Several people have suggested the front of the box says Antietam. I think they are correct for which I thank each and everyone of you.

People that are unfamiliar with mid-nineteenth century military weaponry generally have the impression that soldiers carried a powder horn or some variation of one. In reality, soldiers were issued cartridges consisting of a paper tube, filled with a powder charge and ball. These paper cartridges were issued in paper packs of ten. Because they were made of paper, the cartridges were very fragile and even a slight wetting would ruin them; therefore, it was necessary that they be carried in a leather box which served to keep the cartridges dry. The box also served to keep out sparks during the heat of battle. Should a spark enter the box, the resulting explosion would severely injure or kill its owner. Basically, each soldier had a bomb strapped to his waist and only this box to keep it from igniting.

The painted canvas sling is obviously Confederate, but how do we know that the box itself is of Confederate manufacture? The box uses a very crudely made brass closure finial. Besides the crude closure finial, the box can be identified as of Confederate manufacture by those wonderful horseshoe shaped buckles on the bottom. With the exception of the broken outer latch tab the box is perfect, and the original tab is in the box. The tool pouch and inner latch tab are perfect, the end tabs are perfect, the inner flap is perfect, the buckles are perfect, and the leather is perfectly pliable and it retains both its tin liners. All of the stitching is strong and complete. But for the missing finial this box could not be improved upon. And it gets better! It has a wonderful painted canvas shoulder sling, unfortunately, the rangers on the sling have broken and have been very poorly repaired. This repair could easily be improved upon.

There is painted text on the front cover which I have been unable to make out. As seen in the full length pictures, it displays beautifully.

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