This is a scarce, non-excavated example of the state seal belt plate worn by Georgia militia just before the war and by Georgia volunteer troops all through the conflict. Under Governor Brown preparations for secession and the buildup of Georgia’s military forces began months before the firing on Fort Sumter with the appropriation of million dollars for state defense in late 1860 and large purchases of arms and equipment. Much of this came from all-too-willing northern suppliers, including Emerson Gaylord of Chicopee, Mass., who sold accouterments to several southern states, and sets of infantry gear to Georgia that included oval cartridge box plates and waistbelt plates like this one.

The oval plate follows the pattern of the 1839 U.S. pattern with a die-struck rolled brass face and a lead solder fill that secures a stud or “puppy-paw” back with belt hook. The face shows a stippled border between the outer raised edge and an inner border line surrounding the “pillars and arches” state seal with “CONSTITUTION” on the large arch overhead and omits the ribbons with mottos wrapped around the pillars, but shows the soldier on guard and landscape. The brass has a light, even tone with scattered small dark spots. The studs and hook are very good with just some light scrapes to the lead. The edge has two dings at the bottom and a couple of smaller ones to the top, but no more than any plate actually issued and worn for a time.  The plate is on a Civil War belt with a standing loop on one end that was intended to slide over the belt plate. This is the prewar and early war form for U.S. waistbelts and looks appropriate for the buckle.

Georgia was one of the original seven states forming the Confederacy, whose central government Governor Brown had a contentious relationship to say the least, but the state supplied something like 120, 000 troops to the cause, and paid the price in an estimated 11,000 to 25,000 lives and hundreds of engagements fought on its soil. This would make a great addition to a Confederate infantry display or a collection focused specifically on Georgia.  [sr]

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