Part 10 (1/2)

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, INFANTRY, 1814-1821

_USNM 60248-M (S-K 6). Figure 62._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 62]

This specimen is of the same design as the 1814 Infantry cap plate, type I (p. 15). It is oval, with raised edge. Within the oval is an eagle with an olive branch in its beak, three arrows in its right talon, and thunder bolts and lightning in its left talon. Below is a trophy of stacked muskets, drum, flag, and s.h.i.+eld. The plate is silver on copper, with sheet-iron backing and bent-wire fasteners. As in the case of the Artillery Corps plate, just preceding, this must be considered an officer's plate. A similar oval plate bearing the design of the 1812 dragoon cap plate, and of similar construction, is known.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, 1814

_USNM 66478-M. Figures 63, 64._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 63]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 64]

Excavated on the site of Smith's Cantonment at Sackets Harbor, New York, this plate is interesting in that it differs in both construction and method of attachment from similar plates of the same period in the national collections. Rather than being struck in thin bra.s.s with a backing and fasteners applied to the reverse, this specimen is cast in bra.s.s and the edges rather unevenly beveled, with two studs and a narrow tongue for attachment cast integrally with the plate and with hexagonal heads forced over the ends of the studs. This means of attachment, which indicates that the plate was intended to be utilitarian as well as merely ornamental, is similar to that on British plates of the period between the Revolution and the War of 1812. The plate could have been worn by either infantry or artillery, for both were issued bra.s.s plates during this period,[87] however, it is more probable that it was worn by the infantry, since the majority of the artillery in the Sackets Harbor area were stationed nearby at either Fort Pike or Fort Tomkins.

[Footnote 87: Letters from Irvine in Records AGO: To Colonel Bogardus, February 16, 1814; to James Calhoun, January 14, 1815.]

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1812

_USNM 604311 (S-K 467). Figure 65._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 65]

The plain, oval, slightly convex plate of bra.s.s has a raised edge. The face is lapped over a piece of sheet-iron backing. On the reverse is soldered an early form of bent-wire fasteners. British shoulder-belt plates of the Revolutionary period normally had fasteners cast as integral parts of the plate proper.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1812

_USNM 604312 (S-K 468). Not ill.u.s.trated._

This plate is identical to the one described immediately above except that it is struck in copper and the surface is silvered.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, C. 1812

_USNM 604314 (S-K 470). Not ill.u.s.trated._

This plate, struck from solid bra.s.s, has a slightly beveled edge and bent-wire fasteners. It is slightly convex. Since it is smaller than the two preceding plates, it could have been designed for the Militia.

SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, 1815(?)-1821

_USNM 60399-M (S-K 155). Figure 66._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 66]

The two specimens of this plate in the national collections are undoc.u.mented. Similar in size and construction to the plain oval bra.s.s and silvered plates, it has the raised letters ”U.S.,” three-fourths inch high in the center. Definitely not later than 1832, it may well have been issued soon after the end of the War of 1812. It is considered a Regular Army item since the Militia did not use the designation ”U.S.” at this early period. In this latter connection it is interesting to note that an example of the 1812 Infantry cap plate, type II, with the letters ”US” crudely stamped out, is known attached to a cap of distinct Militia origin.