The P1826 breast plate was still in widespread use during the Civil War as a commonly issued item to be affixed to the sling of the rifleman’s cartridge box.

The plate is not overly tarnished on the face and has a deep brown patina.  The eagle is nicely detailed, clutching arrows in its right talon and an olive branch in its left.  There is a thin layer of encrusted soil around the circumference.  The reverse side is lead filled with both attachment loops present. The maker’s mark is partially visible: "W. H. WILKINSON / SPRINGFIELD" with perpendicular "US" at one end. Perpendicular at the opposite end is the Springfield Armory inspector’s markings, “T.J. SHEPARD”.  There are a few shallow scrapes to the lead which partially obscure the markings.

Recovered at Petersburg, VA in 1930 as written in silver lettering around the edge of the face.  [ld] [ph:L]

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