The uniform regulations for the period 1832-1846 carry no mention of coat-skirt ornaments for the Corps of Topographical Engineers, rather only prescribing the "slashed skirt flaps to be embroidered in gold, with oak leaves and acorns" like the collar and cuffs. There is in the national collections, however, a uniform for the Corps that corresponds with 1839 regulations in every way except that the coat skirts carry this ornament--a shield within a wreath of oak leaves--of gold embroidery. The device appears to be of the same vintage as the other embroidery on the coat. ¶ Although the 1832 uniform regulations make no mention of swords for noncommissioned officers, in 1833 the Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts, began the manufacture of a new sword for the Regular artillery. Based on a European pattern, this weapon was the popular conception of the short Roman stabbing sword, or _gladius_. In 1834 this weapon was also authorized for infantry noncommissioned officers.[92] [Footnote 92: _Regulations for the Government of the Ordnance Department_, p. 64; and HAROLD L. PETERSON, pp. 42-43.] WAIST-BELT PLATE, ARTILLERY NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER, 1833 _USNM 654384 (S-K 531). Figure 81._ [Illustration: FIGURE 81] This is the belt-plate assembly designed for carrying the short "Roman pattern" NCO sword. The plate is of two round pieces joined by an S-hook that is open on one end for unbuckling. Each round piece has a flat loop for attachment to the white buff belt. The right-hand round piece has an eagle with head to the left, wings drooping, three arrows in the right talon, and an olive branch in the left talon. The left-hand piece has crossed cannons and the letters "U.S." The whole is cast in rough bronze. Assemblies of this type were popularly known as "Dingee" belts, because one of the primary contractors for them was Robert Dingee of New York City. The eagle on this plate is very similar to the one on Dingee's contract rifle flasks of 1832.[93] [Footnote 93: See PATTERSON, p. 8.] WAIST-BELT PLATE, INFANTRY NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER, 1834 _USNM 604111 (S-K 267). Figure 82._ [Illustration: FIGURE 82] This plate and belt are identical to the artillery specimen above except that the left-hand round portion exhibits three stacked muskets and a drum instead of crossed cannon. [Illustration: FIGURE 83.--Specimen in collection of William E. Codd, Towson, Maryland.] ¶ NCO belt plates similar to the two above also appeared in what might be called a staff or branch immaterial pattern, with the crossed cannon and/or stacked muskets and drum replaced by the letters "US" alone (fig. 83). This pattern apparently was intended for wear by NCO's other than those assigned to the infantry, artillery, or dragoons. WAIST-BELT PLATE, DRAGOON OFFICER, 1833 _USNM 5664. Figure 84._ [Illustration: FIGURE 84]