Brass stencil plates were used by soldiers to personalize their belongings. Lettering reads, “LIEUT. WM. A. LARUE, CO.B.17.PA. CAV.”.

The Civil War was fought before armies issued identification tags to their soldiers. It fell to the will of the men in the ranks to determine how they would mark their uniforms and equipment so someone could tell who they were should they be killed and their bodies left on the battlefield.

One of the many privately purchased forms of identification was a small brass plate with a name and regiment stamped into it. Many examples survive and others have been excavated at locations of Civil War camp sites.

The stencils weren't limited to only soldiers. Men and women back home had stencils cut by large firms and itinerant stencil cutters to mark everything from quilts and books and other personal items.

Stencil has a semi-bright patina, with some darkened areas. Measures 4 ¾” x 1 ¼”. Item is very slightly warped.

William Armstrong Larue was born on March 2, 1823 in Warren, New Jersey. He enlisted as a 2^nd Lieutenant in Co. “B”, 17^th PA Cavalry. He was discharged for disability on January 13, 1865. He died on March 21, 1887 and is buried in Susquehanna County, PA.

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