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     The Richmond Arsenal was housed in the large antebellum tobacco factory buildings situated on Byrd Island, between the Kanawha Canal and James River in Richmond, Virginia.  The water from the canal and its basin had been harnessed to supply power to the various factories and mills built along its course prior to the War.  Not only did the canal provide a steady source of power, it served as a fire break, separating Richmond’s financial and residential areas from the hazardous munitions.  Byrd Island also served as terminus of the Richmond - Petersburg Railroad which had connecting lines to the Danville Railroad as well as the Weldon.  Tredegar Iron Works, the Richmond Armory, the Artillery Works and numerous mills, foundries and factories were located adjacent to, and around, the Richmond Arsenal.  It was an ideal location for the Confederacy’s most important arsenal. 

     The Richmond laboratory, a part of the overall Richmond Arsenal complex, where the cartridges were actually made, was built on Brown’s Island in the James River.  It was placed on the island in order to isolate it from Richmond proper, due to the chance of accidental explosion.

     The extremely rare Colt Navy revolver cartridge pack shown here was manufactured at the Richmond Laboratory and is so marked.  It contained six cartridges and included the necessary percussion caps.  Two of the cartridge compartments are broken off, but four of the bullets and traces of the paper cartridges remain in the pack.  Originally the package had a string under the wrapper, which when pulled, opened the pack, exposing the cartridges and caps.

     This exact package is shown on page 55 of Fighting Men of the Civil War by William C. Davis.  Because of its Richmond label, the packet would display beautifully with a Confederate manufactured or used handgun.