Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This pine shipping crate from Watervliet Arsenal represents a fascinating link to Civil War ammunition technology. Marked as containing 600 ball cartridges for Colt Navy Belt Pistols dated 1864, it once held what soldiers commonly called “skin cartridges” – an early waterproofing innovation. These “skin cartridges” were a clever solution to the perpetual challenge of keeping black powder dry in the field. Manufacturers wrapped prepared paper cartridges in animal intestine (typically sheep) that was stretched, dried, and sealed with shellac. This created a reliable waterproof barrier that protected the powder from humidity, rain, and river crossings. For cavalry troopers and naval personnel armed with Colt revolvers, these cartridges were particularly valuable. A soldier could keep his ammunition functional even during extended campaigns in wet conditions, and the skin covering would burn away completely when fired. Watervliet Arsenal in New York, established in 1813, was the Union Army’s primary ammunition production facility during the Civil War. The arsenal manufactured millions of cartridges for small arms and artillery, supplying Union forces throughout the conflict. The three-compartment interior design of this crate reflects the careful packing methods used to protect these valuable munitions during transport to the front lines. Original crates like this rarely survived after the war, as they were typically broken down for firewood or repurposed once emptied of their contents.
“Watervliet Arsenal Marked Crate for Colt ‘Skin’ Cartridges.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4090/259/watervliet-arsenal-marked-crate-for-colt-skin-cartridges. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.
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