The over-all design of the plate of which this brass-struck fragment represents approximately one-third can be rather accurately surmised by comparing it with several of the ornamented buttons issued to the infantry in 1812-1815. It is probably the work of the same designer.[63] The plate is rectangular with clipped corners. Within a raised border is an oval surrounded by cannon, cannon balls, and a drum, with the unit designation "1 R{T} ART{Y}". At the top of the oval can be seen grasping claws, obviously those of an eagle (as sketched in by the artist) and similar to those on the buttons referred to above. Single holes at the clipped corners provided means of attachment. It seems probable that the design of the missing portion also include flags and additional arms and accoutrements. [Footnote 63: See JOHNSON, vol. 2, specimen nos. 183, 184, 210-213.] ¶ The design of the "yellow front plate" authorized and issued to the Regiment of Light Artillery[64] in 1812 was unknown for many years. In May 1961 one of the authors fortunately located this plate (fig. 20) in the collections of the Niagara Historical Society Museum at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, included in a group of British badges of the War of 1812 period. There can be no doubt that the specimen is American: the eagle's head is of the same design as that on the third pattern 1812 infantry cap plate (fig. 9); the wreath of laurel appears on both the 1800 and 1812 dragoon helmet plates; and the thunderbolts in the eagle's right talon are wholly American, as opposed to British, and are of the period. In the Fort Ticonderoga Museum collections there is a gold signet ring (original owner unknown) that has an almost identical design. [Footnote 64: Letter dated February 26, 1812, from Irvine to Secretary of War (Records AGO). In clothing returns for 1812 of light artillery companies stationed at Williamsville, N. Y., "caps and plates" are listed as being "on hand" (Records AGO).] [Illustration: FIGURE 18.--Specimen in Campbell collection.] This is one of the largest plates ever worn by the Regular Establishment. It measures 4-1/4 by 5-1/4 inches, and it is not surprising that it was replaced because of its size. On May 19, 1814, the Commissary General of Purchases wrote Lt. Col. J. R. Fenwick, second-in-command of the light artillery, asking his opinion of a new design and stating flatly: "The present light artillery plate is too large by one-half."[65] The plate illustrated as figure 21 is offered as a possible example of the 1814 design. A matching waist-belt plate is described below (p. 34). [Footnote 65: Letter in Records AGO.] [Illustration: FIGURE 19.--Specimen in U.S. Army Artillery and Missile Center Museum, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.] [Illustration: FIGURE 20.--Specimen in Niagara Historical Society Museum, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.] [Illustration: FIGURE 21.--Specimen in Campbell collection.] [Illustration: FIGURE 22.--Specimen in Campbell collection.]