WAIST-BELT PLATE, INFANTRY, I8I4-I825( ?)

USNM

6045

1-M QS-K

207). Figure183.

This brass plateis oneof several similarexamples

made

of both brass

and

sUvered copper that differ only in small die variations

and

the use of either 5-pointcdor6-pointedstars.

The

arcof17starsinthis specimen

may

or

may

not besignificant,becausethere were 17 states in the

Union from

1802 until 1812

when

Louisiana

was

admitted.

Not

until 1816 did the 19thstate, Indiana,

come

into theUnion. After thinkingintermsof

and working

with 17 starsfora 10-yearperiod, die sinkers

may

wellhave overlooked

when

uniform regulations

were vague and

seldom enforced, it is

more

probable that it

was

a Militia item of about 1821-1835.

The

reason for this is thattheeagle-on-cannon device

was

adopted quickly byMilitia units

when

it

was

discardedbytheRegulars in 1821,

and

the overall design of the plate itself followsthe pattern adopted

by

theRegulars in 1821 (see fig. 68). Several artillery organizations of the Massachusetts Militia

wore

the discarded button

Figure183

Figure184

pattern (eagle-on-cannon with the

word "Corps"

below) until the 1840's,'-^

and

thisplate

would

have been

an

idealmatch.

The whole

is castin brass, the inner ring rather crudelyso.

The

outerringis

embossed

withzig-zag fretwork enclosing a circle of 5-pointed stars; the rcctana;ularbeltattachmentshave afloraldesign.

theinclusion ofastarforLouisiana. Buttonsforthe

Regular

rifles

made

after1812 butbefore1821

show an

arcof17stars.^{'^*}

As

in the case of thepreceding plate, there is a

good

possibility that this one

was worn by Regular

officers in 1814-1821. It is also probable that the pattern

was made and

sold to Militiafor

manv

vears after 1821.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, MILITIA ARTILLERY, C. I82I- 1840(?)

USNM 60453-M (S-K

10 f). Figure 184

.

While

thisplatecould ha\e been

worn

b)'

an

officer of the Regular artillery in the period 1814-1821

"8Johnson,vol.1,p.61.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

MAINE,

C. 1821

USNM

604123

iS-K

279). Figure185.

Thisplate,struck incopper, contains the basicde- vicesof the State of

Maine

sealenclosed

by

a curled ribbon border embellished with 5-pointedstars.

The

specimenis

more

square thanrectangular, a charac- teristic of waist-belt plates of the early 1800's. It

was

probably

worn by Maine

Militia

no

laterthan the 1820's,possiblyafewyearsearlier.

The method

ofattachmentalso is indicative ofthisearly period:

the

heavy

verticalwire is brazed to

one end

of the reverse,

and

the L-shaped tongueto the other. This plateobviously

was

a stock pattern.

'-'Johnson,vol.1,pp.161, 162.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, C. 1830

USNM 60329-M (S-K

^85'). Figure186.

This plate, cast in brass, is typical of the small plates, both

round and

rectangular, that were

worn

with light-weight, full-dressstafTswords. Itisanex-

ample

of the early,

hand-made,

bench-assembled types.

The

outerring carriesthe wreath typical of the period,whiletheinnerring carries the eaglewith

its

head

to theright, shieldonbreast, arrowsin left talon,

and

olive

branch

in right talon.

The whole

lieswithina ring of13 5-pointedstars;the

uppermost

five starsare

mixed

with a sunburstrising fromthe eagle'swings.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,C.I82I(

?)-I830

USNM 60466~M (S-K

222). Figure187.

Thisi)rass,bench-assembled plateissimilar to tiic

Regular artillery belt plate of 1816 (fig. 56) in that the design

on

theinner ringisstruckwith aseriesof separate hand-held dies

on

a piece of blank

round

stock.

The

floraldesign

on

the belt attachmentsis cast. In

many

ofthe early

bench-made

plates, the final

assemblyman marked

the

matching

pairs so that they could readily be re-paired after buffing

and

plating. Inthisspecimen, eachringbears the

numeral

XXVIII.

Figure187

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

NEW YORK,

C. 1830

USNM 60467-M QS-K

223). Figure188.

This plate, with the center ring struckin

medium

brass

and

the belt attachment cast,

was worn

ijy Militia of

New York

State,asindicated

by

the eagle- on-haLf-globedevicetaken

from

thatstate's seal.

Of

brass, it is assigned to the artillery.

The

quality of the beltto

which

itisattached

and

theornatenessof

Iheplateitselfindicate thatit

was made

foranofficer.

The

left-hand beltattachmentismissing.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, C. 1830

USNM 60470-M (S-K

226). Figure189.

Figurei86

This small, cast-brass plate is another

example

of the plates

made

forsocialorfull-dress

wear

with the light-weight staff sword.

The

design

on

the inner ringisunusualinthat the eagle,with upraised wings,

is standing

on

the Federal shield.

The

plate is a

bench-made

product,withtheinner

and

outer rings

93

1

1832-1836. Ifthe

number

ofstars is of

any

signifi- cance,such dating

would

becorrect, as thecantonof the National Colors contained 25stars

from

1836 to 1837.

The

centraldesign used withouttheborderis

also

known

in smaller,

more

standard sized plates.

The

designisa stock pattern. This typeplateisalso

known

inbothbrass

and

siK-er.

SHOULDER-BELT

PLATE,

W.\SHINGTON

GRAYS, C. 1835

USNM 604348-M QS-K

504). Figure192.

This

may

wellbea

companion

piecetothe

diamond-

shapedcapplateascribedtothe

Washington

Greys'^"

ofPhiladelphia (seefig. 139). In

any

case, the

two

appearto have been struck

from

the

same

die. It

1Militia organizations generally

modeled

their uni- forms ratherclo.sely

on

those of the Regular Estab- lishment: of course, there

were

certain exceptions, notably the flamboyant

Zouave

^units.

However,

the Militia often

added

additional trimmings that gave the

"gay and gaudy"

touch for

which

they

were

noted. Followingthe

example

of theRegulars, the Militia adoptedcoat-skirt

ornaments

almostim- mediatelyaftertheirappearancein1832.

They

used the regulation flaming grenades,

open and

looped horns,

and

^5-

and

6-pointed stars, Ijutin both gold

and

silver on varicolored backgrounds

and

in a

wide

variety ofsizes.

They

also used a

number

of peculiarly Militiaforms, suchascrossed-cannon.ele- ments ofstate .seals,

and

devices peculiar to specific units.

Figure192

may

also ha\e Ijcen

worn

bythe

Washington

Greys ofReading, Pennsylvania, or by another

company

ofthe

same

designation.

The

specimenis struck in thin brasswith atinbacking appliedbeforethestrike

and

the edges

crimped

over the reverse.

Three

soldered copper-wire staples provide

means

of attachment.

130-fhespellingof"Grays"

may

or

may

not besignificant.

.\

Huddy

andDuvalprint of theWashington Greys in U.S.

Military .Magazine(.April1839,pi.5)used"Greys"inthetitle and "Grays"onanammunitionboxin thesameprint.

COAT-SKIRT

ORNAMENT,

ARTILLERY,C.1836

USNM 604961-M

(_S-K 1105). Figure193.

Typicalof Militia coat-skirt

ornaments

isthis pair of crossed

cannon

devicesforMilitia artillery.

They

are of gold embroidery

on

a liackground of l)lack velvet. Similar pairsinthe national collections arc

embroidered

in silver.

The Regular

artillery never

wore

thecrossed

cannon

device

on

theskirtof the coat; soused, it

was

exclusivelv a Miliiia cirnament.

I I I

Figure₁₉₃

COAT-SKIRT

ORNAMENT, SOUTH

CAROLINA, C. 1836

USNM

60496}

QS-K

1107). Figure194.

Another

coat-skirt

ornament

with an e\en

more

distinctlyMilitia touch is thissmall palmetto treeof

95

Figure196

ifamarketiscreated. Thus,allplates ofthisgeneral type should i)e cautiously considered.

WAIST-BELT PLATE, DIE

SAMPLE,

C. 1840

USNM 60354-M QS-K

IW). Figure198.

One

of the

more

unusual formsofthe militanteas;lc used

on ornaments

is

shown on

thisbrass diesample for awaist-belt plate.

The

eagle, with fierce

mien and

wings outspread,standshigh

on

a craggyledge.

An example

ofan untold

number

of

odd and

unusual pieces of insignia, thisspecimenis unidentified asto unit orareaofintendeduse. It

may

wellhave been designedforuseasa stock pattern.

Figure ig8

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

RIFLEMEN,

C. 1840

USNM 604103-M (S-K

259). Figure199.

A

stock pattern,thisplateisstruckinbrasswiththe open-horn device of riflemen,

which

has been pre- viously discussed.

Wire

fasteners are

on

the reverse.

Although

the outerring ofthe plate is missing, it

was

probably decorated with a wreath, a

common form

inthe 183n's

and

184n's.

Figure ₁₉₇

Figure₁₉₉

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

CHARLESTOWN

ARTILLERY,C.1840

USNM ^604385-M

{_S-K 552). Figure 200

.

This2-piece, brass-cast plate

was worn

by

members

of a Charlestown. Massachusetts, unit.

The

date

97

"1786,"as

on

nearlyalldatedpieces of insignia,refers tothedateof originalorganizationoftheunit.

The

designof the plateistypical of early-tomid- Victorian taste.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

MASSACHUSETTS,

C. 1840

USNM 60497~M (S-K

253). Figure 201

.

Bearing elementsofthesealofthe State of

Massa-

chusetts, thisplate likely

was

astockpatternsold to

many

officers. In construction, it is a composite piece similarto the plate for officersofthe

Corps

of

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

NEW YORK,

C. 1840

USNM 604116-M QS-K

282'). Figure202.

Thisplate, struck in poor-quality,

medium-weight

brass,isof a stockpatternbearing the eagle-on-half- globe device

and

the

motto

"Excelsior" from the

New York

State seal superimposed

on

a panoplyof

arms and

colors. This type of belt plate, with the device

on

theinner panel

and

a wreath

between

the inner

and

outerborders,is

most

characteristic ofthe 1840's.

More

than ten different plates are

known

that vary only as to the design ofthe inner panel;

some

contain

New York

State heraldic devices,

and

others contain variants of the usual eagle design of the period.

Figure202

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

PHILADELPHIA,

C. 1840

USNM

604390

QS-K

537). Figure 203

.

The

devices

on

this cast-brass plate comprise the

arms

ofthe City ofPhiladelphia,

and

its

form and

pattern, especially the floral design of the outer ring,placeitinthe1840's.

The

pieceis

bench-made and

carries

on

the reverse

many marks

of the file

usedin its final assemljly. It

must

he considered a stock pattern.

Topographical Engineers(seefig.87

and

p.45)with thedevice appliedtotheinneroval. Becauseofits

unusuallystrikingappearance,it

would

have

been

a

most

appropriate typeforstaff

and

fieldofficers,

and

possiblygeneralofficers.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

SOUTH

CAROLINA, C. 1840

USNM

60424

1-M (S-K

397)^. Figure 204

.

Somewhat

larger than

many

plates ofthe period, this brass specimen carries the

South

Carolina pal- mettodevice.

Such

plates also

were

struck incopper

and

sihcr plated. It obviously

was

a stock pattern

I

Figure₂₀₃

1 1 1 1

a stock pattern sold to

many

Militia units.

The

outerringismissing.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, C. 1840

USNM 604107-M QS-K

263). Figure207.

This specimen, roughlycastin brass

and

gilded, is

unusual because the Militia rarely used the letters

"u

s"'

on any

of its equipment.

The

pattern does not

conform

to anything prescribed for Regulars

and

the qualitydoesnot

come up

tostandards required by the

Regular

Establishment; hence it

must

have been

worn

byMilitia. It

would

have been a stock pattern.

There

is the possibility that it

might

have been

worn by

diplomatic personnel, but its poor quality

makes

thisunlikely.

Figure2c

-^

The

design enjoyed a long life,

and

plates of this general pattern

were

struckwell into the1880's.

The major

difference

between

earlier

and

laterspecimensis

thattheearlyones werestruck

on

rather

heavy

sheets ofcopper-coloredbrass,withfastenersconsistingof a tongue

and heavy

wire loops brazed to the reverse.

The

laterplateshavea bright brassy color, are struck

on

thinbrass,

and

havetheloop

and

tongue soldered rather thanbrazed.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, C. 1840

USNM 604108-M

(_S-K 264). Figure210.

The

lack of a

mane on

the beast

on

thisplate

marks

it as a tiger.

The

best

known and most

affluent Militiaorganizationwiththe

nickname

"Tigers"

was

the Boston Light Infantry, although a

number

of others also were so-called.

The

craftsmanship

and

general elegance of this gold-plated brass specimen suggests that it

was worn by an

officer,

though

an occasionalvolunteer

company was

so richly

endowed

that allits

members,

officers

and

enlisted

men

^alike,

wore

expensivedevices.

The

bench-assembled

manu-

facturing technique,

gaudy

embellishment,

and

lack ofa distinct Victorian touch date the piece about 1840.

The

tiger's

head

isapplied.

Figure qio

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, C. 1840

USNM 604104-M (S~K

260). Figure211.

The

full-flowing

mane on

the beast

on

this plate identifies itas alion.

The

device

would

have been appropriatefor

wear by

the .\lbanyBurgessesCorps, which,

when

founded in 1833, almost immediately adopted the lion's head as its distinctive insignia.

Figure21

1

The

unit continuedto

wear

thisplate forabout half a century.

While

that unit's cap plate (fig. 170) is

much more

formal

and

is without alion's head, its

buttons contain the lion

—

with

head

turned to half- right

—

^{asaprincipalornament.}

^While

^itisprobable

that the original diefor thiscast-brassplate

was

sunk forthe

Albany

organization, the manufacturer

would

not havehesitatedtoofferitfor saleto

any

interested Militiaunit.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, C. 1840

USNM 60479-M {S-K

235). Figure212.

The

raised letters "\v

o" on

this cast-brass

and

gilded plate

would

have been suitable for

many

1

Militia units of the period. ^Ve can only suggest that it

may

have been

worn by members

of a

"Washington

Greys" or

"Washington Guard" from

Pennsylvaniaor

New

York.

A round

plate withan outer wreath

would

ha\e been

more

appropriate for officersthanfor enlisted personnel.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

WASHINGTON

GREYS, C. 1850

USNM 604B7-M (S-K

293). F^gwe213.

The

waist-belt plates

shown

in the U.S. Military Magazine"^ for the

Washington

GreysofPhiladelphia

and

Reading, Pennsylvania, while indistinct, are definitelynotofthispattern. Thus, this brass plate withitssunkenletters filled with black

enamel must

have been

worn by

yeta third unitwith such a

name.

Additional specimens ⁱⁿ the national collections havethe

company

letters"g""

and

"k.'"

Figure213

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, C. 1840

USNM 604294~M QS-K

450'). Figure214.

Thisoval,convex, brassplate,with twostuds

and

a

hook

soldered to the reverse for attachment, very probably

was

originally a shoulder-belt plate.

The

letters

"w

l

g"

incised

on

the obverse areverypat- ently the

added work

of

an

engraverof

no

great talent.

The

letters doubtless stand for

Washington

Light

.April1839,pi.5;June 1839,pi.10.

Figure214

Guard,

and. since there

were

severalMilitia units of that designation,itseemspossiblethatoneof theless affluent units

bought

the plates

and had them

en- gravedlocally.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE, CITY GUARDS,C. 1840

USNM 604386-M QS-K

533). Figure215.

There

were City

Guards

inCharleston, South Caro- lina,

New York

City, Philadelphia,

and

possibly in otherplaces.

Thus

itisimpossibletodeterminejust

which

of these units

wore

this cast-brassplate.

The ornamented

outerovalistypical of the1840's.

WAIST-BELT

PLATE,

NATIONAL

GUARD, C. 1850

USNM

60206-M. Figure216.

A number

of Militia unitscarried the designation

"National

Guard." The

unit thatusedthisparticular plate

was from New

Jersey, for scratched

on

the reverse is"Sergeant

O.

Clinton,

October

9th, 1851, 1st

Reg Hudson

Brigade,

NJSM"; However,

the adjutantgeneral. State of

New

Jersey,

was

unableto give

any

information

on

such

an

organization.

The

specimeniscut

from

rolled brasswith sunken letters filledwith blackenamel.

^Shoulder-beltplates

underwent

the

same

transition as cap plates did beginningabout 1837-1838, with the single die strikeplate yielding to thecomposite plate,

and

applied devices being attached to oval, rectangular, or rectangular "clipped corner"plates.

While some

single die plates were

made and worn

basic strike, or the plate could be struck a second time to

add

a deviceintegral toit.

Thus

the back- ground portionof thespecimen

must

be considereda stock pattern.

A

print of the National

Guards

of Philadelphia in U.S. Military Magazine for

October

1841shows

an

officerwearing asimilar plate. Ifthe stars aresignificant, the platecan be dated

between

1837

and

1845.

SHOULDER-BELT

PLATE, C. 1840

USNM 604471-M

(i'-K618'). Figure110.

Inthisplate, thecenter

ornament

usedinthe pre- cedingspecimen hasbeenstruck directly in a rectan- gular, bevelled background.

However,

the back-

ground

ofthisplatehas astippled surfacerather than asunburst.

An

interesting feature is that there are four slots

punched

through the plate for the attach-

ment

of

an

additional device over the wreath

and

shield. Thisisanotherofthe

many

examplesof

how

a unit

might

have aninsignia distinctive to itselfat little extra cost. This plate is obviously ofa stock pattern.

The

national collections alsocontain a die sample of this particular plate.

Figure219

soldered. Sincethesunraysinthe

background

radi- ate

outward

notfromthecenterbut fromtheedgeof acircleabout 1Uinchesindiameter, almost

any

de- siredcenter

ornament

couldha\e been

added

to the

Figure220

SHOULDER-BELT

PLATE, C. 1840

US'^M 604472-M QS-K

619). Figure

HI

.

Another example

ofthe rectangular,bevelled-edged, shoulder-ljelt plate for officers is thisbrass-cast

copy

of the 1839 Regular

Army

pattern with the wire- fastenedletters "s

v o"

substituted for"u. s."

The

specimen bears a

touchmark

"VV. Pinchin Philad"

on

the reverse (see p. 33).

The

unit for

which

this plate

was made

isunidentified.

is attributed to the Boston Light Infantry.

The

applied devices are attached with simple wire fasteners.

The

date1798 is believedto bethe year of the original organization of the unit, but the adjutant general of the

Commonwealth

of Massa- chusetts

was

unableto verifythis.

SHOULDER-BELT

(f) PLATE, C. 1840

USNM 60W4--M QS-K

541'). Figure111.

The

sih'cr letters"sf"' applied with wirefasteners tothesmall brass plate are most appropriateforthe StateFenciblesof Philadelphia,

and

itis believedto havepossibly been

worn by

thatunit in the 1840's.

A

print in the

V

^.S.Military Magazine^"* portraying thisunitshows

an

officerwearing aplate ofanentirely different design,butsinceaplatein thissimpleform

would

most probably have been

worn

by enlisted personnel,

and

the soldier in the print isto be seen only

from

the rear,suchidentificationas tounitma\' becorrect.