W.H. SMITH MARKED EAGLE CARTRIDGE BOX SHOULDER BELT PLATE FOUND AT MANASSAS JULY 1959 BY SYD KERKSIS

W.H. SMITH MARKED EAGLE CARTRIDGE BOX SHOULDER BELT PLATE FOUND AT MANASSAS JULY 1959 BY SYD KERKSIS

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$550.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-2026

This regulation round eagle belt plate for the infantry cartridge box sling comes with its original collection envelope annotated by Syd Kerkis, the well-known and respected early relic hunter, collector and author, giving the date and location of where he found it: “Manassas / Jul 59” – along with the more specific spot: “Wood E of Robinson house.” He also noted it as “EP,” an eagle plate, and “Smith,” noting it bears that maker’s name on the reverse.

The Robinson House, located at the foot of Henry Hill, was enveloped by the fighting in both the First and Second Battles of Manassas, or Bull Run. Indeed, in the first engagement it was where Stonewall Jackson earned his nickname after the brigades of Evans, Bee, and Bartow were driven back past it and Jackson posted his brigade to hold the position, with the Robinson House on his right, between the lines, with the 2nd Maine and 3rd Connecticut of Keyes’s Union brigade on one side of it facing off against the 5th Virginia and the Hampton Legion on other. At Second Manassas Gen. Pope moved his headquarters to the Robinson House as the defenses on Chinn Ridge crumbled, the house and surrounding property eventually becoming a field hospital.

The plate is in very good condition, with good rim and raised details, showing a mostly chocolate brown patina to the eagle and center of the face, with some gray and grayish-white on the raised rim, but with no dings or dents to the edge. showing through toward the edges and some grayish white on rim, but with no significant dents or dings. The lead solder fill on the back is gray with whitish spots, but level with just shallow losses, though showing some dark brown stains from oxidation of the iron wire forming the loops of the plate. The loops are intact, but show deep rust. Two brown spots from oxidation of the wire in the fill partially obscure some of the two-line maker’s stamp on its right, but the stamp, running crosswise between the two loops, is unambiguous: “W. H. SMITH / BROOKLYN.“ He worked at No. 44 State St. in South Brooklyn and advertised “brass trimmings for all kinds of military equipments . . .  warranted to stand US inspection.” He appears to have had large U.S. contracts both before and during the war, at least into Summer 1864 (see Bazelon’s Directory.)

These plates were regulation issue plates for wear on the shoulder sling of the infantry cartridge box. As initially adopted in 1826 they had hooks on the reverse for the bayonet shoulder belt and were 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.

This has an historic find location- the site of two Union defeats, one putting an end to McDowell’s hopes for glory and the other to Pope’s; the plate was made and marked by a well-known maker; and, it has a tight provenance to a respected early collector and author.   [sr][ph:L]

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