American Military Insignia, 1800-1851Campbell, J. Duncan, (James Duncan)
History
American Military Insignia, 1800-1851
Campbell, J. Duncan, (James Duncan)
United States -- Militia -- Insignia; United States. Army -- Insignia
The design of this rectangular plate, struck in rather heavy brass, is
the same as that offered as the 1814-pattern cap plate for the light
artillery, although it is the product of a different and somewhat more
crudely sunk die. The piece is dominated by an eagle with wings
upraised, a shield on its breast, three arrows in its right talon, and
an olive branch in its left talon. Crossed cannon are in the
foreground, and there is a pile of six cannon balls in the lower right
corner. The whole is superimposed on a trophy of colors and bayoneted
muskets. Above is a 5-pointed "star of stars" made up of 20 5-pointed
stars.
WAIST-BELT PLATE, OFFICER, ARTILLERY CORPS, 1814-1821
_USNM 60448-M (S-K 204). Figure 60._
[Illustration: FIGURE 60]
The rectangular plate is struck in brass on a die of the same design
as that used in making the 1814 Artillery Corps cap plate, type I (p.
18). Before the strike was made, a piece of thin sheet iron, slightly
narrower than the finished product, was applied to the reverse of the
brass. After the strike, which shows through clearly on the iron, the
ends of this applied metal were bent inward into tongues for
attachments to the belt, and the remainder of the back was filled with
pewter. The edges of the obverse were then beveled to finish the
product. It seems very probable that plates such as this were produced
for sale to officers.
SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, OFFICER, ARTILLERY CORPS, 1814-1821
_USNM 60247 (S-K 5). Figure 61._
[Illustration: FIGURE 61]
This is a companion piece to the Artillery Corps waist-belt plate
described above. It was struck in brass from the die of the 1814
Artillery Corps cap plate, type I, again with a thin sheet of iron
applied to the reverse before the strike. There is no pewter filling;
the beveled edges of the piece together with the adhesive effect of
the strike--which shows through very clearly--holds on the back. The
plate is fitted with two simple bent-wire fasteners for attachment,
indicating that it was intended for ornamental use only. Like its
waist-belt plate counterpart, this specimen must be considered an
officer's device.
SHOULDER-BELT PLATE, INFANTRY, 1814-1821
_USNM 60248-M (S-K 6). Figure 62._
[Illustration: 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 shield. 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._
[Illustration: FIGURE 63]
[Illustration: FIGURE 64]
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