1790s MILITIA CARTRIDGE BOX

1790s Militia Cartridge Box and Cloth Sling

The US Militia act of 1792 organized the Militia system.  In the early 1790s there was an increase in military preparedness.  The 1792 Militia act not only organized the structure of the militias, it also laid out requirements for the equipment the militiamen were to furnish.  One requirement specified the cartridge box have a block with 24 holes for cartridges.  

This example is a leather box with a wood block having 24 holes.  On the front of the box is a tool pouch.  The woven cloth sling is nailed to the box.  The flap has a tooled design.  There is a metal closure hook that is riveted to the flap.  This closure hook also suggests the date in the 1792 to 1807 period.  This box could have been in service in the war of 1812.