History hoarder63
Corporal
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2019
Pictured below is a commonly encountered Civil War Model 1829 "eagle" cartridge box strap plate that bears rare and unique markings.
Stamped into the face of the plate are the letter "D" and the numeral "29". This plate was dug in the Cold Harbor area back in the 1970's. Interestingly it also appears that this plate was struck at least once and possibly twice by buck shot.
In Mike O'Donnell's book American Military Belt Plates, an almost identical example is shown (2nd pic) with the only difference being that it was marked "D""25". O'Donnell attributed that plate to the 25th Massachusetts based on the markings and where the plate was found. At the time he was unaware of any other examples.
While this plate may have been used by the 25th, the "29" stamped on the face clearly debunks the earlier hypothesis that the numeral designated a regiment. Instead it is now pretty likely that the marking was for the 25/29th man in Company D of an unknown regiment, likely from Stannard's Brigade (23, 25, 27th Massachusetts, 9th New Jersey, 89th New York, 55th Pennsylvania).
Stamped into the face of the plate are the letter "D" and the numeral "29". This plate was dug in the Cold Harbor area back in the 1970's. Interestingly it also appears that this plate was struck at least once and possibly twice by buck shot.
In Mike O'Donnell's book American Military Belt Plates, an almost identical example is shown (2nd pic) with the only difference being that it was marked "D""25". O'Donnell attributed that plate to the 25th Massachusetts based on the markings and where the plate was found. At the time he was unaware of any other examples.
While this plate may have been used by the 25th, the "29" stamped on the face clearly debunks the earlier hypothesis that the numeral designated a regiment. Instead it is now pretty likely that the marking was for the 25/29th man in Company D of an unknown regiment, likely from Stannard's Brigade (23, 25, 27th Massachusetts, 9th New Jersey, 89th New York, 55th Pennsylvania).
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