The tall hexagonal cartridge box has a black leather exterior over a wooden base that holds ten cartridge tubes (two absent) designed to hold Spencer carbine cartridges. This style of box was designed by Erastus Blakeslee of the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Cavalry who received U.S. patent number 45,469 for his cartridge box design on December 20, 1864. This example is marked "U.S./ E. GAYLORD/CHICOPEE/MASS." above a hand marked "G F". An unclear script marking is on the rear strap. 30,000 of these boxes were ordered by the government but few actually saw use in the war.

Good. Aside from the absent main strap and clasp. The box has only mild age crackling of the leather and some edge wear.