Part 26 (1/2)

Although members of the artillery of the Regular Establishment wore the crossed-cannon device on their shakos, they never wore it on waist- or shoulder-belt plates. Thus, this cast-bra.s.s plate must have been a stock pattern sold to many Militia units. The outer ring is missing.

WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1840

_USNM 604107-M (S-K 263). Figure 207._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 207]

This specimen, roughly cast in bra.s.s and gilded, is unusual because the Militia rarely used the letters ”U S” on any of its equipment. The pattern does not conform to anything prescribed for Regulars and the quality does not come up to standards required by the Regular Establishment; hence it must have been worn by Militia. It would have been a stock pattern. There is the possibility that it might have been worn by diplomatic personnel, but its poor quality makes this unlikely.

WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1850

_USNM 604387-M (S-K 534). Figure 208._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 208]

The over-all design of this plate, which is cast roughly in bra.s.s and gilded, reflects the growing ornateness of the Victorian era.

Obviously a stock pattern, it would have suited the fancy of several units and cannot be identified further than ”for Militia.” The design of the eagle is unusual in that three arrows are carried in the right talon--although it is possible that this is intended to reflect the belligerency inherent in the period of the War with Mexico--and there is a single large star in the canton of the Federal s.h.i.+eld.

WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1840

_USNM 604458-M (S-K 605). Figure 209._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 209]

The generalities that apply to all ”stock pattern” insignia are equally valid in referring to this bra.s.s-struck plate with a 5-pointed star as its sole ornament. Dating its period of design poses no difficulty, for it contains the panel with wreath inside an edging border characteristic of the 1840's. The star device would have been appropriate for Militia units of Maine (”North Star”), Texas (”Lone Star”), or for dragoon units that took the star as a distinctive insignia. Although it may have been worn by Texans, it is doubtful that it was made originally for them. The design enjoyed a long life, and plates of this general pattern were struck well into the 1880's.

The major difference between earlier and later specimens is that the early ones were struck on rather heavy sheets of copper-colored bra.s.s, with fasteners consisting of a tongue and heavy wire loops brazed to the reverse. The later plates have a bright bra.s.sy color, are struck on thin bra.s.s, and have the loop and tongue soldered rather than brazed.

WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1840

_USNM 604108-M (S-K 264). Figure 210._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 210]

The lack of a mane on the beast on this plate marks it as a tiger. The best known and most affluent Militia organization with the nickname ”Tigers” was the Boston Light Infantry, although a number of others also were so-called. The craftsmans.h.i.+p and general elegance of this gold-plated bra.s.s specimen suggests that it was worn by an officer, though an occasional volunteer company was so richly endowed that all its members, officers and enlisted men alike, wore expensive devices.

The bench-a.s.sembled manufacturing technique, gaudy embellishment, and lack of a distinct Victorian touch date the piece about 1840. The tiger's head is applied.

WAIST-BELT PLATE, C. 1840

_USNM 604104-M (S-K 260). Figure 211._

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIGURE 211]

The full-flowing mane on the beast on this plate identifies it as a lion. The device would have been appropriate for wear by the Albany Burgesses Corps, which, when founded in 1833, almost immediately adopted the lion's head as its distinctive insignia. The unit continued to wear this plate for about half a century. While that unit's cap plate (fig. 170) is much more formal and is without a lion's head, its b.u.t.tons contain the lion--with head turned to half-right--as a princ.i.p.al ornament. While it is probable that the original die for this cast-bra.s.s plate was sunk for the Albany organization, the manufacturer would not have hesitated to offer it for sale to any interested Militia unit.