Private
John Troutman Brower’s
74th
PA Accouterments
Private John Troutman Brower was a member of the Regiment’s
Company C. He enlisted in March of 1865
and when he was mustered out, he choose to retain his
rifle and equipment for the sum of $6.
Those items have remained in the family since Private Brower mustered
out of service in August 1865.
He stored all of these items in the valise that carried this
with him through out his enlistment period.
Bob’s grandmother remembered her father calling this his “War Chest.”
The Bullseye cantee was made by J.A. Pohrman,
The cap
box was made by Wilkinson & Cummings,
The bayonet is for a .58 cal
The
cartridge box is a M1855 style. Pvt Brower labeled his strap in such a manner as to hide
his initials as seen in the two photographs shown here.
Now,
Pvt. Brower also saved another artifact that was intentionally created to
undermine the Confederate economy. These
counterfeit notes were found hidden in the bottom half of Brower’s cartridge
box tin.
Thanks to Bob Harrington for sharing these great
relics of the 74th and his ancestor!