GETTYSBURG RECOVERED W.H. SMITH MARKED US CARTRIDGE BOX BELT PLATE FROM THE ROSE FARM

GETTYSBURG RECOVERED W.H. SMITH MARKED US CARTRIDGE BOX BELT PLATE FROM THE ROSE FARM

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3

$1,250.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-1834

A regulation US round eagle cartridge box plate recovered on the Rose Farm here at Gettysburg, the scene of intense fighting on July 2, and familiar to students of the battle from the series of photos showing Confederate dead gathered there for burial. The face is very good, showing largely gray with whitish color to the raised edges of the eagle’s wings, etc, but no dings or dents to the rim. The eagle with arrows and olive branch is crisp. The reverse has a level surface, both iron wire loops intact and a collector’s inventory number and find location in white: “Ioo6” and “Rose Farm.” Just below that is the original maker’s stamp: “W. H. SMITH / BROOKLYN.“ He worked at No. 44 State St. in South Brooklyn and advertised “brass trimmings for all kinds of military equipments… warranted to stand US inspection,” and appears to have had large U.S. contracts both before and during the war, at least into Summer 1864, and also produced SNY plates for New York (see Bazelon’s Directory.)

These plates were adopted in 1826 with hooks on the reverse for the bayonet shoulder belt and made of brass for artillery and white metal for infantry. This was changed to brass for both services in 1831 and when the bayonet was moved to the waist belt around 1842, the plates were redesigned with two loops on the back for wear as fixed ornaments on the cartridge box sling and plates with hooks were relegated to the NCO and musician’s sword shoulder belts. (Some militia versions used hooks at a different angle for wear on the waist belt.) Although in theory the plate was dropped with introduction of the 1864 cartridge box rigs with no plates, the plate remained in use in the field and was not discontinued until the new 1872 sets of accouterments were distributed. See O’Donnell and Campbell, American Military Belt Plates, pages 274 ff., for a thorough discussion of its development, production, variations, etc.

The Rose Farm and surrounding area was the site of heavy back and forth fighting on the Union left on July 2 as Longstreet’s progressive attacks from south to north battered and then pushed back Union lines that Sickles had rashly advanced. Union forces were heavily engaged around Devils Den, the slopes of Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, the Rose Woods and the Peach Orchard before finally being hammered into a position from which further Confederate attacks could not budge them and the fighting shifted to the Union center the next day.

Relic hunting on the field has, of course, long been outlawed, and pieces from older collections like this one, picked up by veterans, visitors and local residents, are the only chance to acquire something that actually came off the field.

This has is nicely matted and labeled in a Riker mount on a green background.  [sr] [ph:L]

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

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

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire About GETTYSBURG RECOVERED W.H. SMITH MARKED US CARTRIDGE BOX BELT PLATE FROM THE ROSE FARM

should be empty