American Military Insignia 1800-1851 Part 31

The letters "T C B" on this bra.s.s-cast plate open wide the doors of conjecture as to interpretation. Possible combinations range from Trenton City Blues (if such a Militia organization ever existed) to Troy Cornet Band, a nonmilitary unit. Plates such as this can seldom be positively identified.

WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 60478-M (S-K 234). Figure 257._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 257]

As in the case of the preceding plate, the letters "H R" on this specimen cannot be specifically identified. Similar unidentified plates in the national collections have the letters "S O I" and "P B."

WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604167-M (S-K 323). Figure 258._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 258]

This plate is known both in heavy metal stamping and in thin, cheap bra.s.s. Examples of the latter type appear to have been struck in the period of the 1890's from a die then 50 years old. A plate similar to this one has been excavated from a Civil War battlefield site. A stock pattern, the design was obsolete for issue to Militia before the Civil War, but it is known to have been continued almost to the end of the century for use by groups such as secondary school cadet corps.

-- The shoulder-belt plates worn in the 1850's were little changed from those of the preceding decade. In the Regular Establishment the shoulder belt and plate for officers had been discarded in favor of the waist belt for carrying the sword, but Militia officers--bound by no regulations--continued to wear the shoulder belt. Enlisted personnel wore at least one shoulder belt, and in many cases used two belts, which crossed, one belt carrying the cartridge box and the other the bayonet and scabbard. Mounted Militia sometimes wore the saber on a waist belt and the carbine cartridge box on a shoulder belt. It is interesting to note that the custom of using elements of state seals on waist-belt plates was not followed to any great extent in the embellishment of shoulder-belt plates except in the Southern States.

CARTRIDGE-BOX-BELT PLATE, SOUTH CAROLINA, C. 1845(?)

_USNM 604451-M (S-K 598). Figure 259._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 259]

In size and pattern this plate is exactly like that prescribed for the Regular Establishment in 1841, subst.i.tuting the arms of South Carolina for the eagle. It possibly may date as early as 1845. Made for South Carolina Militia, plates similar to this were worn during the Civil War and several have been recovered from battlefield sites. The specimen is struck in bra.s.s and the reverse filled with lead. It has three bent-wire fasteners imbedded in the reverse, which indicates that it was decorative rather than functional. A similar plate with elements of the Virginia State seal is known. Modern reproductions of both are being sold.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604446-M (S-K 593). Figure 260._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 260]

A popular stock pattern of the 1850's, this design with the silver numeral "1" on a rectangle of rolled bra.s.s was worn for at least half a century after it first appeared. Similar plates are known with all numerals through 9 and a few higher numbers. Other plates of the same general type are known with company letters "A" through "M." The plate proper is fitted with two bra.s.s wire hooks and a medium width tongue, indicating a functional use. The numeral is attached by means of two staples with leather thongs reeved through on the reverse of the plate.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 654360-M (S-K 516). Figure 261._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 261]

This rolled-bra.s.s plate with its silver "TC" monogram is presently unidentified. In the national collections there is a Militia helmet with the same device used as part of the cap plate; also known is another insignia, comprising the monogram alone, that was used as a cartridge-box device. _New York Military Magazine_ for July 17, 1841, refers to the elegant armory of the Troy [N.Y.] Corps where the Light Guard of New York had been visitors. This plate may have been an insignia of that organization. The monogram is affixed with staples and leather thongs, and the plate proper carries a large safety pin soldered to the reverse for purely decorative attachment. It is unknown whether the safety pin fasteners are contemporary with the plates to which they are attached. Rudimentary safety pins were known in Egypt before Christ, but they apparently did not appear in America until the 1830's and 1840's. Walter Hunt patented the first American safety pin in 1849.[144]

[Footnote 144: U.S. Patent 6281 (April 10, 1849).]

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604361-M (S-K 517). Figure 262._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 262]

Several Militia organizations of the 1840's and 1850's were called "Republican Guards," and this silver "RG" monogram on a rolled-bra.s.s rectangle would have been appropriate on shoulder belts of so-named units. The monogram is affixed with wire fasteners, but the means of attachment for the plate proper are missing.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604362 (S-K 518). Figure 263._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 263]

The silver letters "GG" on this rolled-bra.s.s plate present several possibilities for identification. Among the uniformed Militia units of the 1840's and 1850's were Garibaldi Guards, German Guards, and Gray Guards. This piece could have been the device of any of the three. The letters are affixed with wire fasteners, and a safety pin is soldered to the rear of the plate proper for decorative attachment.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604363-M (S-K 519). Figure 264._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 264]

This oval bra.s.s plate with the wire-affixed silver-on-copper letters "AG" is unidentified, but it might well have been worn by the American Guards, or by a uniformed company from some city as Atlanta or Albany, with the letter "G" representing "Grays," "Guards," "Grenadiers," or the like. It was attached to the belt with three simple wire fasteners.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604335-M (S-K 491). Figure 265._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 265]

The white-metal device on this bra.s.s plate comprises elements of the arms of "New Amsterdam" topped by the crest of the arms of New York State with supporting figures representing the original Indian owner of Manhattan Island and the mariner who became the first white settler. The specimen is believed to have been worn by the New York City Guard. The device is affixed with three staples originally intended to be reeved through with leather thongs, although now bent over. The means of attachment of the plate proper are missing.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604364-M (S-K 520). Figure 266._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 266]

The letters "K L G" forming the white-metal monogram on this bra.s.s plate indicate that it could well have been worn by the Kentish Light Guard of Rhode Island. The monogram is attached by means of two staples with thongs reeved through, and the plate proper is fitted with four similar staples. The reverse bears the hallmark of William H. Horstmann and Sons, well-known military outfitters of Philadelphia.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1850