Match Case

British Grenadier

Discovered by NPS archeologists in the west casemate of Fort Stanwix, this match case was part of a British grenadier’s uniform and attached to the shoulder belt. A grenadier was a soldier assigned the task of igniting and throwing grenades. The case kept the slow matches dry during rainy conditions and the perforations allowed for airflow to keep the slow matches burning and ready for use. Match cases from the 1700s are rare to find as archeological artifacts; this one was initially misidentified as a nozzle to a garden hose.

Curators at Fort Stanwix 'rediscovered' the object and sent it to Harper's Ferry Center for conservation in order to better preserve the artifact. The match case highlights the complex military history of Fort Stanwix and also illustrates the significance of the large scale archeological excavations that took place to uncover the remains of the original 1700s fort. The match case is currently on exhibit at the Marinus Willett Center for Collections Management and Education.