Civil War Cap Case and Caps owned by Luther Lawrence, ca. 1862
Item 31881
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Description
This small case contained the percussion caps Capt. Lawrence needed to fire his musket. The caps looked like tiny top hats and were filled with fulminate of mercury which, when struck by the hammer, would spark and set fire to the powder into the musket barrel. The case was likely carried by Capt. Lawrence when he was killed in battle.