GETTYSBURG RECOVERED CIVIL WAR EAGLE CARTRIDGE BOX BREAST PLATE

GETTYSBURG RECOVERED CIVIL WAR EAGLE CARTRIDGE BOX BREAST PLATE

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$975.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-2037

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

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Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

A very good condition early Gettysburg battlefield pick-up eagle breast plate. The face of the plate is largely and olive brown with some with thin gray-brown along the raised rim and on the lower left portion of the plate, just affecting slightly the lower arrows clutched in the eagle’s claw. The eagle, however, is crisply delineated, a little rubbing on the raised surface of its right breast, but with details of the wing feathers sharp, as it the head, beak, neck, shoulders, etc. The edge of the plate is very good, showing just a couple of very shallow indentations.

The reverse shows a level surface to the lead-solder fill, which shows largely as an off-white with some gray and some thin brown peeking through. Both iron wire loops are in place, one bent very slightly, but neither showing heavy corrosion, indicating the plate is an early pick-up. An old red-border paper label is still on the back, fully intact, and reading in thin, brown ink script: “Gettysburg / field.” The style of the label, phrasing, and the handwriting fit well with the relatively good condition of the iron wire loops in dating this as an early find on the battlefield.

The plate itself is the regulation US plate worn on the infantry cartridge box sling. Made of stamped rolled brass, these plates use a lead solder filled back to secure an iron wire bent to form two loops that pass through narrow slits in the leather cartridge box sling to be secured by a thong. The pattern was first adopted in 1826 with hooks on the reverse for the bayonet shoulder belt and made of stamped rolled 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 plate was redesigned with two loops on the back for wear in a fixed position on the cartridge box sling. They were made by a number suppliers during the war. See O’Donnell and Campbell, American Military Belt Plates, pages 274 ff., for a thorough discussion of its development, production, variations, etc.

The scarcity of genuine Gettysburg relics and the significance of the battle do not need repeating. This is a strong example with a great tag, liked picked up at a time when actual veterans of the battle were still visiting the field.   [sr][ph:L]

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