This is the standard Union infantry enlisted man’s belt plate of the Civil War. Adopted in 1839, these plates are stamped, rolled brass with a lead solder filled back that anchors the fastening studs and belt hook. This was recovered in New Bern, NC, and has the belt hook and oval studs in place, the latter likely indicating an early or mid-war product since the arrowhead or snakehead flat studs began coming in in 1863, though with a few makers still producing this pattern for a time.

The face of the plate and the brass studs and hook show dusty white dots, with the US on the face showing a faint brown, but much of it a forest and lime green. The lead solder fill on the reverse shows a mix of gray and light brown. The edge has some shallow dings and two bends, one at top and one on the wearer’s left, at the “S,” which indicates an impact of some force.

New Bern was the site of two battles during the war. In March 1862 U.S. forces under Burnside captured the town after a battle a few miles south, and in February 1864 Pickett failed to recapture it after three days of fighting. There is a partial, modern marking in red on the reverse. Likely a price by the original finder.  [SR] [PH:L]

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