This is an original Civil War oval “SNY” waistbelt plate issued by the state of New York to its early war volunteer regiments that was recovered at Cold Harbor, the scene of heavy fighting and costly direct assaults by Federal troops as part of Grant’s relentless campaign against Richmond and Petersburg in 1864. First adopted in 1858 to replace the smaller sized plates used on narrower waist belts, the state contracted for some 33,000 of this pattern from three different contractors in 1861. Constructed of a rolled-brass, die-struck face with a lead-solder fill, the plate uses two oval studs to secure it to one end of the leather waist belt used to carry the infantryman’s cap box and bayonet scabbard, and a single hook to secure and adjust the belt by fitting holes on the other end of the belt. In 1863 the design was changed slightly to use arrowhead shaped studs, but those plates were largely restricted to use by the state’s militia/national guard regiments.

This plate is closest to O’Donnell & Campbell Plates 542 and 545 and exhibits medium brown and light brown patina to the face with a few small green spots. There are a couple of scratches at bottom center, below the “N,” a number of nicks to the edge and a shallow push to the rim below the “S” and above the “N.” The reverse shows white oxidation to the lead solder fill, which is generally smooth and shows only a couple of small chips at the edge. The oval studs and convex belt hook are in place and show some of the original marks of filing in the final, finishing stages of the manufacture.

This likely belonged to a re-enlisted New York veteran, someone who signed up  early enough to receive it as part of a state issue of accoutrements, and was still in serving in the ranks when he lost it in June 1864.  [SR] [PH:L]

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