May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
An American or possibly British cartridge "pouch" or box of the 3rd quarter of the 18th century, its two-piece body of thin leather made in the "soft" or "bag style, containing a wooden block drilled to contain 23 fusil or carbine-bore cartridges (11/16 in. dia. holes), arranged in two rows (12 in rear and 11 in front). The block approximately 9 1/2 L (at rear) x 2 3/8 W s 2 7/8 in. D with front edges, the box ends slightly rounded are beveled in front. The rear of the box is secured to the backing board of an early "window box" display case by two screws; , the glazing is now missing from hinged, front of carved frame molding. Glued to the backing panel above the box is a piece of laid paper bearing the following inscription in brown ink: "This empty pouch was used to carry bullets was picked up after the battle of Breed's Hill near Boston in the year 1775 preserved by the Chandler family as a relic of that war to this day". There is a small, red-edged sticker label on the upper inside of the box, bearing a partly obliterated inscription: [torn or scratched out first name?, followed by] "CHANDLER" in black ink. The flap of the cartridge box is missing. 23-hole cartridge pouches are frequently mentioned in French & Indian War and Revolutionary War records and at least one block of similar form was recovered from the site of the 1757 Sabbath Day Massacre at Lake George. Accompanying this box is an unrelated musket cartridge of heavy, waxed or glazed paper, filled with what feels to be a lead musket ball at bottom and powder above. JLK
Illustrated and described on pp. 162-163 of "For Liberty I Live."