This regulation belt plate for the cartridge box sling was in the collection of Syd Kerksis, well-known and respected early collector and author. It comes with his annotated envelope indicating he found it in March 1959 at Spotsylvania Court House, specifically at the Harris Farm at a “wood NE corner / near FB (Fredericksburg) rd.” Fought in May 19, 1864, this was the last of the battles fought under the general heading of the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, best known for the horrendous fighting of May 12 at “Bloody Angle” as Grant continued his overland campaign against Lee and Richmond. Harris Farm was largely fought by elements of Hancock’s corps who were beginning to move south again to threaten Richmond and draw out Lee, and troops under Ewell, who was investigating Union movements. Fighting opened on the Harris Farm where a brigade of Union heavy artillerymen serving as infantry were took position and there is now a monument to the 1^st Mass. Heavy Artillery, so there is a good chance this plate came from a soldier in one of those regiments. Union casualties amounted to about 1,400 and Confederate to about 900 before the two sides disengaged and Grant continued his movement south.

This plate has very good detail on the face and a rim showing just a shallow indentation on the lower right (4 o’clock position.) The rim shows a light brown and some white residue. The interior is an even brown mixed with olive, showing just some lighter brown in recesses. The reverse has the lead-solder fill intact, somewhat pockmarked, but full, and showing whitish brown over gray, with the wire loops showing rust, but intact and in position.

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.

This has a great find location and provenance to a respected early collector and author.  [sr] [ph:m/L]

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