This is the slightly smaller size round eagle plate for the cartridge box sling known among collectors as the “Burnside” pattern from its association with 9^th Corps and 1864 battle sites and this one was found by well-known relic hunter and author Syd Kerksis in February 1956 on the Battlefield of Bethesda Church, specifically on or near Shady Grove Rd. in a position occupied by Potter’s division of the 9^th Corps, all of which is noted in Kerksis’s collection envelope, still with the plate. The area south of Totopotomoy Creek was the scene of fighting on May 30, 1864, and again on June 2, as Confederate forces tried to disrupt Grant’s continued moves southeast from Spotsylvania and the North Anna. The 9^th Corps was involved in the fighting on both days, but most heavily involved on June 2 near Bethesda Church, making that the likely occasion of the plate’s loss. For a similar example of a “Burnside plate,” see O’Donnell and Campbell plate 448, page 283.

The face has an even light brown patina mixed with a few small, slightly darker spots and some lighter brown on the eagle wing at upper right. The edge is good with just one very slight shallow push. The fill is level, shows as light brown over gray and grayish white with some brown staining from the iron loops, which are still in place.

This is a nice, recognized variant of the regulation plate with a tight provenance to a well-known early collector.  [sr] [ph:m/L]

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