Cap and Cartridge pouch Identification

[cerick1450]

Hello

Came across this interesting set.  When I was phtographing, I noticed that the inside wood powder box was removable.  In the bottom were cloth strips , Civil War Worm, Pick, Ball Ammo, Flints. and a Ammo paper wrapped cartridge .  Not sure of the age of all this, but it is old.  What do i have here?

The cap box has a pick in it as well.

Thank you

 

[cerick1450]

more

 

[Just an Old dude]

According to Dorsey's Book "American Military Belts and Related Equipments" (pg. 54) your box is the "Model 1855 Infantry Cartridge Box with Sholder Strap". 

 

Hope this helps. 

 

OD 

[Just an Old dude]

[cerick1450]

Thank you.  Do the plates on the pouch look original?

[Just an Old dude]

You are welcome, my pleasure.   I have only handled a couple of these over the years.  And haven't seen one in a while.  They look OK to me but might have been cleaned at one point not too long ago.  Do they appear "thick" in depth?  It's hard to gauge that in the pictures.  

 

OD  

[cerick1450]

I will try to take a picture.  Yes, I do believe someone used cleaner on them.

[ludwigh1980]

It looks like a re-enactor's / skirmishers set to me. a couple years of campaigning will make them look like this. Originals will usually have some crazing and flaking to the outer surface as well makers mark and inspectors' marks. Better reproductions will even exhibit correct period markings so that is not a definitive characteristic. Keep in mind large scale re-enacting has been going on since the 1960's, which would make a set dating from this time almost 60 years old. I sold my original set years ago. I have a reproduction set for living history events and it dates to the 1980's and it looks about like this. Just my opinion. 

[cerick1450]

Here are side pictures of the eagle first and US emblem second.

 

[cerick1450]

There is definately crazing and flaking to the leather.  It is very stiff.  Not sure about the contents..

[Just an Old dude]

Ludwig,

 

Good points that I hadn't considered, I was focused on ID'ing the box itself.  Cerick, while there are no pictures of the markings in Dorsey's book here are what you would want to look for on the box.  Again, credit Dorsey.  

 

OD

[iron bender]

The cap pouch is reproduction as is the cartridge box. Interesting that it has the post Civil War wooden 50-70 ammo block installed. Looks like a great set to use for shooting ball out of your old 3-bander!

...here's my Jarnagin leathers I got at Shiloh in 1987

[cerick1450]

Here are pics of the size..

 

 

[iron bender]

Interestingly the cartridge box is the .69 pattern box, and has the wooden block, and a whisk and pick. Those are typically for flintlocks. I'd guess that whoever used this set likely shot at North/South skirmish events, and probably crossed over between a flintlock and a percussion .69, like a conversion or 42. The wooden blocks are great for protecting the paper cartridges

[cerick1450]

I looked at information in the book "Civil War Cartridge boxes of the Union Infantryman".  by paul Johnson. and he says the following.:

Box Plate --3.5" x 2.2" with the eyes on the reverse at 2.5 inches apart.  That matches nearly right on.  The eye separation is at 2.5 inches on the rear.

Belt plate- Circular 2.5 " with the eyes at 2" apart.  Again that looks fairly good, with the eye separation dead on...

Interesting.  I love this investigation work.  No matter whatthis is,, I learn about an area I am not familar with.

Thank you all for the help. 

[Just an Old dude]

Cerick,

 

While I may be a "new member" here, I have been a long-time reader.  These guys know way more than I do.  Iron bender, great info.  While not a "3 bander" this Ole Gal came out of an attic near here a couple of years ago.  While I stopped collecting years ago, I couldn't leave her behind.  Ohio marked 1854 Lorenz.  Thought you might enjoy seeing it.  

 

OD