They were used to attach the gun to the shoulder sling. ORIGINAL civil war cavalry mans accessory!
These are hard to find today. The item "CIVIL WAR CARBINE SLING good Condition Real US cavalry Issue" is in sale since Saturday, March 23, 2019.This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Other Civil War Original Items". The seller is "phmical" and is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. This item can be shipped worldwide.