This is an excavated Pattern 1826 round eagle plate for an N.C.O.’s shoulder belt. Very similar to the enlisted eagle breast plate, except this style utilized three wire hooks and was used as an adjustable buckle. It has an overall brown patina under some lead oxidation on the rim that has come over from the back. The brass face displays an eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows. The reverse has all of the lead fill but the three wire hooks have rusted away. Plate remains in good “dug” condition. This relic was recovered at the camp of the 2nd Army Corps near Taneytown, Maryland.

During the Gettysburg Campaign, thousands of Union soldiers passed through Taneytown to and from the battle.  Maj. Gen. George G. Meade arrived early on the morning of June 29th and established his headquarters on the Benjamin Shunk farm near town. The 3rd Corps commanded by General Sickles arrived in Taneytown on June 30, 1863 and General Hancock's 2nd Corps passed through town on the following afternoon, camping nearby.

An original “dug” Civil War buckle from the Gettysburg Campaign.   [jet]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.