in
public and old established private collections. It is
very unusual for one of these boxes to appear on the
market, especially in such respectable condition.
This rare and very collectable
Revolutionary War Cartridge Box will make an important
addition to even an advanced accoutrement collection and
it would display very nicely with an early flintlock
musket.
(0460)
$1750
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