Western Theater Federals

[rebel yell]

My Confederate impression I wear the cartridge box suspended from the belt, I like it that way better. When marching I slide it around back out of the way. Every picture I have ever seen, Federal soldiers have the sling. Was that regulation in the Union Army or was there a choice?

[Rob]

I, too, prefer it that way, but, then again, I'm not carrying forty sizable chunks of lead in my box. That would seem to be a great way to get a hernia. When I order my new traps this winter, a cartridge box sling will be included.

There was quite a discussion on this subject on one of the forums. It has probably gone to Internet Heaven by now. I seem to remember quotes from medical people recommending aginst it. Perhaps someone who has these references will chime in.

[Rob Weaver]

In a photographic study of pictures of Federals in "field" conditions that was made in the late 80s, early 90s (that I can't find anymore - if anyone else has read this help me out), the overwhelming majority of soldiers were wearing their boxes as issued. With slings and badges. As a Sgt., I wear mine on my belt too. Douced handy, I'll admit. But for the private soldier, it seems that slung over the soldier was the most common rig.

[rebel yell]

The weight of a fully loaded cartridge box during the war a sling would be most practical. I guess the lack there of in the Confederate army would be from the scarcity of leather resulting in the painted cloth accutrements? Thanks for the replies.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Was that regulation in the Union Army or was there a choice?

Cartridge boxes and the "stuff" associated with them--slings, brass, etc.--were all part of a soldier's ordnance stores, together with his weapon, bayonet, and other leather gear. These were all property of the U.S. government, not the regiment, company, or soldier himself. Therefore, officially speaking, a Federal infantryman was supposed to keep and wear the whole "shootin' match" or else he could and would be paying for it at the next pay muster.

That's the official line. What really happened varied in actual practice from one region/army/regiment to the next and I can't offer hard and fast rules on it. Some company commanders, in reporting losses of ordnance stores after a campaign, tended to exaggerate to make up for stuff that their men did not use and that they did not want their men paying for. The "exactness" with which the army's requirements for ordnance returns were really completed and filed varied with the officer responsible for it.

One way to check this type of thing for a given regiment in a given campaign would be to cross-check their ordnance returns following the campaign vs. the number of casualties in the regiment or company. This could (and has) reveealed some interesting insights, like a company that suffered few casualties reporting a large loss of cartridge box sling eagle plates for some reason. Yes, that type of thing really happened.

[FloridaBummer]

I would post it here; but there may be some copyright stuff involved.
In a letter from a Dr. A. Ball, Medical Director of 2nd Division, 12th Corps to J. McNuley, Surgeon General of 12th Corps, referred to (General Ripley).
He states that he is connected with examinations of disabled soldiers, who are waiting for discharge from service. He mentions that many of them are having many problems caused by wearing fully loaded cartridge boxes on their belts without the use of the C-box shoulder strap. This may have been due to a shortage, but also possibly by choice of the individual infantryman. The injuries are primarily a hernia and vericose veins.
If you have the book, "Cartridge boxes of the Union Infantryman" look on page 269 for the full letter. It will explain more. I will mention that the letter this unit came from is in the eastern theater.
This is just to give you an idea. We carry blanks, they carried live rounds. Some pards in my unit have lead melted into their tins to simulate the feel of carrying live rounds.
Hope this helps;
Kindest Regards;

[Kevin O'Beirne]

For what it's worth, the weight of a load of forty dead men of 0.58 caliber is about 5 lbs. For those who haven't hefted or worn one of the reenactor cartridge boxes with the melted solder in the bottom to provide this weight, picture wearing a 5 lb bag of sugar on your hip each time you "kit up".

[TheBaldYankee]

Well I'm not entirely sure (being new to the hobby) How it's supposed to be worn, but just the other day I was thumbing through the book Kennesaw Mountain June 1864, by Richard Baumgartner and Larry Strayer. It has alot of great photos. One in particular showing the actual uniform of a private in the 51st O.V.I.. It shows the cartridge box on a sling. Thats on pg. 62 btw.

As far as the strain on the muscles.... I'd have to say the sling is most likely the lesser of two evils, but I'd think that that even could cause problems in your Traps and other neck muscles. But I'd take that over a low back strain any day.

[Jim Mayo]

One complaint for wearing the box slinged was the sling was too hot. Both armies usually had adequate slings for cartridge boxes based on equipment returns I have seen so it must have been personal preference if the sling was not worn. Those of you that have done any real soldiering can vouch for doing things the way you want to be it against regulations or not. There are many period boxes that show evidence of being worn on the belt. There are two on this page that have stretched belt loops. http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/relics.html

This pic is one of those boxes. You can see where the strap ended up. On the soldiers records he was charged for a lost belt buckle. I believe it was .09.

[huntdaw]

picture wearing a 5 lb bag of sugar on your hip each time you "kit up".

Since they decreased the weight of sugar bags to try to fool us into thinking we weren't paying more, you'll have to imagine carrying a 4 lb bag and a box of sugar cubes.