Cartouche Boxes
In the opening stages of the American Revolution, many Virginians in Militia companies, or the new Continental regiments were armed with older
"Cartouch" or Cartridge boxes (frequently called "belly" boxes in
modern parlance) that belted around the waist, and/or shot bags and
horns. Many arms shipments from England in the past had included these
cartouch boxes with bayonets as part of a complete "stand of arms." Around 1,200 cartouch boxes were inventoried in the Williamsburg Powder Magazine in 1775 and helped supply the fledgling Virginia Continental Regiments (Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1773-1776, Volume 13, Pages 223-4.) These boxes were light and economical. A thin leather flap was nailed over a painted wooden box. Belt loops were nailed to the front of the wooden block. As defined in
The
Gentleman's Compleat Military Dictionary (1759):
CARTRIDGE-BOX is a Case of Wood, or turn'd Iron covered with Leather
, holding a dozen Musquet Cartridges; it is wore upon a
Belt, and hangs a little higher than the right Pocket-Hole.
[Cartridge]
POUCH; a Grenadier's Pouch, is a square Case or Bag of Leather, with
a Flap over it, hanging in a Strap of about two Inches broad, over
the left Shoulder...
Although the British
generally differentiate the two by using the terms box [belly] or pouch
[shoulder] , American soldiers were not always as unambiguous, such as
James Johnston, who testified that " my Cartridge box was
never of [off] my neck"
In 1776, multiple contracts and payments went out through the State for Cartouch/Cartooch boxes as detailed by Mary Goodwin (CLOTHING AND ACCOUTREMENTS OF THEOFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE VIRGINIA FORCES 1775-1780. From the RECORDS of the PUBLIC STORE at WILLIAMSBURG)
" The Committee of Safety for Virginia (which committee had charge of such things for the state until the new government was formed in June, 1776) contracted for supplies for the army. On February 19, 1776, the committee contracted with Mr. Anthony Noble, of Berkeley, to "furnish 1,000 cartouch boxes, Belts and bayonet cases at the price of 9s. each "[Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. VIII, pages 90...]"
Noble was also involved in manufacturing arms with his partner Adam Stephen.
Wartime shortages caused Adjutant General and soon to be Quartermaster General, Timothy Pickering to suggest to Governor Jefferson that Virginia substitute waist boxes of the "belly" type instead of shoulder pouches in 1780.
To Thomas Jefferson from Timothy Pickering, 3 July 1780
War-Office July 3d. 1780
"Sir
We did ourselves the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 20th ulto. when we expected to be able to send you 2000 cartridge boxes: but we have been disappointed; and Major Peirce has received at present but between six and seven hundred: nor, are we certain how soon the rest can be furnished. But as the whole number will be incompetent to the demands of your state, we beg leave to suggest to your Excellency the expediency of getting a quantity made in Virginia; and as the time is pressing, a slighter kind may be provided. The British have for several years past furnished their new levies with cartridge boxes made of close wood (as maple or beech) with no other covering than a good leathern flap nailed at the back near the upper edge, and of sufficient breadth to cover the top and whole front of the box: they are fixed to the body by a waist belt which passes thro’ two straps that are nailed to the front of the box. Cartouch boxes of this kind will answer very well, and may be made at small expence and with great dispatch."
Soft Pouches
Shoulder slung pouches seemed to have been preferred, and they offered quite a bit more protection than the waist belt boxes that had only a single leather flap . A
variety of forms, materials and capacities are noted in the early portion of the Revolution in other states (some holding 17
rounds, others 23 and etc.) but many featured a bag with a leather flap and shoulder straps nailed to the back of the wooden block from the exterior.
"On March 300 1776, the Committee contracted with Messrs. Faulk and
Burkhard to furnish "for the use of the army fifteen hundred cartooch
Boxes with proper Belts at the price of 8s. 6d each; 1000 Bayonet Belts
with double Frogs at the price of four shillings each; 2000 priming
wires and brushes at 5a. p'r Dozen, and 500 pair of shoes at the,price
7s.6d. p'r pair, to be delivered at the Town of Fredericksburg within
six weeks from this day, and approved of by the Commissioners of the Gun
Manufactory there "[Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. VIII, pages 145, quoted in Goodwin]"
The Faulk/Foulk and Burkhard were apparently Pennsylvania merchants. The
inclusion of bayonet belts/double frogs in the Faulk transaction may imply that
these were shoulder worn soft pouches. Faulk/Foulk was also linked in payments for "sundries for the public use" with a merchant named Young, possibly the same Young peddling the "New Invented Napsack & Haversack in one" who was also selling "Best cartouch boxes, for 23 rounds, with a pouch, large flap, and Shoulder Belt - @8/6
Bayonet Belts, to go over ye Shoulder with a double frog to Carry a Bayonett & Tomahawk
@4/6."
Fragmentary 23 hole pouch from Neumann's Collector's Illustrated Encyclopedia
A proposed "Contract
for 3000 Cartridge boxes, to hold 23 rounds, with a bag, a large strong
flap to cover the bag and box, and a buff belt with a buckle." was
offered by the State of Virginia to harness maker Edward Simpson of Fredericksburg. Associated correspondence indicates that Simpson initially made and delivered to the Quartermaster at
least two hundred boxes by March of 1781; with the balance due at the end of May. By December he had produced less than half of the 3,200 in the contract as the state of Virginia could only provide him with half of the funds agreed upon to procure the necessary materials. Hyper inflation further limited the purchasing power of the limited amount he did receive. Since the state had cartridge boxes in the amount of "3600 which we have in Store" as well as the British accoutrements newly "taken at York" his obligation was amended to Simpson's suggested 1,200 total by the Governor's Council on December 19th, 1781 (Record Group 8, Executive Papers, Governor Benjamin Harrison, 1781-1784, Accession 44660 Library of Virginia). Incidentally, George Connolly's oddly specific pension application states that prior to being wounded by gunshots at the battle of Petersburg in 1781 "after firing 23 rounds himself." It is interesting to note that the pouches and "New Invented Napsack and haversack in one" offered for sale to Maryland by a contractor named "J.Young" in 1776 were described as "Best cartouch boxes, for 23 rounds, with a pouch, large flap, and Shoulder Belt - @8/6."
Tin Canisters
Tin Cartridge boxes or
Canisters, were used in the Continental army as a substitute for leather cartridge boxes. At times, these canisters were misused. In 1777, Lieutenant
"Rains
of the 15th. Virga. charg'd with sending a Soldier (William Bluford) to
bring water in a tin Cartouch box, found not guilty by the unanimous
opinion of the Court." (Valley Forge orderly book of General George Weedon of the Continental Army ...).
On the 16th of November, in 1779, the
Virginia Board of War meeting in Williamsburg directed "... that to supply the want of leather Cartridge boxes, of which there is a great scantiness, two thousand tin boxes such as are used in the Continental Army by Light Infantry be immediately made, that recommendations be immmediatley sent out to county Lieutenants to have the arms and military stores in their possession, put into the best order..." Jefferson, Madison, and the Executive Council noted
three days later that "....they approve of having tin Cartridge Boxes made as proposed by the board of War..."
A substantial number of Canisters show up in returns from Capt. Charles Russell, Assistant Deputy Quarter Master for Virginia:
112 "Tin Cannisters" February 1781; Boyd's Ferry Virginia
"Muskets-220, Bayonets-70, Ditto Slings-400, Cartg Boxes-69, Gun Flints-5640, pounds lead-2368, Pickers & Brushes-400, Tin Cannisters-112, ditto Slings -190, Fifes-20, Drums-6, Pair Drum Sticks-32, Oil Bottles-7..." (Summary Account of Articles purchased, Received and of the Issues and Deliveries therof under the direction of Capt. Charles Russell DQM for the district of Boyd Ferry from the first day Feb till the last day 1781 Inclusive, National Archives: Roll 30, Target 1,Volume 108).
Further information on these tin canisters or cartridge boxes has remained scanty, but the
quote below implies that two hundred were issued in May, 1781:
Mr. W. Porter, C.M. Stores
Chesterfield Court-House, Va. May 5, 1781
Sir:- You will take under your charge five wagons, containing 400 stand of arms, complete with bayonets, &c. 200 leather cartridges, two hundred tin canisters, and two thousand flints, and you will proceed immediately to Suffolk. Immediately on your arrival, you will acquaint General Muhlenburgh of it. You will not by any means deliver any of the above articles without General Muhlenburgh's particular order."
"New Construction" Boxes
By 1779 some Continental soldiers were receiving 29 hole "
new construction"
boxes that mimicked the higher quality British issued pouches and provided a much greater amount of protection for the ammunition.These boxes were among the highest quality accoutrements being produced by Continental artificers for the infantry.
Receipt for "N. Const.d C Boxes" belonging to Woodford's Brigade of Virginia Continentals on June 18th, 1779. (Volume 130 Journal of
Military Stores Delivered and Received Aug 9, 1778-Feb 18, 1780 NA
606471).
The Virginia Continentals of Woodford's Brigade appear to have been first
issued a small number of "New Construction"
Cartridge boxes on June 18th, 1779. Other units such as the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade received them much earlier on
January 8th of the same year; at a time when Woodford's Brigade was still being issued
tin and damaged old construction leather boxes. Muhlenburg's
Brigade of Virginians received 192 "New" Cartridge boxes on August 7th,
1779, likely of the "New Construction" pattern.
Some new construction boxes may have been delivered to the state of Virginia from Continental stores as implied by Col. Febiger when he
complained that the cartridge boxes the Virginia recruits he was organizing received substandard boxes- "many of the old construction" in 1781.
Domestic Production
Thomas Jefferson's 1781 Circular-Letter to the County Lieutenants of Virginia pleaded that:
"...every man who has or can procure a Gun have it instantly put into the best order a Bayonet fitted to it, a Bayonet belt, Cartouche Box, Canteen with its strap, Tomahawk, Blanket and knapsack. Some of these articles are necessary for his own safety and some for his Health & Comfort. The constant exhausture of the Public Stock of these Articles by calls from all Quarters renders it vain for the Militia to expect to be supplied from thence when they come into the Field, and nothing is so
easy as for every man to have them prepared while quiet and at Home. The cartouche box with a leathern Flap, a wooden canteen with its strap and a knapsack of thick linen (the better if plaid [possibly painted]) are what may be had in any man's family and there are few neighborhoods which do not afford artificers equal to the repair of a Fireloack and furnishing it with a Bayonet..."
In his deposition on the naval service of Northern neck resident Robert Hall, John Neal "recollects the fact of his father making cartouch boxes for the men, & his mother melting up pewter basins into musket balls."
Maryland Purchase
In 1780/81, approximately 2,000 cartridge boxes of an unknown type were procured from "A Mr. Patoun of Baltimore." Patoun "sent us some Cartridge Boxes. They were brought in a vessel of Mr. Braxton's to Annapolis where the vessel being sold they were left and I have heard nothing of them since. I must beg the Favour of you to get them brought on if possible. Any supply of the same Article as also of Cartridge Paper and Flints which the Board of war can send on are essentially wanting." (Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, 29 January 1781). After several letters and a bit of confusion on how these boxes were to be transported to Virginia Captain John Pryor wrote to Col, Davies on October 14th, 1781 that:
"I am glad to hear the Cartridge Boxes have arrived. I hope they are leather ones. They never were more wanted. pray direct Capt: Bohannan to send the whole of them down."
Boxes Issued for Militia Service
Several
pension applications and receipts show that Virginia Militia were
regularly issued proper military cartridge boxes and muskets in 1780 and
1781; even when they entered service with civilian arms.
Pension application of
Thomas McDearman S5749 f8VA+f13VA
Thomas McDearman one of the Virginia Militia
has Served his Tower [tour] of Duty in Genl. Stephens's Brigade
& delivered up his Gun & Cartridge Box – and is hereby
discharged by me
the 8th of November 80 S/ Nath'l G. Morris [Nathaniel G Morris]
Major [illegible]
Pension application of
Daniel Holder W9064 Ruth Holder f29VA
Hilsbough
Hilsborough Jany 30th 1781
Rec'd by Order of Colo. Gunby from Daniel Holder One Gun Bayonett and Cartridge Box.
S/ [illegible signature, possibly "Pat Danelly" ]. Lt. & A. [Lieutenant & Adjutant]
Pension application of
Thomas Kitchen (Kitchens) R5998 f19VA
I was drafted sometime before the battle of Gilford [Guilford] Courthouse [March 15, 1781]...
I cannot recollect the precise date.
I
was placed on for they called the Bullock gard [guard?] while the
battle was being fought.When I went out to Guilford I took my small
shotgun (for if I had not taken it with me they would have
pressed it into service so I might as well take it.). I showed it to my
Colonel, he said as I was a small follow I might keep it. But the
rest of the officers took it from me, valued it and gave me a receipt
for the valuation. And gave me a great heavy musket and cartridge
box. They took my musket when they gave me my discharge, but never gave
me back my little gun and I never got anything to do any good
for my receipt. They asked me for my cartridge box. I told them I had
none, so they said no more about it. I had thrown it away during
our retreat at Guilford's battle. We were compelled to retreat at the
top of our speed and it was so large and I was so young that I pulled out my cartridges slipped them into my knapsack and threw the cartridge box away.
Some North Carolina Militia soldiers were also issued muskets and bayonets despite mustering with civilian arms.
Francis Myrick stated that "
when he was attached to Greene's Army his gun, shot bag and powder horn was taken from [him] and a musket and cartridge boxes was given to him in their stead".
Conclusion:
What
were these cartridge boxes being issued in Virginia like? Complaints about the quality of the boxes were circulated:
"Sir,
the
300 cartouch boxes, that I informed you I understood were on the road
coming from Virginia, are just come in. I have received them and can
assure you that they are not worthy of the name. Numbers of them are
without any straps, others without flaps, and scarce any of them would
preserve the cartridges in a moderate show of Rain-what straps there are
to the boxes of are linen."
Jefferson to E Stevens, 4 August 1780
"Richmond, August 4, 1780.
Sir,
Your
several favors of July the 16th, 21st, and 22nd, are now before me. Our
smiths are engaged in making five hundred axes and some tomahawks for
General Gates. ... We are endeavoring to get bayonet belts made. The
State quarter-master affirms the cartouch boxes sent from this place,
(nine hundred and fifty-nine in number,) were all in good condition. I
therefore suppose the three hundred you received in such very bad order,
must have gone from the continental quarter-master at Petersburg, or,
perhaps, have been pillaged, on the road, of their flaps, to mend shoes,
&c. I must still press the return of as many wagons as
possible. All you will send, shall be loaded with spirits or something
else for the army. By their next return, we shall have a good deal of
bacon collected. The enclosed is a copy of what was reported to me, as
heretofore sent by the wagons.
I am. Sir, with the greatest esteem,
your most obedient, humble servant,
Th: Jefferson."
Sadly, to my knowledge, no original cartridge boxes with an iron clad Revolutionary war Virginia provenance survive. Correspondence from 1781 points towards a motley mixture of the soft pouch/old construction boxes, new
construction boxes, waist belt boxes and tin canisters being in use in Virginia. An intriguing and unique 9 hole leather covered waist box was found in Virginia with early 19th century newspaper cartridges in it is pictured in
The Cromwell Collection.
Danish born
Colonel Christian Febiger of the 2d Virginia commanded the General Rendezvous of Virginia's newly recruited Continental troops in 1781. After the British surrender at Yorktown, he wrote that:
"The arms in general are good but the cartouch boxes bad, many of the old construction and wore out. Some with waist belts, others without any belts at all slung by pieces of rope or other strings- I could wish that a quantity of British arms and accoutrements not exceeding 600 stands may be sent me."
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