Eagle Plate
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Item: Eagle Plate
Use: Federal. Eagle plates, also known as breast plates, shoulder belt plates, and cross belt plates, were displayed on the belt that held the soldier's cartridge box. Eagle plates with two belt attachment loops were purely ornamental and proudly worn by Union soldiers with the belt slung over the shoulder and across the chest. See the additional images in this listing for an image showing its use.
Construction: Die stamped thin sheet brass with solder fill and two iron wire loops.
Condition: Very good, excavated, loops missing. The brass front has a brown patina with a thin layer of encrusted tan residue at the rim, likely a result of the chemical reaction between the brass edge and rear solder. The rim is fully intact. The rear retains a near complete complement of solder with mild surface flaking. The plate has no cracks, bends or repairs.
Recovered: Gettysburg, PA. (See Comment's section below)
Approximate size: 63 mm.
Reference: Images of similar eagle plates are found in the following Civil War relic reference book:
- "Civil War Artifacts" by Howard Crouch, on page 189.
See above page in additional images.
Comments: According to an accompanying tag, the plate was specifically recovered from "Pickett's Charge in 1955 by J. Cullison". This excavated eagle plate was acquired directly from the family of a Virginia digger and collector. It will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War accoutrement plate or general relic collection.
- Product Code:
- PC12515
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