This is a M1839 cartridge box plate used by Union infantry throughout the war both as an ornamental badge on the cartridge box flap and a practical way to it hold down if left unlatched in the heat of combat. It was recovered in September 1956 on the North Anna battlefield, part of Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign, in an area held by the 9^th Army Corps and was found by Syd Kerkis, one of the legendary early relic hunters and collectors, and author of “Plates and Buckles of the American Military 1795-1874,” a book that led the way for subsequent relic hunters, collectors, students, and authors.

The plate shows a slight bend in the center indicating an impact of some sort, more noticeable when viewed from top edge than from the face, but likely battle damage of some sort, and certainly not a casual bump. The lettering and the rim are nevertheless good, and lead solder fill is in place on the back, showing just a minor chip, and both iron loops are there, though one does show an inward bend. The face is an even brown with some lighter, tannish brown on the edge of the rim and in recesses along the letters and border lines of the rim.

The plate is still in Kerksis’s original collection envelope annotated by him with the date and location of the find: “North Anna / Sep 56” and the specific location, “9^th AC / River and / Mathews line.” The battle took place May 21-25 as Lee fell back from Spottsylvania and stymied Grant’s pursuit for time by moving south across the North Anna River and forming his lines in an inverted V with the point firmly anchored on the river, forcing Grant to divide his forces if he wished to carry the position, which he eventually pulled back from doing, instead moving around Lee’s flank toward Cold Harbor. While at this position, however, the 9^th Corps held the center of the Union line at Ox Ford. We are a bit puzzled by “Mathews line” on the envelope, unless we misread it, but “river” is clear enough and the 9^th Army Corps was positioned on river as the fighting and maneuvering reached its critical phase to the left and right.

This is a nice plate showing what is likely real battle damage found at an important site connected with the climactic campaign of the war, and has a great provenance to a well-known early relic hunter.  [sr][ph:L]

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