This is a very good example of the regulation US plate worn on the infantry cartridge box sling recovered at Shiloh. Made of stamped rolled brass with a lead-solder filled back, these plates have a raised US eagle clutching arrows and olive branch on the face and have an iron wire secured by the lead solder on the back bent to form two loops that pass through narrow slits in the leather cartridge box sling to be secured by a thong.

This one has good detailing to the eagle and a nice, rich brown tone with some light brown in the recesses next to the raised details of the eagle, along the inner edge of the rim, and in some shallow light dings of the edge when viewed from the side, but not visible from the front. The rear is very good. The fill is gray mixed with some white. Both loops are present, though showing oxidation, with some rust stains on the lead solder fill.

This pattern was first adopted in 1826 with hooks on the reverse for the bayonet shoulder belt and made of stamped rolled 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 plate was redesigned with two loops on the back for wear in a fixed position on the cartridge box sling. They were made by a number suppliers during the war. See O’Donnell and Campbell, American Military Belt Plates, pages 274 ff., for a thorough discussion of its development, production, variations, etc. The 1864 cartridge box rigs left them off, as they did the cartridge box plates, but they continued to be worn throughout the war and until  finally replaced by the introduction of the 1872 accouterments.

This is a scarce relic of one of the great battles of the war, one that made and almost unmade Grant’s reputation, and was regarded by Jeff Davis and the turning point for Confederate hopes in the west with the death of commander Albert Sidney Johnston in the fighting. Coming on the heels of his victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, Grant could claim Shiloh as a victory also with Confederate attackers driven back and obliged to withdraw, but he was criticized for being caught unprepared, and the battle produced the largest casualty figures in war up to that point- some 24,000 on both sides. Grant was sidelined for a time, but Halleck, who replaced him for a time was unimpressive and Lincoln’s judgment won out: “I can’t spare this man: he fights.”  [SR] [PH:L]

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