ROUND EAGLE CARTRIDGE BOX SHOULDER BELT PLATE FROM THE BATTLE OF BOYDTON PLANK ROAD AT PETERSBURG OCTOBER 27, 1864, EX-KERKSIS

ROUND EAGLE CARTRIDGE BOX SHOULDER BELT PLATE FROM THE BATTLE OF BOYDTON PLANK ROAD AT PETERSBURG OCTOBER 27, 1864, EX-KERKSIS

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$495.00

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Item Code: 2026-2024

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This regulation belt plate for the infantry cartridge box sling came from the collection of Syd Kerksis, well-known and respected early collector and author, and still has his annotated envelope indicating he found it in January 1956 in a trench held by the 2nd Corps during the Battle of the Boydton Plank Road, also known as Burgess Mill, or the First Battle of Hatchers Run. Fought on Oct. 27, 1864, the battle resulted from a move by the 2nd Corps southwest to outflank Confederate lines and occupy the Boydton Plank Road at Hatcher’s Run below Petersburg. Confederate troops under Hill pushed him back for a time and Federal troops of the 5th and 9th Corps failed to link up with the 2nd, but Hancock reestablished his lines and even threaten to surround Confederates who had made their way around his left into his rear. In the end it seems both sides were ready to pull back.

This plate has nice chocolate-brown patina to the face, showing a few rubs to the rim at top left and right showing as gray, with a small spot of verdigris at top right, but very good definition to eagle with arrows and olive branch, and no dents or dings to the edge. The reverse has a full lead-solder fill with level surface showing light gray with white spots, some very shallow losses, but with both iron wire loops in place and intact, though showing rust, with the lead solder at their feet showing some thin brown staining.

These plates were adopted in 1826 with hooks on the reverse for the bayonet shoulder belt and made of 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 plates were redesigned with two loops on the back for wear as fixed ornaments on the cartridge box sling and plates with hooks were relegated to the NCO and musician’s sword shoulder belts. (Some militia versions used hooks at a different angle for wear on the waist belt.) Although in theory the plate was dropped with introduction of the 1864 cartridge box rigs with no plates, the plate remained in use in the field and was not discontinued until the new 1872 sets of accouterments were distributed.

This is in very good excavated condition, has an interesting find location, and provenance to a respected early collector and author.  [sr][ph:L]

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