This plate was recovered on the battlefield of Cedar Mountain by Syd Kerksis, one of the legendary early relic hunters and collectors, author of books on military belt plates and Civil War projectiles. The plate comes with Kerksis’ original paper storage envelope bearing his ink notation that he found it in July 1956 west of the Wheatfield at Cedar Mountain, referencing Gen. Crawford’s Brigade of the 1^st Division, 2^nd Union Army Corps.

The plate is the regulation 1826 pattern eagle breast plate used throughout the Civil War and is in very good excavated condition. Very nice dark chocolate patina. Rear loop hooks present though rusted; near 100% of lead fill remains.

Crawford’s Cedar Mountain after-action report can be read here;  he notes that “A thick belt of woods skirted an open wheat stubble field on three sides; a road running across formed the fourth.  To the right a thick undergrowth of scrub oaks and bushes covered the space.  In front of the line the field sloped downward toward the woods directly opposite, the point of which terminated at the road….”

During the Union attack which occurred around 5PM, Crawford attacked CS Brig. Gen. Winder's division, sending three of his regiments directly across that wheat field.  A full account of the action can be read here.

This is a nice plate, with a legitimate find location and provenance to one of the great early collectors.  [ld] [ph:L]

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