NAMED U.S. COLORED TROOPS BELT, BUCKLE, AND CAP BOX
Brown leather belt, 38" x 2", with accompanying black leather percussion cap box and brass oval buckle marked "U S", named to "Cashmere Sam", a black soldier serving with the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War. The back of the belt bears the name "C. Sam" in black paint, partially obscuring the name "W. Chipman". Many black soldiers during the war were issued equipment that had been returned to army quartermasters by white soldiers who were mustered out, or who had been killed or wounded. It is almost certain that Chipman was the original owner of this belt, and that it reentered the supply chain and was issued to Sam upon his enlistment. The belt is missing much of its black finish and is flaking throughout, while the cartridge box has some of the expected cracks on the front flap. The brass buckle shows a fine patina. Personal relics belonging to black Civil War soldiers are exceedingly scarce, and have great historical significance. From a life-long Florida Civil War collector.