These plates followed the standard U.S. 1839 version, but with VMM stamped in the rolled brass indicating Volunteer Militia of Maine. These were paired on equipment with the smaller sized 1839 oval belt plates with the same initials. Both seem to have been made with variants that used no lead solder fill on the reverse. This is the pattern with the fill, adding weight and rigidity to the plate and anchoring the two iron wire loops used to attach it to the flap of a cartridge box with a leather thong. The Volunteer Militia of Maine adopted that name in 1851, but O’Donnell and Campbell date these plates 1855 to 1861, after the 1855 adoption of a state button. (See their Plates 556 to 559.) The state organized ten regiments of volunteer militia for U.S. service in 1861. This one was excavated in Orange, Virginia, and has both loops intact on the reverse with a smooth light and dark lead fill showing just some brown stains from the iron. The plate has a good rim with only some very minor dings, sharp lettering, and an even brown patina showing some whitish gray just in the recesses of the letters, under the raised rim, and here and there along the top of the rim.

This is a very nice example of a plate worn in the field with other known recoveries from camp and battle sites.  [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!