Rare grouping related to William T. Vaughan of the 43rd North Carolina State Troops. Lot includes Vaughan's cartridge box and his carved bone (perhaps horn) comb, identified by an accompanying tag. Both pieces undoubtedly saw action late in the war and were brought home by Vaughan as personal relics.

The Confederate cartridge box is a classic example of domestic, southern manufacture. Made by various shops, depots, and arsenals throughout the south, accoutrements such as this example commonly exhibit a mix of both black-dyed and oiled russet (undyed) leather in their construction. This box is entirely hand-sewn with plied flax cord and features a turned brass conical flat-top finial, tinned iron roller buckles, and a pair of original cartridge tins. Condition is excellent throughout (half of the outer flap tab is missing).

Records show that 18-year old William T. Vaughn (Vaughan) of Halifax County, NC, enlisted in Company D 43rd North Carolina Infantry in May of 1862. He was promoted to Corporal in early 1864 and wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, WV on September 1st, 1864, during the Shenandoah Campaign.

Vaughn returned to his company on November 30th of that year and served until the bitter end at Appomattox Courthouse, where he was surrendered with his regiment on April 9th, 1865.



[Civil War, Union, Confederate]