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POST CIVIL WAR NATIONAL GUARD CARTRIDGE BOX – WELL
DOCUMENTED SPECIMEN FROM A RESEARCH COLLECTION:
From the research collection of R. Stephen Dorsey and
detailed in his Indian War Cartridge Pouches, Boxes
and Carbine Boots on pages 110-111, this Cartridge
Box is a post-Civil War conversion intended to be issued
to carry the .50-70 cartridges for one of the 1866-1870
rifle muskets in use by the National Guard units of the
time.
Another example of the efforts to utilize the
remaining stocks of Civil War surplus material, this
cartridge box retains the implement pouch on the front
of the box body and the rivet reinforced stitching to
attach the belt loops and closing tab. The box is maker
marked “C.S. STORMS” on the face of the box body,
immediately above the implement pouch. While this
company was engaged in the manufacture of accoutrements
during the Civil War, it is believed they did not
continue to produce accoutrements after the war and
there would have been no reason for them to with the
available surplus stocks on hand.
The box is fitted
with a wooden block drilled to hold 16 rounds of .50
caliber ammunition, in two rows of eight cartridges
each. The flap is fitted with a brass script “NG”
attached through the flap with four brass wires.
Showing evidence of use as apparently these boxes
normally do, the surface of the leather is crazed with
some minor flaking in spots. The “ears” that enclose
the ends of the flap where it closes over the body are
intact, but some of the stitching on both has separated,
but both are still attached. Both the closing tab on
the main cover and the implement pouch are present and
intact, as are both belt loops.
Certainly a pouch that was issued and used by one of the
active National Guard units during the early Indian War
period, this pattern of cartridge box is not commonly
found. These surviving examples serve to complete the
story of the trial and development of accoutrements
during this period and are an interesting addition to a
collection. (C104) $100
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